Flyga Högt by Katarina von Bredow (1991)

Title: Syskonkärlek

Author: Katarina von Bredow

Pages: 295

Published: Sep 1991

Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren
Language: Swedish


I'm just going to take a minute to appreciate that the protagonist is called Vendela. This never happens.

This is on of my favourite YA contemporaries. Plot wise I would compare this to the English 'Beautiful Broken Things' by Sara Bernard but this is much better. It's a story about friendships, social statuses in school, love and trust. And its exciting. The characters are rich and the plot is rich and it's a highly enjoyable book. There is friendship and romance and an altogether funny story. The romantic part is the cutest thing as well. It may remind people of 'Tusen Gånger Starkare" by Christina Herrström in subject matter but I personally much prefer this one. Its capturing and strong. A page turner if there ever was one.

Plot Summary:

There are codes. Certain rules.
Like when you're new to school.
It's about not being noticed too much. To be somewhere in the middle. But Silja doesn't. She does the complete opposite.
Vendela is fifteen and is in high school. It's nice to be back in school. She's going to meet Nils with the brown eyes again. But there's a new girl in their class. Silja, who dominates and doesn't care at all about the unwritten rules. She sits wherever she pleases, she spends time with whoever she wants to and doesn't seem to want to blend in at all. Is she dim, defiant or just incredibly strong. No one knows, but the sensation is a fact. And suddenly the obvious statuses, and roles that are decided don't count anymore, nothing is certain.

My Rating:

9/10

Other Books by Katarina von Bredow:

Syskonkärlek (Brother and Sister Love)
Hur Kär Får Man Bli? (How In Love Can You Be?)
Som Jag Vill Vara (As I Wish To Be)
Expert På Att Rodna (Expert In Blushing)
Räcker Det Om Jag Älskar Dig (Is It Enough If I Love You)
Bara Inte Du (Just Not You)
Som Om Ingenting (As If Nothing At All)
Knappt Lovlig (Barely Allowed)
Du och Jag (You And Me)

Min Typ Brorsa by Johanna Lindbäck (2010)

Title: Min Typ Brorsa (My Sort Of Brother)

Author: Johanna Lindbäck

Pages: 268

Published: Dec 2010

Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren

Language: Swedish

This is such an enjoyable swedish young adult about a girl and a boy who start having feelings for each other after their single parents move in together. It's sweet, funny and a little bit heart wrenching. You hope for something you know will never be but the journey there is absolutely wonderful. Writing this review makes me want to reread it because it's so sweet and innocent. Highly recommend for all the Swedish speakers out there as a light romantic read, whether it be a summer or winter read. It's so cute. Absolutely love what these characters go through and their relationship.

Plot Summary:

Celebrating New Years with Mum's new guy isn't exactly what Nina dreamt of. And that Mum talks about the fact that internet-Thomas has two sons exactly in Nina's age isn't helping. But New Years turns out to be better than Nina could've imagined. Thomas's sons are pretty alright. Especially the one...

My Rating:

9/10

Other Books by Johanna Lindbäck:

Min Typ Brorsa (My Sort Of Brother)

Tänk Om Det Där Var Jag (Imagine If That Were Me)

Välkommen Hem (Welcome Home)

En Liten Chock (A Small Shock)

Som Om Jag Frågat (As If I've Asked)

Saker Som Aldrig Händer (Things That Never Happen)

Lite Ihop (A Little Together)

Kanske Ihop (Maybe Together)

Karta För Förälskade och Andra Vilsna

Jan Svensson (Jan Svensson)

Vi Måste Sluta Ses På Det Här Sättet (We Need To Stop Seeing Each Other Like This)

Det Är Så Logiskt All Fattar Utom Du by Lisa Bjärbo (2011)

Title: Det Är Så Logiskt All Fattar Utom Du (It's So Logical Everyone Gets It Except You)

Author: Lisa Bjärbo

Pages: 250

Published: Mar 15th 2011

Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren

This book was bought as an eBook when I had run out of books to read while on holiday in Florida. This is your typical fluffy summer romance and I read it in pretty much a day. It's funny and painful and romantic and such a cute cozy read. It's not all about being in love though. It's about cheating parents, gossiping friends, boys that ignore girls and girls who don't understand that their best friend is in love with them. It's so beautifully written and relatable even if you may not have gone through the same stuff.

It may be a little predictable, but somehow that makes it nicer. It's a satisfying ending. It's written from both Ester and Johan's point of view so you get both's side of the story and it makes it so much better. Highly recommend this book if you just want to curl up with a feel-good book.

Plot Summary:

For four years has Johan, in secret, had a crush on his girl friend. For four years has he bit together, listened, played uninterested when she talks about her love stories. But now it's impossible. He's going to explode!

My Rating:

8/10

Other Books by Lisa Bjärbo:

Allt Jag Säger Är Sant (All I Say Is The Truth)
Det Är Så Logiskt All Fattar Utom Du (It's So Logical Everyone Gets It Except You)

Det Händer Nu by Sofia Nordin (2010)

Title: Det Händer Nu (It's Happening Now)

Author: Sofia Nordin

Pages: 248

Published: Sep, 2010

Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren
Language: Swedish

I haven't read a massive amount of LGBTQ books but this was the first book within the genre and one of my favourite Swedish YA contemporaries. It follows the popular girl Stella who has a crush on her best friend Sigrid, but she's afraid of ruining their friendship by telling her.

