Sandy Brehl

Set in Norway during World War II, Bjorn’s Gift continues the adventures of Mari, a young Norwegian girl who faces growing hardships and dangers in her small village in a western fjord.

German occupation troops and local Nazi supporters move closer to her family’s daily life, and her classmate Leif becomes active in the Norwegian Nazi youth party. Mari struggles to live up to her brother Bjorn’s faith in her, as she becomes more involved in risky resistance activities, trusting only her family and a few close friends.

Across Norway, oppressive laws are imposed in the months from Fall 1941 to early 1943, with dire local consequences. Difficult decisions force Mari to admit that many things in life are not easily sorted into good or bad, and she begins to wonder if Hitler will ever be defeated and . . . whether the occupation of Norway will ever end.
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-Amazon description… (altro)

Odin's Promise is about an eleven-year-old girl, Mari and her dog Odin in 1940, in newly occupied Norway. The Germans had come and pretended to be friendly, but rapidly placed more and more restrictions on them including things like not being able to wear their traditional dress for celebrations. Food was heavily rationed, radios were forbidden and it became difficult to know whom to trust. Some Norwegians, in order to get more ration cards joined the NS and worked with the Germans but many more formed the underground resistance.

Odin's Promise was inspired by several actual events that took place during the war in Norway. At the end of the book you'll find that information in the author's note as well as information on Syttende Mai (Norway's Constitution Day). There is also included a glossary of Norwegian and German words and a list of other books for middle grade/middle school readers about the same time and place in history.

The book was a fascinating account of the difficulties of life for a young person during wartime. For those young people who have been fortunate enough never to have faced war this book may help them understand some of the deprivations that they would have to endure if our country were occupied by another.

I enjoyed the family relationships in Mari's family, particularly the camaraderie she had with her brother Bjorne. I also liked the close relationship that Mari had with Bestamor. But the closest relationship that Mari had was with Odin and it was evident that the love between them went both ways. Never requiring a leash, Odin always obeyed her commands, breaking off his hunts at her call. Odin was always there after school to walk her home. They were constant companions since her eighth birthday when Mari's father had given her the Norwegian elkhound.

Odin's Promise moves along at a good clip which should keep the interest of any reader. There is plenty of suspense and danger and you'll probably need a tissue or two if you're emotional at all.

Although the target audience is for middle grade students, I'm sure that many people that age or older will enjoy this book. I certainly did! I gave this book a rating of 5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.

This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-odins-promise-n...… (altro)