Gunnel Linde (1924–2014)

Two outsider children who live across the street from one another become friends and set contests for each other, the prize for which feats is the trading back and forth of a lovely white stone.
Meh, this one had potential, but didn't deliver like it could have. To be fair, it could be a problem of poor translation (the original is Swedish).

Den Vita Stenen was one of my favourite programmes as a child. So, it was almost a mandatory thing to read the book once I came across a copy of it. And I loved it. Linde's writing was excellent and I remembered all the things from the programme and it was lovely to read. I had a bad case of nostalgia!

Teenage angst or the bite of a rabid neighbor? Something is making Ulf throw anger tantrums and alienating his family and friends, at least until he finds a brother-in-arms. This classic Gunnel Linde YA novel holds up very well and would still be appropriate for a younger YA reader. For an adult reader, it's an amusing look at Swedish schools and neighborhoods, all the way down to the Finnish neighbors.

Children's story about two children who challenge aech other to get a white stone they both want. A story about friendship, and about being lonely.