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When We Were Vikings
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Archive: Other Books > (Poll Ballot Tally) When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald - 4 stars

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annapi | 5505 comments Zelda is a 21-year-old Viking enthusiast who lives with her older brother Gert. She is developmentally disabled due to fetal alcohol syndrome, and takes classes at the community center to help her live independently. She sees the world in terms of Vikings, of the legend she must create for herself to become a hero like the Vikings of old, and tackles life in the same way.

Though rocky in some places, Zelda's story, which we see through her eyes, is a fascinating one of courage and living with what life dishes out to you. I'm sure many readers would be turned off by the explicit frankness with which she talks about sex, but I liked how matter-of-factly that topic is dealt with. Gert's struggles with school, his girlfriend, and their finances are hard and real. While the constant presence of Viking lore gets a bit wearing now and then, overall I really enjoyed this story and the window it opens into the mind of someone like Zelda, and how it shows us the human behind the disability.


message 2: by Holly R W (new)

Holly R W  | 3110 comments I was very curious about this book and enjoyed your review. Glad you liked it!


message 3: by Booknblues (new)

Booknblues | 12058 comments Thanks, Anna. This has been on my radar and I've seen mixed reviews so I appreciate your review.


Doughgirl5562 | 959 comments This is on my TBR for this year. Just waiting to get the ebook from the library, which could be months. Thanks for the good review.


Karin | 9210 comments I have this on hold at Overdrive--I have been thinking about whether or not I wanted to read it since January.


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