Stolen is a story about a Sami girl who witnesses a horrible act of violence against her reindeer. With anger and hurt to fuel her, she spends decades trying to get local authorities to act against those who are poaching reindeer.

Elsa is a strong female character whom you can’t help but feel emotionally connected with. She knows what is right and fair and expects that the authorities will follow through. But they don’t, not for a long, long time.

When Elsa finds herself with the advantage over the man who threatened her life, she struggles with her own morals. And who wouldn’t after all Elsa and her family have been through? If put in the same situation, what would you do?

Unfortunately, the story of the Sami and their fight for their land and traditions are like many indigenous peoples' stories around the globe. There’s always someone trying to ignore or erase them.

I requested this book because I knew nothing about the Sami people or reindeer herders. I walk away with my heartstrings pulled and some cultural awakening. A pretty good deal.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read Stolen. It is such a compelling book.

Based on real events, Stolen tells the story of Elsa, her family and what happens when their reindeer are brutally killed over a period of decades.

While it's a story about about reindeers being murdered and the police being unwilling to investigate, it's also about the racism, hatred and violence against the Sami (Indigenous) people of Sweden. It's about a people fighting for their culture and their way of life. It's about heartbreak, family and standing up for what's right at all costs. It's about how systemic racism and indifference can affect people and their will to live. It really is quite the book.

🦌My favourite part was learning about the Sami culture, their long history with reindeer herding, and their customs/traditions.

🦌 It was heartbreaking reading about how the Indigenous people are ignored in Sweden just as they often are in Canada by the police and the justice system.

🦌 There were many parts of this that I found very difficult to read. Especially relating to the violence against the reindeer.

🦌 There are also parts of the book that instill one with a sense of hope. And watching Elsa continually fight throughout her life for her reindeer and her culture is inspiring.

For me, it's ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

STOLEN is available tomorrow, January 31.

A big thank you to @simonschusterca for allowing me to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Trigger warning: suicide, violence against animals, racism.]

Stolen opens with nine-year-old Elsa putting on her cross-country skis and following snowmobile tracks across a frozen lake, an experience I’ve had many times but never seen described in a book. I was immediately drawn in.

There, of course, is where the similarities end. Elsa is Sami and she is headed to her family's reindeer corral. And what she finds there is shocking and sets off a cascade of events that affect her life for years. Her calf has been murdered and the man who has done it is still there. I was hooked.

Stolen is told in three parts, the first when Elsa is nine, and the other two parts in her young adulthood. The structure is one which helps the reader come to understand the realities for Elsa and her community where anti-Sami prejudice is high and the authorities (police, schools, etc) aren’t there to help them. As a child, there are injustices that she can’t understand. As a young adult, though she has become accustomed to them, she is also driven to make a difference.

What Elsa is experiencing is tough stuff, though. Stolen addresses many important topics: prejudice, lack of respect for and understanding of traditional practices, trauma, mental illness, climate change, loss of language and culture, rigid gender roles, and outwardly indifferent but also anti-Sami authorities. And yet, despite these heavy issues, there is also love and culture and community. There are the reindeer and there is the land.

I couldn’t put this book down but I didn’t want it to end. I’ll miss Elsa, her family, and her reindeer.

A couple of years ago I set a goal to read more books written by Indigenous authors and I soon realized that beyond Canada and the US, there are Indigenous authors around the world whose stories I want to read (a couple I hope to get to this year are Aue by Becky Manawatu and The Bone People by Keri Hulme). So I took note of Stolen when I first saw it on bookstagram from a Swedish bookstagrammer a couple of years ago. When a translated edition showed up on a list of upcoming books this year I jumped to request it. And I can’t wait to see the adaptation coming from Netflix in 2024!

Big recommendation from me to read this engaging and important story.

Content warnings for anti-indigenous racism and slurs, suicide, mental illness, childbirth trauma, animal cruelty and violent animal deaths.

