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.