Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Madsi the True by S. J. Taylor - ESSENTIAL

Madsi the True by S. J. Taylor, 295 pages. Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon), 2024. $18

Violence: G (peril, danger, fights with mythical beings)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Madsi and her older sister Lisbet love telling and hearing stories. But a year earlier, Lisbet was snatched away by the Northern Lights from their small Norwegian village. When Madsi demands that the lights return her sister, another girl—Torin—falls from the sky instead. Lisbet was always the brave one, but now Madsi must find her own courage. Along with Torin and a boy named Espen, she sets out into the forest to find Lisbet and help Torin return to the lights. As the three unlikely friends battle harsh elements and monsters Madsi once thought existed only in stories, they discover that some stories are true, some are wrong, and that true friendship can be just as important as family."

A beautifully written, fast-paced adventure set in 1750 in a small Norwegian village. Many of the villagers have rarely, if ever, left their home, and because of that they have developed superstitions about the outside world. As Madsi and her friends journey together, they discover true friendship and bravery. I really enjoyed the story and this small glimpse into Norwegian folklore and history.

A. Snow, Librarian



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