New Swedish Books, Spring 2018 1
45 Spring 2018 The Dance of the Northern Lights J
enny Sjödin’s evocative The Dance of the Northern Lights tells the story of a young girl’s grief having lost her father. Elsie’s loneliness and tentative attempts to seek solace are delicately depicted. Some days playing just won’t do and brokenheartedly she sticks her feet into Dad’s big boots left forgotten in the hallway. An imaginary friend, in the shape of a big, safe, and kind polar bear appears and begins to join Elsie in her games. With the greatest respect for the need of the child to grieve in her own way the girl and the polar bear’s journey to find the Northern Lights is described. All interspersed with bursts of humour and warmth. The colour scheme of turquoise blues and the whiteness of the clumsy polar bear’s body are nicely contrasted with the girl, who is small and very sad, but who finds comfort. Jenny Sjödin (b. 1989) The Dance of the Northern Lights Publisher Olika förlag www.olika.nu Rights Olika förlag marie@olika.nu Jenny Sjödin is an illustrator and a graphic designer. The Dance of the Northern Lights is her first book. Photo: Olika