Stolen

By: Ann-Helén Laestadius

Narrated by: Jade Wheeler

* NOW A NETFLIX FILM * AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR *

A spellbinding Swedish novel that follows a young indigenous woman as she struggles to defend her family’s reindeer herd and culture amidst xenophobia, climate change, and a devious hunter whose targeted kills are considered mere theft in the eyes of the law.

On a winter day north of the Arctic Circle, nine-year-old Elsa—daughter of Sámi reindeer herders—sees a man brutally kill her beloved reindeer calf and threaten her into silence. When her father takes her to report the crime, local police tell them that there is nothing they can do about these “stolen” animals. Killings like these are classified as theft in the reports that continue to pile up, uninvestigated. But reindeer are not just the Sámi’s livelihood, they also hold spiritual significance; attacking a reindeer is an attack on the culture itself.

Ten years later, hatred and threats against the Sámi keep escalating, and more reindeer are tortured and killed in Elsa’s community. Finally, she’s had enough and decides to push back on the apathetic police force. The hunter comes after her this time, leading to a catastrophic final confrontation.

Based on real events, Ann-Helén Laestadius’s award-winning novel Stolen is part coming-of-age story, part love song to a disappearing natural world, and part electrifying countdown to a dramatic resolution—a searing depiction of a forgotten part of Sweden.

Great book

Well narrated book about people and places that were unfamiliar to me. I totally enjoyed it.

Learn about the Sami people

I have mixed feelings about Ann-Helen Laestadius’ “Stolen”. I listened to the audio, narrated by Jade Wheeler. It’s advertised as a “Louise Erdrich meets Jo Nesbo” story. I believe it’s far more Louise Erdrich. Because of the advertisement, I expected a dark and gritty story. I expected a sinister narrator, or a narrator with a foreboding lilt. Narrator Jade Wheeler could be used in any Judy Blume books; she has that sweet, girl next-door sort of voice. If I read it, as opposed to listening, I might have gotten the Nesbo vibe.

On to the good stuff: I was very pleased to learn about the Sami reindeer herders in Sweden. This is an excellent story for those who are interested in this indigenous group and interested in the daily mechanisms of reindeer herding. It’s a brutal life. Because of the isolating nature of the herding life, mental health issues are abundant. Suicide is something all Sami families have endured. I learned of the social prejudices against the Samis, including racism. Author Laestadius is of Sami descent and used actual events occurring in the Sapmi territory, which allowed authenticity. The Sami population is around 80,000 and roam the Arctic areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. For centuries the Samis have been repressed by national governments involving stealing their land rights and allowing enterprises, such as those timber and mineral distraction on their herding routes. This has resulted in impacting climate change harming the reindeer herds. Even their native language has been repressed.

The plus side of listening to the audio was narrator Jade Wheeler’s authentic Sami voice in phrases and words. Shout-out to translator Willson-Broyles’ translation. In translating into the English language, she integrates the Sami language into the story, allowing authenticity to the story. Sami words grace the text.

The story revolves around a Sami girl Elsa, who is 9 at the start of the story. She witnesses a horrendous killing of her reindeer calf. The perpetrator threatened to kill her and her family if she told anyone. That trauma follows Elsa through adulthood. The authorities look at the killing of reindeer as a theft; the Sami view it as murder and a hate crime against their way of life.

“Stolen” won the Swedish reader-voted Book of the Year Prize in 2021. It’s going to be made into a Netflix film. This novel has allowed growing awareness of Sweden’s responsibility for the treatment of the Sami.

This is an excellent story that brings focus to a little-known indigenous community. I do enjoy learning about cultures I have had no previous knowledge. It’s a powerful story that illuminated the trials of the Sami culture.

If you get the audio, abandon the Jo Nesbo vibe. Appreciate the authentic Sami language! Learn about reindeer herding and the plight of the Sami people.

Narration

The story was interesting, but the narration was really slow. I felt like I was listening to a children’s book with the F word in it.

Stolen.

This book reads like a biography of a people I never knew existed. The emotional trama that is apart of their everyday existence. It is a well written book with a story that needs to be told.

A new author to follow!

My grandmother was Finnish Sammi. I just got a glimpse into her life. Pleasant book.