Adventures with Waffles

Adventure is what happens when Lena and Trille get together. Since they live next door and are best friends, that means adventures are almost constant, and often disastrous. Heart-shaped waffles are the cure to adventure's, and life's, mishaps.

I fell in love with the Norwegian village of Mathildewick Cove and its inhabitants. Lena is the instigator and mischief-maker, reminscent of fun-loving Pippi Longstocking. Trille is a follower with a warm and worrisome heart who is constantly saving Lena from her impulsive actions. Grandpa joins in the fun with pirate skits on a moped. Auntie Granny serves up waffles for every occasion, good or bad. Trille's little sister, Krolle, spills the beans with innocent charm. Most of all, the children of show more Mathildwick Cove are gifted with lots of freedom in a safe and supportive community.

My favorite adventure was “Noah's Shark” when the inseparable two decide to out-do Noah and fill Uncle Tor's shark boat (a Norwegian fishing vessel) with as many animals as they can. Parr keeps the humor going with pithy dialogue and laughable scenes. Lena proclaims, “Ark is a pretty stupid name for a boat. That Noah could've thought up a better one. Maybe they hadn't invented all the letters of the alphabet yet. Since it was donkey's years ago.” Filling the boat with rabbits, chickens, goats, cats and insects was taking too long, so Lena and Trille snatched Uncle Tor's largest and best-behaved cow. When they return to the boat to see the goat eating the curtains, Lena screams. “The heifer was so scared by Lena's scream that she jumped a few feet up in the air and leaped onto the boat with a crash. She mooed madly into the sky and kicked out in all directions. The heifer slipped on the goat's droppings and kicked the window [and] jumped into the water… Then along came Uncle Tor.”

Summer fades into autumn and so do the adventures. As Trille and Lena wait impatiently for the coming of snow and sledding, disaster strikes. Parr segues masterfully from hilarity and pandemonium to sorrow and anger. “Death is almost like snow; you don't know when it's going to come, even if it tends to come in winter.” Trille learns the answer to Lena's question about the use of Dads when his father helps him face his first loss. Lena's disappearance means Trille also faces his first letdown from a friend.

A sure sign of a great book, I was reluctant for Adventures with Waffles to end. I will be on the lookout for more stories by Maria Parr. Best of all, I can return to this one when I need a dose of comfort and good writing.

My own dear Mother used to make waffles on a heart-shaped waffle iron. As with Trille, they were celebrations for adventure and comfort for difficulties. As with Trille, I was lucky to grow up in a beautiful place with plenty of freedom in a safe community.

Today, I make waffles for my family and friends. I try to put my heart into each one. show less

For the first several chapters of this book, I wasn't quite sure what the overarcing plot was, or if there even was one. And really, much of the book is a series of adventures that these two kids get up to in this otherwise-sleepy Norwegian cove. But there is a thread that runs through it, in which Trille, who thinks of Lena as his best friend, isn't sure whether he is her best friend. And it's not really surprising, since she is quite an outspoken, antagonistic girl, while Trille is more meek. My own daughter has gone through something similar, more than once, so Trille's plight hit close to home for me.

As an entire year passes, a few bigger side plots emerge, and more than one of them caused me to tear up a little. Though it's true show more that Trille and Lena don't obey their parents very well and face some consequences for their disobedience (though not always are those consequences very severe), there is quite a bit of heart in this book, and that's what I was left with at the end. This would be a great book to read together with kids, recommended for 7-10-year-olds. show less

I read this book aloud a number of years ago, and we really enjoyed it. Now, I got to read it aloud again, since my youngest was ready for it. What fun! Though I was reading it to her, while the rest of the family went about their evening routines, quite often older people in the family would stop to listen and laugh at the predicaments that Trille and Lena found themselves in. Some of the most memorable? Putting out a fire with manure. Leading a heifer onto a boat. Rescuing a horse from the butcher. Or what about the time Lena demanded that Trille bang her head into the dock? There was never a dull moment with her around! This book quickly became a family favorite.

In this book we meet 9 year old Theobald Rodrik Danielsen Yttergård, normally just referred to as Trille. He lives in a tiny village with his parents and three brothers and sisters, and his grandfather. Trille's best friend lives next door, she is also 9 and her name is Lena. Trille knows Lena is his best friend, but he is not so sure that he is Lena's best friend. He wishes she would tell him that some time, so he can be certain. We follow Trille and Lena through a whole year with games, school and friendship until disaster breaks. Will life ever be the same?