I am really this very slowly, and don’t mind the pace I am reading it at, since I like learning about this Sami world. I actually can’t ! speed up, because I enjoy it, yet, this must be a bit of a problem, as there are no new issues opened up, just a recounting of the days from the time Elsa discovered her reindeer’s murder ( I don’t use that term lightly). This wonderful tale of the Sami life and culture, is great, but is a long read , better done under a closer microscope than just a preliminary read. I could see it used as a guideline to exploring the political and cultural problems of people in that area. They can be extrapolated, of course, to other countries where cultures clash, as well as discussions around biodiversity, climate change, and economic responsibility.

I kept chugging along, but lost inspiration to linger over the words, because as we move through the years of Elsa’s life, there are the same details over and over again. Yes, of course, this is what life is, but the narrative is too long, for what it is presenting. She gives us a wonderful view of the Sami life, yet less than a third way in, we have a redundancy of info.

The writer has a wonderful way of getting you to be inside the body of Elsa, her youth, her connection to her physicality, her mindset. In this way, Elsa is honoured every bit as would an adult character be, and later, when grown, we know her intimately. We have her maturing and coming into adulthood but still the same problems of racism, economics, and value systems crop up.

The sense of the land, the weather , and the conflicts are palatable. This is a culture alien to most readers but rendered immediately relatable. For the most part, it is a great translation, immediately understandable in English- not stilted or using patronizing affectations. The translator conveys the Sami world / culture easily.
( Although I have to note one place where she has Elsa ask, “…come with?” instead of "Do you want to come with me?" That expression has only emerged in common usage in the last 5 years as a 25-35 year olds’ North American expression, showing not only the literal question, but a degree of asking for intimacy - really out of place here if you are trying to convey Sami life. I would not have mentioned it, but it comes up again in the next section of the novel, so can’t really be excused).

It is hard to know what to say about this novel. I like it, truly. But perhaps the editing could have pulled it down to a stronger finish. 4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I finished this book a few days ago, but haven't posted my review as I was struggling with how to describe it. I finally settled on "special." This is a very special book that will stay with me for a long time. It follows the story of Elsa, who is part of a Norwegian reindeer-herding family and culture, residing above the Arctic circle (note: the book takes place in the present day). When Elsa is 9 years old, she heads out on her cross-country skis and comes across a man who has killed her beloved reindeer calf. He makes a threatening gesture to her, and she tells no one that she saw the man responsible for the crime. There are many occurrences of poachers stealing and killing her family's (and other families') reindeer, but the police are largely disinterested. As Elsa grows, she is constantly being bombarded with messages that her place and her value would be as a wife and mother, but she sees herself as, and aspires to be, a reindeer herder - typically the male role. As a young adult, she befriends another young woman whose intent is to go to law school and ensure justice is done for the Sami people. As the attacks upon the reindeer escalate, Sami decides to push back against the local police force, even though this results in retaliation against her friends and family.

The book effectively explores themes of family, culture and identity. as well as violence, mental health issues, patriarchy, and discrimination. It sounds like a lot - and it is - but the author achieves it effortlessly. The writing is sometimes a little stilted, and includes some unusual expressions, but I put that down to the fact that this is a translation. The characters are very well-developed, and I learned so much about the Sami culture. I did not expect to be so captivated by this propulsive story. Highly recommend.

A chillingly beautiful novel that deals with societal prejudices in Sweden against the Sami indigenous peoples. I was struck by the similarities between how the Sami people were treated in Sweden and how Canada's first nations persons are also unfortunately treated in our Canadian Society.

Amazingly beautiful scenes of nature and the raw and rough nature of living in Sweden's north.

This book deals with tough but honest topics such as prejudices, rural living, suicide, loneliness, power struggles between male and female characters, racism, first nations mistreatment, wealth and poverity, and more.

The writing is beautiful and I found the scenes easily seen through the mind's eye. On the other hand, the writing of the brutality of the animal torture and mutiliation is sure to turn off or sicken sensitive readers so be aware of that prior to reading!

I received an advance copy of the book through NetGalley and the publisher, but my review is my honest and uninfluenced opinion. Thank you to the author Ann-Helen Laestadius for such a tough but touching work.

NOTE: I wasn't able to complete the novel in the time alloted, however I will be buying a copy of this important book so that I will be able to share with my children when they are older. The stories of how our societies have mistreated our first nations peoples must be shared so that we do not make the same mistakes again.

