Customer Reviews

The Crow-Girl: The Children of Crow Cove

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There exist, in this world, a few perfect children's novels. And by perfect, I mean that they adeptly combine meaningful storylines that contain universal themes with plots and characters that kids are genuinely interested in. "Charlotte's Web" is one of these. And now, joining the ranks, comes another. "The Crow-Girl" is a recent import from Danish author Bodil Bredsdorff. In this remarkably small but astoundingly well-written book, a girl sets out on a quest whose course she does not dictate and proceeds to create something she has needed all her life. Kids may look at this book and shy away because it looks dull. Don't let them. This is one of the best books written in a very long time. A deeply satisfying novel.

The girl and her grandmother have lived in their tiny cottage by the sea for as long as the child remembers. Brought up by this single relative, the girl has learned everything she needs to know about gathering food and staying alive on what the sea provides. With her grandmother's death she at first plunges into misery, but continues to live and work. In time, the girl sets off to find other human beings and runs across a variety of people. She acquires the name of Crow-Girl due to her appearance and escapes the machinations of a cruel couple. She rescues a boy from his depression-infused father and leads two women from starvation. By the end of the tale the people she has helped and the life that she has led results in the formation of a small community and, more importantly, close-knit family to which the Crow-Girl now completely belongs. This is a book about survival as well as what a person needs beyond food and water to truly be alive. With a heroine you feel confident will never lack for anything and the two crows that seem to guide her on her journeys, it makes for a sometimes riveting, sometimes emotional, but always interesting book.

By the end of the tale our heroine has gone from simply being referred to as a young girl to Crow-Girl, to finally being given a real name of her own. And that, in a way, is a great way of explaining why this book is so good. It's filled with remarkable details like that one. Most importantly, the Crow-Girl isn't perfect. This isn't some idealized child who spouts wisdom and goodwill wherever she goes. She's just as prone to depression and mean-spirited thoughts as anyone. At the same time though, she's remarkably accomplished due to her upbringing. She has a love for the land, especially her little cove, that guides everything she does as well. Translated with remarkable skill by Faith Ingwersen, this book is bound to convince any and all people that translated children's books should be ten times as common as they currently are today. This is one of those small perfect jewels that are sometimes so hard to find. I seriously hope that more people will read and discover "The Crow-Girl" as time goes by. It is truly beautiful.

A young girl lives with her grandmother in a simple whitewashed house in a little cove by a brook. They live a simple life together. The girl collects driftwood for fires and gathers sea kale, mussels and sand snails for their meals. However, the girl's grandmother is very old and knows her time is limited. Before she dies, she tries to share her knowledge of the world with her granddaughter "chick." She tells the girl about the two kinds of people in the world --- those who make you feel cold inside and those who make you feel warm inside.

One day the girl wakes up and finds her beloved grandmother cold and still. She holds a lovely funeral for her and sings a song about her flying like a crow. The next day the girl sees two crows in the sky that seem to be calling to her. She follows the crows and begins her adventure.

During her journey the girl meets people who make her feel warm inside and others who make her feel cold inside. One of the people on her journey names her Crow-Girl. She always trusts her instincts, and does not journey alone for long. Soon, she has before her the makings of a new family.

THE CROW-GIRL is translated by Faith Ingwersen from its original Danish, and is written in lyrical prose. Young readers who want a tender, feel-good story about trusting your own intuition will love reading this timeless novel.

--- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner (renee.kirchner@usa.net)

This, so far is the best book I ever read. Yes,the cover looks dull, but inside,there's a great novel. Buy this book,definitely.It's sad,and emotional.Don't be surprised if you end up in tears when the book ends.The author should receive the Newberry Award. This is a must have for the year 2005. Buy it!!!

