Hero (2020)
2020
218 pages
Children's Books
9-12 years
Illustrated
I gaze into the black abyss! I’m not supposed to go with them. They must know this is all a misunderstanding. I need to make it back home. I will make it home again.
Hero and Bjorg are best friends who want to always be together. This is why Hero is devastated when the black abyss steals her away – and Bjorg is inconsolable when her friend is nowhere to be found in the meadows.
Hero is a thrilling story about the friendship between a girl and her mare, and their battle to find each other again.
Nominated for The Children’s Book Award 2021
Sample translation in English. German translation.
Reviews
REVIEWS
FOUR AND A HALF STAR “The novel takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of emotions … keeps the reader glued to the page. Bjork enchantingly manages to evoke sympathy in the reader for all living beings, without anthropomorphising the animals. A horse is still a horse even though it is given thoughts and words. The nature of the horse is what prevails. At the same time, the reader is given a glimpse into the head of Saga, who is unique in her own way. The reader finds themself in awe of the power of the weather, the perils of the Icelandic highlands and is reminded of what an obstacle the big glacial rivers used to be. … a novel that stays with the reader for a long time and plays on the whole scale of emotions.”
KATRIN LILJA, LESTRARKLEFINN
FIVE STARS “Hero is an excellent book that holds the reader from start to finish …”
SOLRUN I RAGNARSDOTTIR, MORGUNBLADID DAILY
“I read it in one sitting. I really loved it. It’s the kind of novel I would have loved to read as a little girl. … It’s an exciting and dramatic book. I think that if I had read it when I was twelve I would have cried.”
HULDA GEIRS, NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE, ICELAND
“The Icelandic horse is the hero of many stories, songs and poems, as the nation knows. This is why we want to champion books like Hero and increase interest in horse-riding among the younger generation. It’s easier than ever to ride horses, you don’t need to own horses, stables or transport yourself.”
Jelena Ohm, project manager at HORSES OF ICELAND
“An entertaining and thrilling book.”
BRYNHILDUR BJORNSDOTTIR, FRETTABLADID DAILY