This book is classified as children's literature, but can certainly be read by adults too. The author Maria Parr has published two books, including this, and is already being show more compared with Astrid Lindgren. I can fully understand why! This book provoked a range of different emotions, from nodding recognizably to memories from my own childhood, to ridiculously loud laughter, to tears and even sobbing. This book is good, no it is not just good, it is fantastic. Definitely one of the memorable read this year. show less

I’ve not read this but so many people I respect, enjoy it. I’ll put in my own review soon. Content considerations- a main character is missing a father, the word stupid is in here, death of a grandparent, childhood mischief. A read a short review saying it was like a mix of Ramona, Clementine, and The Children of Noisy Village.

Review: I did this book as a read aloud. I don’t agree it’s like Ramona who I recommend with zero reservations to everyone.

Pros- the children enjoyed it.
Cons- sometimes I want a book that isn’t full of discussion. I just want a pleasant book I don’t have to think about. Sorry not sorry.

If like me you just want a pleasant book you don’t have to think about then skip this.

My kids rated it 5 show more stars(Allison 11), 4.5 stars(Peter 15), and 4 stars(James 13).

What even am I reading?

I don’t like this so far, but hopefully it grows on me.

Is anyone watching these kids? 🥴

It’s cool that there is knot tying, be prepared that your children might be interested in that.

There is a scene where for a joke the aunt and grandpa come out with a suit on the aunt and a wedding dress on grandpa. IMO this is meant to be ridiculous and not grooming material though it is sad that our culture is so upside down I need to consider this.

I have not liked the book thus far but I think part of that might be the translation. I did laugh at the idea of shooting manure at a fire to put it out with raining cow plops.

While pro religion this book is rude with abundant potty humor.

Do my kids think it is hilarious? Yes.

Do I think it is polite? No.

Mentions absentee father and asks what good a father is. We discussed how a father is a very good thing and considering Lena’s behavior-she could use one.

Calls people on a team idiots. Idiot used again from Lena to Trille after a misadventure in a boat.

I have mixed feelings. My children enjoy this book. I have laughed too. I feel like…I can think of people I’d recommend this to who would love it but it’s definitely not for everyone.

I’d be very interested to know if the author meant all of this in the tone I read it in.

Return of potty humor in chapter 10. Very odd to go from scripture to potty humor.

Chapter 12

Lena is again wondering what good a father is. Have they any value if they won’t eat your unwanted vegetables?

Lena decks someone at school.

Trill mentions that while he is not allowed to see pg-13 movies he had still seen some.

I continue to wonder if this is more a translation issue or perhaps cultural.

I am not a fan of this book though I can see where people would like it.

I’d rather not use our limited family read aloud time for a book like this however much my children are enjoying it.

Chapter 13

Starts off sweetly mentioning God had sprinkled snow like powdered sugar.

Trill visits Auntie Grannie and they discuss how Trill fears losing Lena but thinks Lena does not fear losing him.

Then they discuss how Auntie Grannie is never very afraid because she knows Jesus is caring for her.

And then Auntie Grannie dies soon after.

There is pretty accurate portrayal of the sadness and occasional boredom of a funeral.

We see how their family celebration of Christmas changes with the loss of Auntie Granny.

Lena moves and she and Trille are bereft. Lena runs away back to her town and Trille’s barn. I hate in books where the kid runs away. Lena and Tille’s mother decide Lena will stay with them during the week for now.

Final three chapters, predictably potty humor returns and lambs are born out of bums.

There is a fire and Trill runs toward and into it to save his horse. Lena alerts the family and then runs toward and into it to save Trill and the horse. Grandpa runs into it to save Lena.

In closing- I don’t hate this book. I don’t love it. My children are sufficiently mature to laugh at the humor without repeating it. Would I read it again? Do I recommend it?

No I would not read it again.

I would recommend it conditionally to people who are ok with potty humor and don’t need every book to be serious.

I think..I have read quite a bit of material from Norway and the surrounding area now, culturally I think I just don’t find it appealing. show less

I found this book okay. I realize that I'm not the intended audience for this book. I didn't love Lena's character and I was annoyed by some of the things that they did. I don't love books about naughty children who make life difficult for others. I feel like they were old enough to know better.
I think kids might enjoy the story and all the hijinks that the two children get up to.

This was a wonderful book about a boy and his best friend and all the crazy adventures they had together. We laughed and we cried.