By Camilla and Viveca Sten
Translated from the Swedish by A. A. Prime
U.S. edition: Amazon Crossing Kids, 2026
331 pages
978-1662532832
Age 12 and older
This moody and atmospheric thriller follows twelve-year-old Tuva (white) in the aftermath of a missing classmate in the forest of her small island school. Growing up on the Swedish archipelago, Tuva has known her classmates her whole life. She accepts that they think she is weird, partly on account of her appearance and the neck scars related to a boating accident when she was a baby. When popular Axel vanishes during an orienteering activity and is presumed dead, the close-knit community is distraught. Classmates are suspicious of Tuva who found Axel’s orienteering partner Rasmus lost and confused in the woods. Not only did Tuva find Rasmus, but she also witnessed something that can only be described as supernatural. Tuva has long believed in the Ancient Ones, though no one talks about the trolls and elves that Tuva has spotted throughout her life. As the search for Axel continues, Rasmus reaches out to Tuva and they form a tenuous friendship. He, too, saw fairy lights when Axel disappeared and Tuva confesses that she has been tormented by nightmares and strange warnings. Together, the pair try to identify who, or what, lured Axel away. Ultimately, the mystery can only be solved by understanding the secrets hidden by Tuva’s island family and the Ancient Ones. This Swedish fantasy noir lures readers with its short chapters, cultural and environmental elements, and satisfying mix of friendship and fright.