In desperation to forget her feelings for Sigrid she begins a relationship with Sigrid's brother, who has a thing for her, but she feels extremely uncomfortable. As her feelings for Sigrid develops Sigrid gives hints of her feelings for Stella and their path to a relationship is sweet and truly addictive to read about. Although Stella to be the confident girl in school, with boys yearning for her, she is not the confident in this relationship. Sigrid is the one who breaks the ice, the one to make the moves and move the relationship forward while Stella is insecure and worried that Sigrid might not approve of her feelings.

I enjoyed this books so much and I can't say how much I wish t was available for a larger audience. It's only available in Swedish, but I couldn't wish for a book to be translated more than this one. One of my all time favourites.

Plot Summary:

Stella is one of those that girls want to be friends with and boys want to date. Stella, however, only wants Sigrid. But how is she going to pick up courage to make a move on her best friend in that way? What if she tries and Sigrid never wants to be friends anymore?

My Rating:

10/10

Other Books by Sofia Nordin:

En Sekund i Taget (One Second at a Time)
Spring Så Fort Du Kan (Run as Fast as You Can)
Som Om Jag Vore Fantastisk (As if I was Fantastic)
Natthimmel (Night Sky)
Gå Sönder, gå hel (Break Apart, Be Whole)
Atomer (Atoms)
Förlåt Elina (Sorry Elina)
Snöstormen (The Snow Storm)
Äventyrsveckan (The Adventure Week)
In the Wild
Svag Is (Weak Ice)

Jag saknar dig, jag saknar dig (1992)

Title: Jag Saknar Dig, Jag Saknar Dig! (I Miss You, I Miss You!)

Author: Peter Pohl, Kinna Gieth

Pages: 272

Published: 1992

Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren


I received this copy from my friend just prior to the film coming out because she had an extra copy. It's a beautifully tragic story about the twin sisters Tina and Cilla. Early on in the book Cilla dies in a car accident and Tina is left without her. The story is about how Tina is coping with the loss of her sister. It is happy at moments only to bring out the saddens even more and it truly stings. The book painfully realistic and triggers feelings of sadness and anger.

After having read this I decided to read into the back story of the book. This book turns out to based on a true story where the co-author Kinna Gieth lost her twin sister Jenny is a car accident. The sisters had been reading a book by Peter Pohl about a situation where the character Anette's twin sister had died. Gieth wrote to Pohl after her sister's death and asked him to write a book with her about this situation and 'I Miss You, I Miss You!' was the result. I was surprised to learn that the book was published in 1992 as I got the feeling that it was taking place in today's society - it's time less, which I think it very successful.

I can truly see why this is a Swedish Young Adult classic. There is also a film which was made in 2011.

Plot Summary:

It's now the month of April and at home on in the Rose Garden, two girls are sitting. They're called Cilla and Tina. They're identical twins and they're going to turn fourteen this summer. But Cilla doesn't get to experience that - she's soon going to die in a car accident. It's the most sickening thing that's happened to me, and I'm telling you that straight away, because this isn't meant to be a thrilling story, with a clever ending that has to be kept secret until the last page, it's about Tina whom was left behind, forced to try to stand straight and keep her balance in life without Cilla. And I, who is telling you this, is Tina, but I don't know if I can cope by taking about 'me', so I say 'her' instead.
A timeless description about endless grief, but also about love and hope.
- back of Book

My Rating:

8/10

Allt Jag Säger Är Sant by Lisa Bjärbo (2012)

Title: Allt Jag Säger Är Sant (All I Say Is The Truth)

Author: Lisa Bjärbo

Pages: 256

Published: Mar 2nd 2012

Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren
Language: Swedish

This book, was well, not extraordinary in any way. It wasn't the best Swedish YA book I've ever read because usually they take me two days to read at the most and this took longer. So either it wasn't the greatest or I've just gotten slow (at reading in Swedish?) Oh dear.

The character was very interesting. She was special in her way and I connected but I didn't see a glimpse of myself in her. She was very different. I have feeling I might have leaned more towards her when I was younger with her crazy choice of clothing, but maybe I've found myself during the last few years and moved away from it. Well, I certainly wouldn't quit school, and that's the first thing she does. I feel, like maybe I was too much like her friend, but at the same time not.

Well, she criticised that one thing about her friend's personality that applied to me. Ouch. I kept reading anyways. Sometimes books can insult you as well. Don't take it personally. Don't.

Plot Summary:
Jag är Alicia. Sexton, snart sjutton, med kolsyra i venerna och håret på svaj. Och, nej jag kanske inte är riktigt självlysande. Men det är fan på gränsen.

I'm Alicia. Sixteen, soon seventeen, with acid in the veins and my hair swaying. And, no I might not be quite luminous. But I'm fucking close to.

My Rating:
6/10
Because I wan't that hooked. And although it made me cry for a bit and it had a small climax the narrative wasn't quite that hooking. It was more of a snippet from one's life when stuff happened.

Favourite Quote: 
Jag vill göra stordåd.
I want to do great things.

Other Books by Lisa Bjärbo:

Det Är Så Logiskt Alla Fattar Utom Du (It's So Logical Everyone Gets It Except You)
Allt Jag Säger Är Sant (All I Say Is The Truth)