The hype around this book is completely justified! For readers who enjoy Indigenous fiction, this is a great novel shining a light on an Indigenous population in another part of the world, the Sami people of Sweden.

The Sami are an Indigenous population I have heard of but did not know much about. Reading this novel helped me learn a bit more, and draws connections to the challenges of racism and climate change that Indigenous populations are facing worldwide.

A great read to start the year with and I'd love to see more translated literature come out of this part of the world and from Sami authors!

Content warnings: suicide, suicidal ideation, animal cruelty, racism

A vivid story that follows a Sami child into young adulthood as she wrestles with senseless violence and prejudice against her community and their way of life. The marks of which leave scars and questions, but it also molds her into becoming an individual willing to speak up for change.

Elsa comes of age in her community and collective where their way of life is tied directly to their reindeer and how they are integral in how they support their families and thrive. The gruesome and vile attacks on their identity and animals is a clear indication of where they stand in the wider 'modernized' society, and the lack of protection from the police and government is also glaringly obvious. Elsa also faces pushback when she decides to be vocal about the lack of action from not just the authorities but also the members of her very patriarchal collective. Bit she will not be silenced.

What Laestadius has written here is a detailed account of how the Sami live, their supportive and integrated communal existence. She doesn't shy away from outlining the ways in which the Sami are racialized and abused, how they are failed by the state, and the unjust views held by Swedes.

It is clear to see the resentment held by communities who neither understand nor respect the Sami and their way of life and as a person of colour it is very easy for me to equate this to the myriad ways in which other communities of colour are perceived and mistreated. This was a long and involved read and I do wonder if there was any way that it could have been shortened without losing the impact of the message it sends.

A powerful read but I found it very difficult to get through. I’m not sure if it was the writing style or the slow pace of the story but this book was just not for me.

9 year old Elsa, daughter of a Sami reindeer herding family, witnesses a community member killing one of her family's reindeer and is too terrified to tell anyone. That traumatic moment informs the rest of her life, and has a ripple effect on her family and her community. Stolen is Elsa's story, beginning at age 9, continuing 10 years later, and again a few years after that, as she works to find her voice as a young Indigenous woman choosing to navigate living with and on the land in a largely patriarchal environment while the modern world continues to morph around her.

Ann-Helen Laestadius' book, translated from the Swedish, raises issues that immediately call to mind issues affecting First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities in Canada. The families in Stolen deal with police officers that seem to always have more pressing things to do than follow up their reports of violence against their animals and themselves; their livelihood is massively affected by ongoing climate change; the non-native communities around them continue to push into what was previously Indigenous space and the Sami community members deal with high rates of depression and other mental health issues. Reading Stolen made me want to go and look at how Sweden is doing with UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People) compared to Canada. The scene where the Sami young people are out at a carnival in their traditional attire and tourists feel the need to touch and photograph them will be utterly familiar to any First Nations Powwow dancer. This would make a terrific addition to a Grade 11 Indigenous Voices curriculum, and could spark some amazing discussions about parallels with aspects of Indigenous culture in Canada.

Elsa is a fierce, luminous, remarkable character. Her transformation from frightened child to a young woman working to heal herself and her community is beautifully captured here. This is not an easy read. The connection between the characters and the animals they raise is profoundly expressed, and that makes the violence against them particularly difficult to deal with. If almost felt a sense of seasonal affective disorder coming through the pages to me. I'm not sure I would recommend reading this book in winter, as that sense of pervading darkness was very real as I read the book.

I learned a great deal reading Stolen. It has thriller elements, along with its very realistic portrayal of a culture trying to stay alive against the odds. A Netflix series has begun shooting, and is planned to premiere in 2024.

This book is so very different from many others that I review on NetGalley, and that I read otherwise. I can't help but compare the sombre, heavy-ness of the book, of its story, to stories about Residential School and other injustices done towards Indigenous peoples in Canada.

I will not lie, the first 50 - 60% of this book was hard for me to get through. The pace was slow, it is sombre, it was full of very heavy incidents (including multiple deaths) and the perspectives of the various players really helped to deepen that portion of the story.

In contrast, the last 40% or so flew by. Even the little bits of happiness were tinged with sorrow, and the ending, although conclusive to a degree, is not happy. It is very real and very startling to think that this is not truly fiction, that real-life is indeed scarier.

