When the Snow Fell [Paperback]

Joel Gustafsson, the protagonist of Mr. Mankell's books for young people, is now about to be fourteen, still lives with his father Samuel in cold Sweden, but strange things are happening to his body, although not always fast enough. He is embarrassed about his voice, for instance, which is prone to be shrill. Joel longs to live to be one hundred, see the sea and most importantly-- at least it is what he obsesses most about because of his raging hormones-- see a naked woman. He still wishes his father were a glamorous sailor, as he once was, rather than a lackluster lumberjack, but he misses his run-away mom less and less.

In addition to all the problems that come with being thirteen and in school, Joel also does the grocery shopping, sometimes does the cooking for him and his dad, functioning as his own mom. All too often, however, he serves as the parent to his father, having to go searching for him when he finds him missing from home, knowing that he will find Samuel with drinking companions and will have to bring him home, inebriated, and put him to bed.

Joel in both his awkwardness and sexual awakening becomes every teenager. He is shy and awkward in the presence of the opposite sex, is convinced his father and other adults do not understand him, is afraid of what his life will be like as an adult, does not understand the mystery of death, and cannot wait to fly from the parental nest.

Although it has been many a moon since I was Joel's age, he is totally believable and so very likeable. I cannot conceive that teenagers around the world would not identify with him.

Joel Gustafson, the protagonist of two previous novels by Swedish author Henning Mankell (A BRIDGE TO THE STARS and SHADOWS IN THE TWILIGHT), is growing up. He's 14 now, and starting to realize that there are both good and bad things that come with getting older. As the book opens, he's about to make his New Year's resolutions --- very solemnly in a churchyard at midnight --- and his resolutions (like most) are pretty telling. For one thing, he wants to make himself strong enough to live until he's 100, a feat he intends to accomplish in part by toughening himself up by sleeping outdoors even in the brutal winter nights in northern Sweden. He also plans to help make enough money so that he and his dad, a former sailor longing to return to the crisp blue waves, can move closer to the ocean. And, most importantly, he resolves to see a real-live naked woman.

Joel's perplexities about girls and women --- he likes to watch them from a distance but is tongue-tied and shy in real life --- are representative of his ever-increasing awkwardness and uncertainty about growing up. Nowhere is this more apparent than in his shifting relationship with his friend Gertrud, a young woman who lost her nose after a surgical mistake. Gertrud is mocked and ostracized by others in their small town, but Joel has always been kind to her --- until he lashes out at her in a rage that even he doesn't understand. Meanwhile, he's growing increasingly fascinated by the young new salesclerk at the local market, whom he is sure will become the naked woman of his imaginations and resolutions.

Meanwhile, Joel is learning that growing up also means new, unwelcome responsibilities at home. His father, Samuel, has just been dumped by his long-time girlfriend, Sara, and he has returned to the heavy drinking and self-destructive behavior that characterized his life before she came along. Now, though, Joel feels a compulsion both to help his father and avoid the embarrassment that accompanies his public intoxication.

While this sense of responsibility is heightening as he grows up, his endearing imagination and fancifulness, as well as his sensitivity, remain. "To grow up is to wonder about things," Joel thinks to himself, "To be grown up is to slowly forget the things you wondered about as a child. He has realized this. And he doesn't want to become a grown-up like that." For many readers, Joel's thoughtfulness and quiet fancies are his most sympathetic qualities; they will be reassured that, as he grows up, he seems determined to preserve that part of his nature.

Like Mankell's other novels about Joel Gustafson, WHEN THE SNOW FELL is primarily about Joel's inner life, despite the adventures and outrageous situations he sometimes finds himself in. Thoughtful readers who enjoy considering things the way Joel does will continue to appreciate this series and likely will be surprised by the new directions hinted at in the novel's final chapters. These directions will be explored further in the next book about Joel and his father, due to be published in English in 2010.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

On the first snowfall of the year, 14-year-old Joel always makes his New Year's resolutions.

This year he's made three: live to be 100, patch up his relationship with his father, and see a girl naked.

Life keeps getting in the way, however, of him reaching his goals. His father is a lumberjack who goes on drinking binges and seems unhappy with life. His mother abandoned them years ago. To add to his plate, he's trying to navigate girls, first kisses, bullies, and having a crush on an older woman.

Will Joel reach his resolutions amongst all his problems?

A slower-paced book, but the author does a good job of constructing its main characters. The plot is intriguing and will appeal to middle school boys, who will be able to relate to Joel's struggles. Readers who like realistic fiction and coming-of-age stories will enjoy reading WHEN THE SNOW FELL.

Reviewed by: Kira M

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 5 reviews  4.8 out of 5 stars