Ronja de Roversdochter is a book I absolutely adored in my childhood. So when I saw that Netflix had turned the book into a series, I dug up my copy from the attic to reread it. I had forgotten about the existence of this tale if I'm quite honest, so I was excited to dive back into it. And It was the strangest experience. It's been over 15 years or so since I've read this book. But right after the first sentence, this wave of nostalgia came over me. I suddenly remembered reading this book as a child. I suddenly remembered the creatures and the characters and how they made me feel.

I read a translated copy (the original is in Swedish, and I read a Dutch translation). When it comes to translations, it always feels a bit off. It wasn't annoying though. Just something that made me go: "I wonder what got lost in translation". Time to learn Swedish I guess!

It's pretty much a classic storyline. Two families of robbers are in a feud, but their children like each other. What will happen next? I think you know before even reading this book. However, there's one aspect of this storyline that I adored and quite frankly forgot about/didn't expect. Ronja and Birk (the two children) describe each other as brother and sister. They share a deep love for each other, but it's clearly not romantic. And I love this, because usually in stories like this the characters fall in love with each other. And now it was purely platonic. I don't know what is going to happen if they grow up of course, but there were no clear hints of a blossoming romance. And I really appreciate that. Because friendship can be just as deep and valuable as romantic love. And that isn't something that's very apparent in today's day and age. Romance is literally everywhere.

Since it's a children's book. There are some lovely stereotypical portrayals of the men and women in it. However, Lovis (Ronja's mother) is one bad ass woman who doesn't take any crap from her husband or his man. I am rooting for her and I love the example that she sets for her child. It's important for children to see these different dynamics reflected in stories.

The creatures and the folklore entangled in the story is really fun! As an adolescent, I don't get scared by them anymore. However, I remember the terror very clearly that I felt as a child. Especially when the witchbirds made an appearance.

I'm curious to see what they've done with the story for the Netflix show! Hopefully, it will do the story honour.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Carl from The Door to Door Bookstore for giving this book to Charlotte's dad, which piqued my curiosity about the story. After reading it, I now understand why it suits him so well—Matt's character is an uncanny reflection of him! The plot is both thrilling and timeless, drawing readers in from the very first page. Ronia's character, in particular, stood out to me. Her bravery and intelligence in making the right choices for herself were inspiring and beautifully portrayed. It's rare to find a character so well-developed and relatable. The originality of the story made it impossible for me to put the book down. Every twist and turn felt fresh and engaging. The dynamic between the two main characters added depth to the narrative, making their adventures together even more compelling. Overall, this book is a masterpiece of storytelling. It's a blend of excitement, wisdom, and authenticity that will resonate with readers of all ages. I'm confident that it will be loved by many, provided everyone gets the chance to read it!

Kummasti unohtuu asiat 20 vuodessa, mm. se millaista kieltä oli ihan hyväksyttävää käyttää lasten kirjoissa. Asiat on esitetty tämän päivän mittapuulla suhteellisen brutaalisti, mutta meneehän se viesti perille niinkin ja keskeinen sanoma löytyy helposti joten mikäs siinä.

My kids and I gave this book a 3.5. We enjoyed when Ronia lived in the bear’s cave, but the rest of the story was pretty boring.