This second book in the series follows Stolen and can be read as a standalone but continues the story of the Sámi people in Sweden. Spanning decades, we learn about five Sámi children who are forced to attend the country's residential schools and how this experience affects them thirty years later. The author writes movingly about intergenerational trauma, friendship, yearnings for motherhood and more. I really enjoyed this on audio narrated by Jade Wheeler who is able pronounce the Indigenous words sprinkled throughout the book authentically. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! Highly recommended for fans of authors like Fredrik Backman or Michelle Good.

This was a very informative book. It was full of both heart and sadness while showing hope for the future.

Punished is a look at an Indigenous culture that many people outside of Europe may not even know about. I knew that there are Indigenous groups around the world, but I never thought about Northern Europe as being one of the places they exist. Punished is a look at the Sámi experience with government-run schools. These schools were designed to force the kids to integrate more into “white” society.

The story is told through five POVs and their experiences in two decades. We spent time with Jon-Ante, Else-Maj, Nilsa, Marge, and Anne-Risten while they were at the school in the 1950s. We also spent time with them in the 1980s and saw how their time at the school influenced who they became as adults. Sometimes, the chapters would stay in the 1950s but change POV. Other times, we would stay with the same POV but change from the 1950s to the 1980s.

The multiple POVs can sometimes be confusing, but the characters are written so you can tell them apart. It helps that each chapter is labeled with the character’s name and the time we are in. However, there is a side character with a name similar to one of the kids, which can be confusing. I found the timeline changes less confusing, as it was easy to tell when we were with the kids and when we were with the adults.

My biggest issue with the book was that some Sámi words were not translated into English. This could add to the point that these kids were often stripped of their language and culture. But it does add some stumbling blocks along the way. Thankfully, there were enough context clues to help you figure out what those words mean.

If you want to learn more about the past, especially how Indigenous peoples have been treated, Punished is a great read. Don’t expect this to be a quick or easy read. Do expect it to leave a mark on your heart and mind.

Book Review Punished: A Novel by Ann-Helene Laestadius

This is the second book written by Laestadius and although it is not a sequel, having read both books I feel like you will enjoy them more if you read Stolen: A Novel first. Stolen is the story of a young Sami girl and her struggle to defend her family’s reindeer herd and their traditional way of life. I felt like this book provides the foundation for understanding the lifestyle and culture of the Sami people and the reindeer herding collective and industry; their struggles to maintain their culture and the racism they experience from the surrounding communities. I found Stolen fascinating as I had no knowledge of the Sami people. Although not necessary it will definitely enhance your appreciation and understanding of Punished and its a fabulous book so why not.

Punished is the story of 5 seven year old Sami children and their siblings when they are forced to attend nomad school, Sweden’s residential school system for the Indigenous Sami people. The story is shared from multiple POV and alternates between telling the experiences of the children at the school and the ramifications for them and their community as adults. In a unique twist, the house mistess of the school returns to the community triggering all of the victims who encounter her.

The children are physically victimized, punished and abused. But even more so they are isolated, stripped of everything familiar and told that who they are is wrong and evil. The children upon arriving at school are renamed, are not allowed to speak their language and are punished if they do speak it and punished if they do not understand instructions in Swedish. They are repeatedly informed that their culture, and cultural practices, their parents and themselves are wrong, satanic, and devil worshipers and will go to hell. They are treated with disdain, coldness and abuse. Affection is not shown or tolerated, nor is crying or displaying emotions.

“I was sometimes paralyzed by this feeling of being completely abandoned, that there was nowhere to turn.” “The never ending struggle to be allowed to exist.”

This book was informed by Laestadius mother’s experiences at a nomad school and provides an impactful recounting of the violation, abuse and what was stolen from the children and their communities through this horrific genocidal practice. I thought the book did a masterful job in voicing the psychological, emotional and cultural impact on the children and their identity, their sense of self as children and how it affected them as adults and as parents. I have read many fiction and nonfiction books on residential schools and this is one of the best in depicting the emotional scars and drawing such a clear connection to the impact on their sense of self, identity and adult functioning. The school embedded in them feelings of wrongness and shame about themselves, their family and their community. This shame is further reinforced by the racism they experience within the larger community on a regular basis.

Through the use of the five MCs you are able to understand how these trauma’s are differently internalized and exhibited in adulthood. Their sense of cultural connection and identity was all harmed but some chose to reject and hide their Sami heritage, while others embraced their culture harder and mourned the opportunities and language they lost because of school. The profound impact in losing their language is poignantly and meaningfully described throughout the book. It is the language of their heart and is how they are connected to their families and Elder’s.

It is important to bear witness to the stories of Indigenous children, fiction or nonfiction, about the abusive practices of residential schools. This is an important work and I urge you to read it and bear witness to these stories.

So so so so good! This was a very moving story. Inspired by true events, punished follow Sámi children who are forced to attend a government run school in 1950s Sweden. The narrative then jumps 30 year ahead, exploring how their experience at the school left deep emotional scars and lasting trauma

Ann-Helén Laestadius delivers yet another deeply moving and powerful novel with Punished.

The first 20% was a bit disorienting as I familiarized myself with the characters and their relationships, but once I got my bearings, it became much easier to follow. Laestadius skillfully overlaps their experiences, creating a tapestry of interconnected lives.

This book reminded me of Five Little Indians by Michelle Good, another excellent read. Both novels explore the lingering impacts of systemic oppression and the resilience of those who endure it.

The first half of Punished moves more slowly, laying the groundwork by detailing the characters’ younger years at the Nomad school and their adult lives in the 1980s. Once the former headmaster of the school reappears in town, the pace intensifies, and the story gains momentum. Laestadius does an exceptional job capturing the characters’ conflicting emotions—physical revulsion and painful memories resurfacing, tied to trauma their younger selves.

Marge’s storyline resonated with me deeply, especially as an adoptee. Her reflections on her time at the Nomad school—where she was forced to learn a new language, take on a new name, and adapt to new customs—parallel her daughter’s experience as a Colombian adoptee. This realization compels Marge to reconsider her past and strive to be the best mother she can for her daughter, adding emotional depth to the narrative.

The diversity of characters and their distinct personalities was another highlight. Each character’s individuality shines through, yet the shared impact of their time at the school binds them together in ways that feel authentic and poignant.

Overall, Punished is another incredible work by Laestadius—both deeply moving and thought-provoking. I’m grateful to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC, which introduced me to a new favourite author. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a powerful exploration of identity, resilience, and the lasting effects of systemic injustice.