Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

Elsa comes from a Sami family whose reindeer herds is constantly under attack – not just poaching but also violent and abusive attacks. The Swedish police do not view these attacks as what they are - hate crimes and animal abuse. They view them as theft only. Hence the title of the novel.

Laestadius novel does capture the conflict of a people and culture under attack from a variety of different points. There is the attack on the reindeer, the livelihood for many of the Sami families, there is the effects of climate change, there is the conflict between traditional versus what some young adults wants (Elsa wants control over a reindeer herd for instance), there is the fetishization of the Sami by tourists who really don’t care about the people they are so determined to photograph, and there are the 1001 dramas that happen in every family.

The book is good, solid. It focuses on a culture that is usually not dealt with books that get attention here in America. Additionally there are some wonderful brilliant passages. Laestadius writes extremely well in describing the natural word but also the inner conflicts in families that always are not spoken.

The book covers much - the trauma of a forced school system, the impact of mental illness, the outsiders in insular communities. And it all feels real. The characters are not only believable but at many times feel as if they could walk off the page (or in my case the kindle screen).

The book does have a couple of flaws. The first section of the book, the section with Elsa as a young girl, feels too long. At times, Elsa is the only one that is special or good or interesting in her generation and this feels too much like the very unique one. This is alleviated somewhat with the introduction of Minna, a friend whose default setting is fighting back, but not by much. At times, as well, the book feels unrelenting grim, which considering the subject matter is not too surprising. One does wish for a bit more focus on some other minor characters as well. At times it feels like too few plot threads are dealt with or resolved.

The ending is somewhat predictable, but also extremely powerful. While not a perfect book, this is well worth the reading.

Stolen is a bestselling and award-winning debut novel follows the life of a Sámi girl, Elsa, and her struggle to defend her family’s reindeer herd and their traditional way of life. Full of references to the Sámi culture and way of life, good and bad. This novel is fiction,however it is so close to current events that it could easily be truth. The author used actual police reports (over 100 of them) to make the story as accurate as possible. Nothing I could write can do this novel justice. It is equal parts inspiring and heartbreaking. Not only is it an important piece of writing, but it is phenomenally written. The characters have such depth that they feel like people I actually know. One of the best novels I have read this year. Highly recommended!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

this took me awhile to finish but it’s a fascinating topic and culture that i probably never would’ve known about unless i read this! plot just dragged on a bit too much for me. overall enjoyed this book though!