Ronia, the Robber's Daughter

I read this to my grandkids over several visits. From one month to the next they remembered what was going on in the story and where we left off. We all enjoyed it greatly: Ronia's temper, so much like her father's, scary times with dwarves and harpies (not too many), taming wild horses, living in a cave and swimming in the river, her mother's bedtime song and homemade bread. They are robbers, however, and the ethics of this aren't really addressed; but this setting does allow for a feeling of freedom/independence and a lifestyle that is outside the cultural norms in which strong characters are fostered. This book shows Ronia's character developing, albeit reluctantly, and learning to accept a friendship with someone her family show more considers an enemy. Also shows her father's parallel reluctant change, something not often seen in a children's book. show less

This one was given to me by the person with the best taste in children’s literature of anyone I’ve met. Obviously I had to read it! I actually enjoyed it even more than Pippi Longstocking. Where Pippi is all about an unusual girl dropped into the midst of regular society, Ronia is all about a girl living in the wild.

She is the only daughter of the leader of a band of robbers. They live in the forest and her boisterous father and strong-willed mother give Ronia plenty of freedom to explore her surroundings as she grows up. When she makes friends with a young boy in the forest she has no idea that it’s the son of her father’s nemesis.

BOTTOM LINE: Another adventurous female protagonist from Lindgren. I can’t wait to share her show more books with my daughter. Ronia is a wonderful example of being brave, kind, and generous of spirit. show less

I know this is intended for younger readers, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's an absolutely delightful tale with wonderful characters that are so much fun to follow. It's fantasy that does not feel too different from the real world; more like a light dusting of whimsical fantasy, mostly in the form of mythical and folkloric creatures, sprinkled over the setting of a lush, enchanting wood and a cavernous castle on the hill. It's beautifully written with touches of humor here and there and moves at a leisurely pace that allows you to enjoy the world and its colorful characters. Very enjoyable!

Today I treated myself to a reread of an old childhood favorite, Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren. I just love this book. It's set in a fantasy world with harpies and rumphobs and gray dwarfs. It reminds me a bit of another little gem of a fantasy, The Farthest-Away Mountain by Lynne Reid Banks. Ronia is the daughter of a robber chieftain, Matt, and they live in the forest in Matt's robber stronghold with Ronia's mother Lovis and a ragtag band of robbers. Early on, Ronia learns to hate their rival Borka's robber band, until one day when she reluctantly saves the life of Borka's son, Birk. The two children adopt one another as brother and sister, but their friendship is threatened by the hatred between the two bands.

I show more really enjoy how Lindgren describes Ronia's consciousness and thought processes — she really understands how children's minds work. The characters are wonderful, with such strong personalities written in so few words (a nod is certainly due to Lindgren's translator, Patricia Crampton — great job!). It's a lovely little story with not a word out of place. Highly, highly recommended. show less

Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren is famous mostly as the creator of Pippi Longstocking; her fans, however, know that she wrote many other great children’s books. I read The Brothers Lionheart years ago, but while I appreciated the world-building, I was disturbed by her almost cavalier attitude towards the child mortality. I might never have picked up this book if a friend and fellow LT-er had not assigned it as part of a mutual YA challenge—and now I must say, I am thrilled that she did!

Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter is a deceptively simple tale, about the daughter of robber chieftain Matt. She was born on the stormiest night that anyone can remember, when a lightning bolt rent Matt’s Fort in two. She becomes the pride and boast of show more the entire robber clan, but remains in the dark as to what robbers really do. Her passion is for the forest itself, and throughout spring, summer, and fall she whiles her time away happily there. Then one day she discovers that a rival robber band, driven out of their former hideaway, has moved into the part of Matt's Fort that now lies on the other side of Hell’s Gap. At this discovery, the enmity between Matt's men and Borka’s escalates; meanwhile, Ronia forges a shaky and unlikely friendship with Borka’s son, Birk. Can the fondness between these two children overcome their parents’ hate?

I’ve often read that a children’s book is the hardest thing to write, and reading Ronia, I began to have an inkling as to why: a great children’s author has to master the art of saying a lot with a very little. Take the character of Ronia’s mother, Lovis. There are not many of words spent describing her, and she speaks little, but she is central to the story and to the life of the robber band. And there is a simple beauty to Lindgren’s descriptions, as translated by Patricia Crampton. One in particular stuck out to me, of the change that the smell of chicken soup wrought on the robbers, after they had eaten salted meat all winter. Scenes like seem all the warmer and more jovial when one considers how dark and dangerous the world Lindgren creates really is.

Moreover, this book invests its child characters with dignity and innocent wisdom, without trying to broadcast a message that adults are all evil or stupid. That is unusual for YA fiction, and very much welcome.

Astrid Lindgren crafted a lovely little book in Ronia. This is one I can see myself returning to, and reading to my own children someday. Recommended. show less

Sure, Pippi Longstocking is great — but have you met Ronia, the robber's daughter? Born in her father's castle in the middle of a thunderstorm, Ronia grows up compassionate and brave. She befriends Birk, the son of a rival robber, and when she brings him food during a harsh winter, her father disowns her; she ends up living an adventurous life in the woods with Birk. (Don't worry, everyone is reconciled in the end.) (For ages 8 to 12)

”Livet är en sak som man måste vara rädd om, förstår du inte det?”

Detta är inte endast en av Astrid Lindgrens bästa verk, detta är ett av de bästa verken i allmänhet. Det är så mycket jag skulle vilja säga, men mest vill jag bara läsa om den. Igen och igen.