Astrid the Unstoppable

At nine years old, free-range Astrid Glimmerdal has the whole wide world (or at least her tiny Norwegian town) “in front of her skis.” As the only child around, the small songstress (“It is important to sing when you’re skiing”) has to get creative about finding friends—her best friend is her 74-year-old godfather, Gunnvald—but she’s managed to turn Mr. Hagen, the owner of Hagen’s Wellness Retreat who’s more fond of quiet than of children, into her nemesis. As she speeds toward her 10th birthday, Astrid discovers that her beloved Gunnvald has a secret, a daughter she doesn’t know about, that may change her view of the world forever. Imbued with a Scandinavian sensibility, this novel by Parr (Adventures with Waffles) presents fun alongside concepts such as death, physical distance between friends, and estrangement in an age-appropriate format, and both encourages readers to question new ideas and offers a fertile foundation for imagination. Fans of Pippi Longstocking and the Moomins will delight in Parr’s indomitable Astrid. Ages 7–10. (Nov.)