And yet, I do recommend it, for readers who can take it. For readers who will know when to take a break and put it down, rather than binge it in a few sittings. This is a story that will stay with me.

As an Indigenous person, I was drawn to this book immediately. It’s about the Samí peoples in Sweden and the reality they face as reindeer herders and Indigenous peoples in à colonized place.

The similarities between the Samí and Indigenous peoples in North America were uncanny and it is very upsetting to know that we as Indigenous peoples all share such traumatic stories.

I personally didn’t know very much about Samí peoples and some of my only exposure to them was Frozen 2 and Klaus, however I feel that this fiction book taught me a ton! Side note, Márgu is my favourite part of Klaus and she makes me cry every time!

This story follows a girl throughout her life as a reindeer herder, starting with a horrifying crime she witnesses when she was 9 years old. This crime starts a cycle of injustice that she simply cannot turn her back to.

There are some fairly graphic descriptions of animal torture and killing so definitely be careful. There is also mention of suicide throughout the book, so definitely check out the trigger warnings and take care of yourself if you choose to read this.

The setting is the girl’s village for the most part and it is definitely a small place where everyone knows everyone and gossip runs amok.

The relationships between the villagers was super interesting and getting to see the work they do throughout the day was fascinating!

This book also highlights discrimination from police and how the institution of policing is incredibly oppressive, if not dangerous, for marginalized peoples.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It certainly wasn’t a lighthearted read, however I believe it to be incredibly important reading and highly recommend it! It’s written by a Samí woman and you know I will always recommend books written by Indigenous authors! Truly a must read.

A little slow, but still worthwhile. An interesting perspective on Sami culture and the challenges of reindeer herding. Recommended.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius
This book has been translated from Swedish to English
What a fantastic read, I really enjoyed this novel. I learned a lot while enjoying the read. I must admit I was not aware of the Sami and knew nothing about reindeer hearding. I was saddened to learn that there are those who would want to torture the reindeer or disturb the lives of these Indigenous Sami people.
I loved the story and how it was presented, I liked the use of some native language through out the novel. I was fond of Elsa the main character and her family and friends, and felt sad that they had to deal with a guy like Robert. I felt the story moved at a good pace, I certainly wanted to keep reading once I was a few chapters into the book. I took some time to read about Sweden and the Sami people once I was done the book.

This is a powerful and informative book. It is told from the perspective of a Sami girl and is both a family saga and an examination of the Sami way of life. The Sami are the indigenous people who live in Northern Scandinavia. Their livelihood depends on raising and herding reindeer. The atmospheric writing vividly describes the chilling Arctic wilderness and the dark winters. I found much interesting information, including photos of the Sami in their native costumes and even videos with their reindeer on the internet.

Historically, the Sami have been threatened by Swedish newcomers wanting their land. Schools were built to eliminate their language and traditional way of life. The Swedish government now endangers their livelihood by planning to build roads and establish mines on Sami grazing land. It was alarming to read how some people hunt, slaughter and mutilate reindeer. The police ignore these disturbing crimes, often listing reindeer that have been killed as stolen. This has been the fate of native populations everywhere when newcomers feel it is their right to take over land where indigenous people already live.

Elsa, at nine years old, was skiing on her way to visit the reindeer corral. She sees a neighbour, Robert, slaughter her reindeer calf. She is heartbroken and angry. He threatens Elsa and her family, and she must remain silent about who killed the reindeer. Elsa's father brings her to the police to report the animal's death, but she is afraid to admit she saw who killed it. The police never pursued the crime. The years pass, and we read about Robert taking a sick pleasure in torturing reindeer before killing them and selling the meat on the black market. Elsa becomes an adult, and even after much tragedy in her family and community, she is still troubled by the injustices, legally and socially, suffered by the Sami. She is determined to remain silent no longer.

I wish to thank NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster for this fascinating and heartwrenching story echoed throughout history when new settlers move into land already occupied by indigenous populations.

