The Brothers Lionheart (1975)

I had this subscription to Cricket magazine as a child and I read the first installment of this story and then my subscription ran out and because I was a kid in pre-internet times I couldn't figure out how to find the book. Or even that it was a book. Why didn't I just go to the library and get the next Cricket? Because that issue of Cricket was stolen from the library. Why didn't I do inter-library loan? Because I don't think they did that for ten year olds in 1981.

Oh how I suffered, not knowing what happened to the two brothers who jumped out of their burning house to what seemed certainly to be their deaths.

Then in 2002, I was working at Dog Eared Books in San Francisco and someone brought this book in to sell. One of the best days of my life. It actually holds up to twenty years of longing.
( )

I loaned this to a girlfriend and then she dumped me and then I called her house like every day all "GIVE ME MY BOOK BACK" until she finally left it outside my door so she wouldn't have to talk to me.

I was a pretty big fan of this book. ( )

I read the book after I saw the movie, but I was more impressed with the book.
The book is clear, straight forward in its descrition of good and bad, without being patronizing.
It reads like a a fairy tale, despite it has its very sas sides too. I loved it! ( )

A nice, nostalgic bedtime read.
Actually big hit with J (age 8). Read it to himself lots since, and when I woke him up the other morning, he said Traitor (who?) XXXXX so must have been dreaming about it too. ( )

The Brothers Lionheart by Hans Christian Anderson Medal winner, Astrid Lindgren, is a lovely work of children’s fantasy literature. It tells the epic tale of two young brothers who die in our world and enter the magical land of Nangiyala where they become the Brothers Lionheart. In this world Karl isn’t sick anymore, and the brothers have their own cottage and horses and a stream for fishing and friendly neighbours and all things are wonderful. But they won’t stay that way for long. An evil warrior has taken over a neighbouring village and forced all its residents into slavery. Soon their own village will fall under the same hands, but not if the Brothers Lionheart can stop it. Here begins a magical adventure full of secrets and betrayal, courage and determination, monsters and evil men, and good friends and two brothers that share an endless unconditional love.
This story is told from the first person point of view through the eyes of the younger brother Karl, who adores his older brother Jonathan for his courage, kindness, and beauty, but has less faith in himself, often degrading himself for being small and scared. Throughout the fantastical journey we see Karl grow into a brave boy, as the entire tale comes full circle in an inspiring way. The whole book is a wonderful display of emotion. The beautiful connection the two young brothers share really touched me, and one of the illustrations was enough to bring me instantly to tears (I’m such a sap). This is an inspiring book for children, which teaches them the importance of being brave, doing your best, and doing the right thing. ( )