It was good, but not what I was in the mood for just now, I guess. I really hate the cover. The writing was good, the characters were interesting, at no point did I want to put it down, but I was never really emotionally invested. ( )

I enjoy reading books from other countries. This, I believe is one of the few I've read from Iceland. (Rewritten in English by the author) Sympathetic characters and tense plots. ( )

Henry has been relentlessly bullied by his peers. All of his pain and rage are bottled up until one day he takes it out on his mother. After the assault, Henry is sent to a farm for "troubled boys" on the Icelandic coast run by a preacher and his wife. He is put in charge of the cows, a duty that he comes to find peace and contentment with. But the fire and brimstone teachings and lofty aspirations of the preacher who owns the farm continue to isolate and enrage Henry, fueling his wish for a friend beyond the cows and bull that he's been given charge of. This is an achingly sad book that explores loneliness, isolation, loss, and finally, friendship. The ableism displayed in the book is overwhelming sometimes. It's definitely portrayed as bad, but it's still a lot to deal with. In addition to the ableism, readers should be warned of contemplation of self-harm and suicide. This is a very heavy book and readers should be aware of their mental state before tackling it. ( )

More a philosophical treatise and a true essay into religious themes, it is a solid read but maybe not a children's book at all. ( )