
Reach for this book when your child is standing on the threshold of adolescence, feeling the first stings of social comparison or the frustration of not being seen for their true talents. Set in a rugged Norwegian coastal village, this story follows best friends Trille and Lena as they navigate the messy transition into being twelve. While it is filled with humorous mishaps and seaside adventures, the heart of the narrative explores the vulnerability of growing up, the changing dynamics of friendship, and the importance of resilience when life feels unfair. Parents will appreciate the way it validates the intense emotions of middle childhood while maintaining a sense of warmth and wonder. It is a beautiful choice for children who are beginning to trade simple play for more complex social navigating, offering a secular and deeply human look at family, aging, and finding one's place in the world.
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Sign in to write a reviewA first crush and the awkwardness of new feelings are depicted.
Themes of aging and the fear of losing a loved one.
The book deals with aging and the fear of loss through the grandfather's storyline. The approach is realistic and secular, emphasizing the emotional bond between generations. There is also a depiction of an adult coach being dismissive and unkind, which is handled with a focus on Lena's internal resilience.
A 10 to 12 year old who feels like they are 'too old for toys but too young for everything else.' Specifically, it's for the kid who loves sports but is currently frustrated with a team dynamic or a child who is feeling 'friendship growing pains.'
Read cold. The scene where the grandfather is lost at sea is intense but resolved. A parent might see their child discouraged by a coach or teacher, or notice their child feeling left out as a best friend starts taking an interest in romantic crushes.
Younger readers (8-9) will enjoy the slapstick humor and the raft-building mishaps. Older readers (11-12) will deeply identify with Lena's 'existential' soccer crisis and Trille's confusing feelings about the new girl.
Maria Parr captures the 'wildness' of childhood. Unlike many American middle-grade novels that feel sanitized, this has a rugged, salt-of-the-earth honesty where kids are allowed to be loud, angry, and physically daring.
In this sequel to Adventures with Waffles, twelve-year-olds Trille and Lena face a year of significant change in their coastal Norwegian village. Lena, a dedicated soccer goalie, struggles under a new, discouraging coach who doesn't recognize her talent. Meanwhile, Trille navigates the arrival of a new girl in class, which shifts the duo's long-standing friendship dynamic. Woven throughout is the story of Trille's grandfather, whose refusal to acknowledge his aging leads to a harrowing maritime crisis.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.