Stolen was an interesting book that gave me a whole new insight into "aboriginal" issues that span the world not just North America. Reindeer herders, who for centuries have been using the natural ways to take care of and herd their deer, are largely ignored by our modern population. While this book is a novel, much of what is written has a ring of truth in it and I found it really enlightening. Growing up in what the world would consider a "backward" fashion, makes you stop and really think about some of the choices we make today.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this book pre-publication

if ever there was an atmostpheric book, it would be this one. Translated from Swedish, Stolen spotlights a minority Indigenous community called the Samis who rely on reindeer farms and the people around them to survive. But when reindeer start being killed from family's livestock, its then that you realize quite how remote the village is both in terms of location and the racism that they face from police.

I am not going to do this justice in the review, and I apologize on that, but I think if you like learning about different Indigenous cultures then you will soak this up. I will caution readers that there is death by suicide (off-page) and animal killings that need to be set up as trigger warnings. I was able to skip those pieces because I truly didn't know if I could read them...but that said, there was beauty in the writing and despite it being a larger book in total pages, it read quicker because of it's short chapters

I also appreciated the sprinkle of new language (words) that started each chapter. Fun fact, I have a nephew in Sweden which is why I originally requested this book...i thought it would give me more insight in some of the lesser known communities within the country.

ps. Both Fredrik Backman and Michelle Good blurb for this one. Both phenomenal authors in their own rights.

3.5-4 stars

A meaningful exploration of the biases and systemic racism many Indigenous Peoples and minority groups grapple with, as pressures on traditional ways of life increase.

Laestadius thoughtfully captures the culture and realities of the Sami in an engaging and relatable way. Less relatable are the antagonists, who at times feel a bit one-dimensional. Though this does help to increase sympathy with the protagonists and the themes and viewpoints Laestadius is trying to convey.

At times the story is quite dark and the hopelessness of the main characters is palpable. Hope ultimately prevails though.

I was really excited going into this book. Being drawn into the lives of the Sami people (who I am ashamed to admit I didn't know existed) was fascinating. I found myself stopping to Google a lot of facts about the Sami people, their language, clothing, food etc.

I found the story moved a bit slow in the first half but by the end I was really into the story. The author did a really good job of bringing me along on the journey with the characters. I was horrified by the racism and aggressions that were made against Elsa and her people and it made me so sad to read.

"Stolen" by Ann-Helén Laestadius is a harrowing tale that draws on the author's Sami heritage, including her background in journalism and crime reporting. What ensues is an emotional tale about the widespread prejudice and injustices the Sami face as they struggle with inter-generational trauma, mental health, rising against the patriarchy, and having their traditions and culture be respected and accepted outside of their people.

Elsa is only nine when she finds her reindeer slaughtered. The person who did it threatened her to keep silent. When Elsa's dad brings her to the police, fear stops her from admitting who is responsible. With no leads, the police classify Elsa's reindeer as stolen and close the case. Over the years, more reindeer have been mutilated and murdered in horrific ways. Still, they are considered nothing more than stolen property and every case brought to the police by the Sami people is closed with no resolution.

When Elsa grows older, her tolerance for the police's blatant disregard for her people and their murdered reindeer turns into a fierce resilience to ensure the police thoroughly investigate the attacks against their reindeer and, ultimately, the attacks against the Sami people. As Elsa becomes bolder and more determined to bring the person responsible to justice, she puts herself directly into the killer's path.

"Stolen" is a powerful story that gives voice to the violence and injustices the Sami people have faced for years. In Laestadius's incredibly detailed and vivid prose, readers will feel the devastation and anger against those who dismiss the Sami people as though they have no real value or importance in society. While the tale is heartbreaking and full of tragedies, Elsa is a strong female lead who chooses to keep silent no longer as she speaks out against those who have done her and her people injustice.

"Stolen" draws attention to a story not many people are familiar with and one that often goes ignored. Elsa's story is about more than a young woman holding multiple people accountable for years of racism and prejudice. This story is told in the voice of many who are holding their ground and speaking out together to create a profound change in their culture, community, and traditions in a way that will hopefully bring them recognition, acceptance and respect.

Elsa's story will hopefully inspire readers to research the Sami people to learn more about their culture and history. "Stolen" by Ann-Helén Laestadius is a highly recommended must-read novel and is expected to be published on January 31, 2023. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a free e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.