When We Were Vikings

By: Andrew David MacDonald

Narrated by: Phoebe Strole

Indie Next Pick for February 2020

Book of the Month January 2020

LibraryReads January 2020 Pick

Bookreporter New Release Spotlight

New York Post “Best Books of the Week”

Goodreads “January’s Most Anticipated New Books”

The Saturday Evening Post “10 Books for the New Year”

PopSugar “Best Books in January”

Book Riot Best Winter New Releases

“Zelda is a marvel, a living, breathing three-dimensional character with a voice so distinctive she leaps off the page.” (The New York Times)

“Heartwarming and unforgettable.” (People)

For Zelda, a 21-year-old Viking enthusiast who lives with her older brother, Gert, life is best lived with some basic rules:

1. A smile means “thank you for doing something small that I liked”.
2. Fist bumps and dabs = respect.
3. Strange people are not appreciated in her home.
4. Tomatoes must go in the middle of the sandwich and not get the bread wet.
5. Sometimes the most important things don’t fit on lists.

But when Zelda finds out that Gert has resorted to some questionable - and dangerous - methods to make enough money to keep them afloat, Zelda decides to launch her own quest. Her mission: to be legendary. It isn’t long before Zelda finds herself in a battle that tests the reach of her heroism, her love for her brother, and the depth of her Viking strength.

“A most welcome and wonderful debut” (Tyrell Johnson, author of The Wolves of Winter), When We Were Vikings is an uplifting debut about an unlikely heroine whose journey will leave you wanting to embark on a quest of your own, because after all...we are all legends of our own making.

©2020 Andrew David MacDonald (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

So Good

There are no words, the is so well written, so well narrated, you will be doing yourself a favor by listening.

Keep Listening, It is SO Worth It

When I first started this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. There is a lot of foul language...almost feels like too much, and then it doesn't. The more you get into this book, the more it makes so much sense.
This is a story about a brother and sister with only each other. She was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, and he is trying to take care of her in any way possible. The story is from her perspective, and it is beautiful and endearing. The twist of the story is that in order to cope with the world around her, she sees them as Vikings and has adopted a Viking culture for their world. Through this lens, the story takes you on their challenges to make it in this world. There are sad moments, and moments when I literally laughed out loud. I am so glad that I took a chance on this one.

Tricky Subject, Very Well Done!

When We Were Vikings is a very compelling story and a good listen. Andrew David MacDonald tells us the story of a girl who's had to get through the trials of life dealing with the effects of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Spectrum.

Two young siblings are doing the best they can as young adults. Their mother was a junkie, their step-father a child molester and abuser; so we have an older brother trying to raise his twenty-year-old sister. The two struggle for money and day to day necessities, but our young heroine creates a world that she can deal with and understand on her own. The Viking World may sound very complex, but it's simple to her. She can relate to how they functioned and took care of one another.

I don't recall reading a book about anyone who suffered first hand from FAS. I thought this was well tackled and original. I felt a connection to the characters event though I had nothing in common with them. I loved the narration, and although the story was somewhat depressing it was also very uplifting. The strides we take as we mature are always positive and hopeful regardless at what point in our life we choose to do so.

I would definitely recommend this book. Very credit worthy.

-Wendi

Excellent.

I enjoyed this immensely. Fell in love with the characters. Zelda is such a Valkyrie! We could all learn something from her.

Exceptional

I can’t even begin to tell you how much this book touched my heart, especially at the end. I’m not one that’s real emotional, but it got me.

Listen before you judge

This book was part of our book club list for the month of March, and I am SO happy to have chosen it. Anyone who is complaining about the “obsession with sex” or the “over use of cussing” has clearly never spent time with anyone who is neurodivergent. The subject matter was handled so well!

I’m typically wary of reading stories about women written by men, but the author did a wonderful job of researching his subject. All in all, I’d give it 10/10 if I could.

Too few star ratings

If I could give this novel 10 stars, I would! Every high school student should have this novel as required reading, including highly dyslexic students who could read it via Audible.

The perspective of the main character is SO educational and the first person narrative creates so much power addressing so many areas of aspects of survival and compassion among handicapped people, their families, and the nature of other professionals helping them.

Siblings caring for siblings without parents is a topic seldom addressed in novels. The entire novel makes one ask, who is taking care of whom?
It discusses good guys vs. bad guys, and shades of gray between good vs. evil.

It also makes one wonder who is truly handicapped, disabled people or normal people?

Just a really great piece of modern literature!

Wow!!!

Best novel I have read in a really long time. Get it. Listen to it. Love it. You won’t regret it.

Narrator makes this no el come to life

I really enjoyed this novel. I’ll be frank and admit it to a minute to get into but not so much as to be a barrier. I liked seeing the world through Zelda’s eyes. It was equal parts freeing and frustrating given her condition but always felt true. She finds herself in a rough place of not being completely normal but also not fully developmentally disabled and it makes it hard for her to fit in either world. The read the book on audible and the narrator was incredible. She really made the characters come to life and it was a beautiful journey.

Captivating, but strong language.

This book is very well written. The reader does a magnificent job! There is a lot of cussing. If it’s an issue, and you can get past it you’ll really enjoy the story.