This is a lovely story about family ties and the love that binds even those not related into a family unit out of desire or necessity. When reading this book to my 6 year old son, I had to skim ahead to be sure things turned out okay for Crow-Girl. She's an engaging child and her grandmother was very wise in her teachings. My 6 year old, although very active, loved listening to this story and we were both sorry when we came to the end. Luckily, there is another book by this author which I will get next. If you tire of the books about bratty children, Junie B. Jones and Fudge, for example, this book is far superior...real literature rather than books churned out for a quick buck.

I was scanning the children section at my local library and came upon this book. First the titled intrigued me, and than I picked it up solely based on the cover. All those soft tones, that slight breeze that seems to be coming gently from the sea, through the grass, and that lonely girl just staring at the horizon. It made me think that this story would be soft like a whisper, like feathers against my skin.And I wasn't completely wrong.

The Crow-Girl is popular Danish children novelist Bodil Bredsdorff's first book to be translated in English. It tells the story of a small girl who lives in a small cottage by the sea with her aging, and dying, grandmother. She keeps the fire in the hearth going, she picks up driftwood and snails and kelp and mussels for their dinner. She takes care of things. When her grandmother dies, she sets out from the cottage to see what's beyond it, to meet people.

The Crow-Girl is a tale, told in a sparse prose, about family, the ones we are born in and and the ones we make for ourselves. That people can be hurt, or they can be hurtful, or both at the same time. But mostly it teaches us that joy can spring out of sorry and pain. It's a quick sweet read. I was left with small images of white cottages with smoking chimneys and sheep and the ocean coming and going, coming and going. It made me smile.

I really enjoyed this book. I read the second book- Eidi- first, and I liked the author's style and themes enough that I went back and read this one. I ended up enjoying this one even more than the second book, Eidi. It's very well-written and has wonderful themes. It conveys powerful messages for both kids and adults. I ended up discussing some of the book's messages to both my baby brother and my boyfriend since the messages were so universal and a good lesson for everyone. Remarkably, it's a kids' book that I would actually allow my baby brother to read because it is appropriate for kids. I've noticed so many "kid's books" contain a lot of material that I wouldn't consider kid-friendly, but, of course, that's my opinion.

I hope to see more of this author's works translated to English.

I read this book when I was 7 or 9. I loved it, it inspired me to write (shortly after I wrote a 200 page, no double space, typed, 12 font book. Unluckily, I forgot to save it and only fragments of the printed copy were found.) and showed me the significance of life and that there is always hope. Now I'm more of a dreamer and much better at writing. I had to read it twice! The book was in my school library but in the, "dump" section (meaning no one reads the books in that corner.) I found it to be a treasure and really wanted to buy the book. I'm now many, many years older and want to read it again. plus have my own copy. Parents your children will love this book there is adventure, somewhat a bit of suspence, and to me just pure magic. Although, I recommended this book to my friend she didn't really understand it, but I don't really understand what she reads so I guess some books were made for each personality.
I got my copy!!!
PS. It's a good book for a book report since it's set in Scandinavia, but doesn't really tell you where so what I did (to get an A)I looked up the Scandinavian peninsula, told all the characters and there is an interesting and thick plot. If done properly, this if an A (or A+) report.

This story is a beautiful work of fiction. In the true Scandinavian writing style this story is one which is not limited in the age of the reader. Also following in the Scandinavian style the settings are nondescript, so as to be able to happen anywhere in the world.

The story is both well-written and well translated. A wonderful story where a child learns to become both more self-sufficient and to rely on others. This story also shows death in a way that shows children that death is not the end of the world or of the love. It is a wonderful read and one which is appropriate for children of all ages.

The main problem that I had with this book was the fact that the author never really introduces a setting other than the fact that Crow - Girl and her grandmother live by the sea. The author never explains how the Crow - Girl lost her parents, how old Crow - Girl is, what place or time period the story takes place in, and other basic facts. However, despite these negative points, the story is enjoyable and the satisfyingly happy ending makes up for most of the book's faults. I would recommend this book as a pleasant story about friendship and survival and a quick and easy read.