A Bridge to the Stars

by Henning Mankell, Laurie Thompson (Translator)

Overview

12 year old Joel lives with his father in the cold northern part of Sweden. At night he often sneaks out of his father's house to look for a lonely dog he has seen from his window. On the bridge across the icy river he starts a secret society and has adventures. But one night he discovers that his father's bed is also empty and will have to come terms with his father's new-found love. The harsh reality of Joel's world comes vividly to life and leaves the reader spellbound.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849398114
Publisher:	Andersen Press, Limited
Publication date:	07/15/2009
Series:	Joel Gustafson Series , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	263 KB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Henning Mankell (1948-2015) became a worldwide phenomenon with his crime writing, gripping thrillers and atmospheric novels set in Africa. His prizewinning and critically acclaimed Inspector Wallander Mysteries continue to dominate bestseller lists all over the globe and his books have been translated into forty-five languages and made into numerous international film and television adaptations: most recently the BAFTA-award-winning BBC television series Wallander, starring Kenneth Branagh.

Driven by a desire to change the world and to fight against racism and nationalism, Mankell devoted much of his time to working with charities in Africa, including SOS Children’s Villages and PLAN International, where he was also director of the Teatro Avenida in Maputo. In 2008, the University of St Andrews conferred Henning Mankell with an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his major contribution to literature and to the practical exercise of conscience.

www.henningmankell.com

Hometown:

Mozambique, Africa

Date of Birth:

February 3, 1948

Place of Birth:

Stockholm, Sweden

Education:

Folkskolan Elementary Shool, Sveg; Högre Allmäna Läroverket, Borås

Editorial Reviews

The Swedish crime novelist, author of the Kurt Wallander mysteries, gives a younger audience a sophisticated glimpse into a boy's psyche in this simple but captivating novel. Set in a secluded mountain town in northern Sweden in 1956, the story is full of quiet moments that fluently capture its protagonist's yearning to gain his footing in a lonely adult world he doesn't understand. Eleven-year-old Joel has questions that need to be answered. Why did his mother walk out on him and his father? If his father loves the sea, why are they holed up in the mountains? And why has his father started inviting big-breasted Sara, the loud waitress with the red hat, over for coffee? Instead of laying out each step Joel takes as he sorts things through, Mankell sends Joel on a series of thrilling midnight adventures, wherein he sneaks out of the house to search for a mysterious dog (and his own identity). Using his fertile imagination, Joel forms a secret society of explorers who share his mission and "grown-ups who think like children and act differently." His evolving relationship with his father and his encounters with local outcasts are refreshingly life-affirming, and by the end, readers can rest assured that Joel's journey, and their own, has been a fruitful one. Ages 12-up. (Dec.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

EBOOK COMMENTARY

The Swedish crime novelist, author of the Kurt Wallander mysteries, gives a younger audience a sophisticated glimpse into a boy's psyche in this simple but captivating novel. Set in a secluded mountain town in northern Sweden in 1956, the story is full of quiet moments that fluently capture its protagonist's yearning to gain his footing in a lonely adult world he doesn't understand. Eleven-year-old Joel has questions that need to be answered. Why did his mother walk out on him and his father? If his father loves the sea, why are they holed up in the mountains? And why has his father started inviting big-breasted Sara, the loud waitress with the red hat, over for coffee? Instead of laying out each step Joel takes as he sorts things through, Mankell sends Joel on a series of thrilling midnight adventures, wherein he sneaks out of the house to search for a mysterious dog (and his own identity). Using his fertile imagination, Joel forms a secret society of explorers who share his mission and "grown-ups who think like children and act differently." His evolving relationship with his father and his encounters with local outcasts are refreshingly life-affirming, and by the end, readers can rest assured that Joel's journey, and their own, has been a fruitful one. Ages 12-up. (Dec.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Publishers Weekly

Gr 6-9

Henning Mankell's novel (Delacorte, 2007) is set in 1956 in an isolated logging town in the Swedish mountains. Eleven-year-old Joel Gustafson's mother abandoned him and his father when he was very young. The boy likes to spend time with his father, listening to stories about the days he spent as a seafarer, and dreams of going to sea when he grows up. One night he observes a lone dog outdoors and imagines that he is headed for the stars. Joel creates a secret society and begins sneaking out at night to look for the dog. Along the way, he runs into a few of the town's oddest people, including a mean-spirited older boy who encourages him to take part in pranks that make him uncomfortable. He also discovers that his father is having a sexual relationship with the waitress at the local bar. After attempting and escaping from a dangerous adventure, he gains some insight and becomes more understanding of his father's loneliness. Australian narrator Francis Greenslade's reading is pleasant, and there are musical interludes between chapters. This stark story leaves much unanswered and is sometimes repetitive and childish, yet is has mature themes and vocabulary.-Jo-Ann Carhart, East Islip Public Library, NY

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