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A review by devoe1se
When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
4.0
As many other reviews stated, this book is reminiscent of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, as it centers around a 21-year-old woman with ASD, Zelda. Zelda is under the care of her older brother following foster placement with an abusive uncle. This story follows Zelda and her understanding of the world as she navigates it with the help of her day program and her brother, whom she is very close to. Zelda learns of some shady activity her brother falls into, and in doing so, begins to navigate the world of adult relationships.
Zelda lives her life by a set of rules, many of which are based on how Vikings lived. She is fascinated by Viking history, and strives to live as one. MacDonald does a wonderful job incorporating many real-life struggles to those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, including juggling appointments with a psychiatrist, managing activities of daily living, and navigating the social world. While the story itself wasn't always gripping, there were times when the reader can relate with many of the characters and their life experiences. The storyline moves along well and reads easily.
Zelda lives her life by a set of rules, many of which are based on how Vikings lived. She is fascinated by Viking history, and strives to live as one. MacDonald does a wonderful job incorporating many real-life struggles to those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, including juggling appointments with a psychiatrist, managing activities of daily living, and navigating the social world. While the story itself wasn't always gripping, there were times when the reader can relate with many of the characters and their life experiences. The storyline moves along well and reads easily.