Adventures with Waffles

Gr 3-5--In this delightful Norwegian import, two friends, a boy nicknamed Trille and his best friend, Lena, get into some hair-raising, frequently hilarious, and, sometimes, injury-inducing escapades over the course of a year. Narrated by Trille in a realistically childlike, first-person voice, the novel is fresh and fast-paced. While readers will chuckle at the friends' adventures--and marvel at their chutzpah--their mouths will also water at the frequency with which waffles, clearly a popular Norwegian treat, figure into the story. Children will relate to Trille's anxiety about whether he is Lena's best pal, a worry extinguished in a final, harrowing episode that, fortunately, ends well. Silhouettes, featured on the charming cover, also highlight chapter openings and provide a cozy, friendly feel. Readers may occasionally be put off by Lena's portrayal as too proud, stubborn, and reckless for her own good, but they'll appreciate her resourcefulness and strength of character anyway. Purchasers should note some religious overtones and Christian references. VERDICT Recommended for public and school libraries, this will be useful as supplementary material in units about day-to-day life in another country.--Carol Goldman, Queens Library, NY

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

This heartfelt and humorous debut novel comes to the U.S. having received award attention abroad and spawned a television show in the author's native Norway. Trille considers his classmate Lena his best friend ("There isn't really any such thing as an ordinary day when you've got a... friend like Lena"), but she's too free-spirited to think of their relationship in those terms. The episodic novel follows the friends as they make mischief together--playing Christmas music in June for money on the street, for example, or pretending they are spies while riding on Trille's grandfather's moped. "You and Lena never do the same thing twice," exclaims Trille's father after the busking incident. "You only come up with more insanity!" Trille and Lena's warm friendship recalls that of Astrid Lindgren's Pippi and Tommy, though Parr does engage in serious issues, too. Lena's hunt for a father (her mother is her only family) often has Trille considering his own close-knit family, and the loss of Trille's grandmother and his shared grief with his grandfather are tenderly and authentically treated. Forrester's handsome b&w silhouette-style images open each brief chapter. Ages 7-9. (May)

Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

For all its emotional resonance, the narrative is never soppy ... this appealing chapter book has a distinctive setting, plenty of humor, and unusual emotional clarity.
—Booklist (starred review)

With simply rendered illustrations that zero in on key elements of the story, Forrester extends the charm of this tale.Filled with both rollicking escapades and poignant moments, Parr's notable tale portrays a young boy's heartfelt appreciation of family and friends.
—Kirkus Reviews

Recommended for public and school libraries, this will be useful as supplementary material in units about day-to-day life in another country.
—School Library Journal

A playful yet sweet story in the tradition of E. Nesbit's The Treasure Seekers, this well-observed novel nimbly explores the balance of friendships and the fear and longing that hides beneath the most prickly personalities as it celebrates old-school scrapes and the rewards of mutual best friendship.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Heartfelt and humorous.
—Publishers Weekly

Strongly plotted, with larger changes in the lives of the families woven into Trille's smaller-scope story.
—The Horn Book