Originally published in Swedish as Freja och huggormen. Translated
by B.J. Woodstein.
Kids Can Press, 2025.
At their summer cottage, Freya's little brother, Hugo, spots a snake in the cairn. "Its name is Ormis," Freya proclaims. Worried for Hugo's safety, Freya's parents decide they don't want Ormis around -- they must catch the snake and take it away from their home. They assure Freya that the snake won't be harmed. Wearing rain boots and thick gloves, Freya's dad tries to capture Ormis all day. But Ormis is too quick, hissing and slithering in and out of rocky crevices, hiding from view. By the end of the day, Freya's dad is frustrated, his patience thin. So, when he spots Ormis again at last, he sneaks up slowly... and kills him with an oar. Freya sees the whole thing. "Murder!" Freya yells at her dad. Disheartened by her dad's actions, Freya shuns him. She knows that Ormis could have hurt Hugo, but does that mean the snake deserved to die? Surely not. But even if her dad did a bad thing, can Freya really stay mad at him forever? This unflinching picture book explores death, the relationship between humans and nature, and what happens when a child sees their parent do something they think is wrong -- and what it takes to find forgiveness.
A very different approach to dealing with death.
Freya’s father kills a snake, which could have bitten one of
the family. Freya cannot forgive the snake murder, even after his reasons are
explained. Freya has to deal with her anger at her father, but also her love of
him.
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