Author(s): Ann-Helen Laestadius

Novel | Sweden | Polar regions | Translated fiction

The international number one-bestselling sensation- the story of a young Sami girl's coming-of-age, and a powerful fable about family, identity and justice. Nine-year-old Elsa lives just north of the Arctic Circle. She and her family are Sami, Scandinavia's indigenous people and make their living herding reindeer. One morning when Elsa goes skiing alone, she witnesses a man brutally killing her reindeer calf, Nastegallu. Elsa recognises the man but refuses to tell anyone least of all the Swedish police force about what she saw. Instead, she carries her secret as a dark weight on her heart.Elsa comes of age fighting two wars- one within her community, where male elders expect young women to know their place; and against the ever-escalating wave of prejudice and violence against the S imi. When Elsa finds herself the target of the man who killed her reindeer calf all those years ago, something inside of her finally breaks. The guilt, fear, and anger she's been carrying since childhood come crashing over her like an avalanche, and will lead Elsa to a final catastrophic confrontation.

Review: Stolen is an extraordinary novel. A coming-of-age-story you'll get lost in, about youth and heritage and the never-ending struggle to be allowed to exist. Although set in the coldest and most northern part of Scandinavia, I'm convinced it's a universal story to be loved everywhere in the world -- FREDRIK BACKMAN, author of A MAN CALLED OVE
The simple storytelling, told through the eyes of a child, lurches into the brooding darkness of a thriller, with more than a touch of Nordic noir * independent.co.uk *
Ann-Helen Laestadius's debut novel for adults highlights the discrimination Sweden's ethnic minority Sami have suffered over the years for their determination to pursue a traditional lifestyle as reindeer herders * GUARDIAN *
Extraordinarily good ... A gripping and moving work of literary fiction ... Stolen promises to be the catalyst for a greater global awareness of the range of issues facing the Sami. First and foremost, it's a terrific novel * NEW EUROPEAN *
It's with laudable subtlety that Laestadius depicts the stresses and strains unique to a people trying to stay true to their ancient way of life while coping with prejudice, persecution and the unfolding impact of global heating * OBSERVER *
The heart, and the great appeal, of this novel is its empathetic portrait of a young woman who flourishes in this harsh, but beautiful, landscape ... Highlights the paradox of being oppressed in one of the most egalitarian countries in the world ... Laestadius has a keen eye for ... the elemental hardship of life on the edge of a wilderness' * FINANCIAL TIMES *
A moving and powerful exploration of the Sami community ... This eye-opening, explorative insight into the Sami community and a personal journey for the author has had a profound and lingering effect on me as a reader. * BUZZMAG *
It possesses a strong narrative drive and offers an immediacy and accessibility that allows an unhindered glimpse into the experience of modern-day Sami, making a convincing and fervent argument for greater protection of their land-tied way of life * GEOGRAPHICAL *
Has struck a chord worldwide * NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC *
An atmospheric tale, both beautiful and cruel * CRIME MONTHLY *
Beautiful and devastating, Stolen shines a powerful and important light on the Sami community and the growing challenges they face in a changing world -- CAROLE JOHNSTONE, author of MIRRORLAND
Viscerally clear fiction of both the fractured, violent nature of the Sami's relationship with their Nordic occupiers and the coming of age of an innocent girl. Written with such cool clarity, Stolen is a perfect metaphor of our slippery grip on humanity and our tenuous relationship with the Earth -- TANYA TALAGA, bestselling author of SEVEN FALLEN FEATHERS
Sami author Ann-Helen Laestadius has written a fresh, devastating, and insightful novel about Sami life and the struggle for justice in a rapidly changing world. A love for the imperiled landscape reverberates throughout this engaging read -- MEGAN MAYHEW BERGMAN, author of HOW STRANGE A SEASON
Stolen is in equal measure a gripping and thrilling mystery as it is a testament to the continued beating heart of Sami life. Ann-Helen Laestadius takes her place as an important voice in world Indigenous literature -- MICHELLE GOOD, author of FIVE LITTLE INDIANS
Laestadius's nuanced English-language debut is a story of a family torn apart by cultural tensions ... The sense of place and character development make for an affecting portrait of the Sami's disenfranchisement * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *
A revelatory account of not-well-known assaults on the rights of an Indigenous group ... The legacies of long-held social prejudices against the Indigenous group - racism, economic insecurity, and the traumas borne by the community's elders who had been removed from the group in childhood and sent to "nomad schools" - continue to haunt Sami life with devastating effects ... Looming over the tale is the spectre of climate change and its impacts on the traditional Sami herding methods * KIRKUS *
A sharp and socially critical novel with an intensity that makes it powerful and strong ... Whatever you do, don't miss out on this novel * Dagens Nyheter (SE) *
Laestadius writes with burning intensity about a community around the Arctic Circle that is rarely portrayed. Her commitment shines through and constantly urges the reader to continue reading. It may be foolhardy to name this year's most powerful book as early as February. But that Stolen is one of the most important Swedish books of the year is indisputable * Demokraatti (FI) *
Stolen is not only a fierce cry for justice, but also an empathic and beautiful story about the love of and nature * Norra Skane (SE) *
One of the most talked about books this spring ... Stolen is a moving, multifaceted, and important contemporary novel that highlights many serious themes and portrays a society and a situation that needs to be discussed many times over. A well-written story that leaves a lasting impression * P4 Vasternorrland (SE) *
A deeply gripping and atmospheric novel that will take hold of your heart. Filled with compelling characters and a formidable landscape - this debut is a triumph! -- DANIELLE DANIEL, award-winning author of DAUGHTERS OF THE DEER
In a careful and at times poetic prose [Laestadius] portrays milieus, conflicts, and magic from an area that has long been underrepresented in literary fiction in Sweden * Expressen (SE) *

Author Biography: Ann-Helen Laestadius is an author and journalist from Kiruna, Sweden. She is of Sami and Tornedalian descent, two of Sweden's national minorities. Published in Sweden in January 2021, Stolen is Laestadius's first adult novel. A national number one bestseller in Sweden, it has been sold into twenty-two territories and has been voted the Book of the Year. Laestadius has also been awarded the Adlibris Award for best novel, the Your Book Our Choice Prize given by the Swedish Association for Bookstore Employees, and the Vasterbottens-Kuriren Culture Prize. She lives with her family in Solna outside of Stockholm.