When We Were Vikings

This is a very engaging debut novel featuring a young adult with a cognitive disability. Born with fetal alcohol syndrome, Zelda is high functioning but is quite guileless and naive, not always understanding social interactions and people's intentions, which can get her into dangerous situations. Her parents both died when she was young and she and her brother Gert were sent to live with their creepy Uncle Richard, who was cruel to Gert and liked to touch Zelda. After a knee injury put paid to the possibility of a college football scholarship, Gert dropped out of school, got a job at a gas station and moved himself and Zelda into a cheap apartment to get them away from Uncle Richard. Gert does his best to look after Zelda, making sure she the structure she needs to her life and receives all the help she can get, but Gert's life is tough as he has his own emotional and financial problems and mixes with a rough group involved in drug dealing.

Zelda loves going to the library and is obsessed with Viking culture, reading everything about them that she can lay her hands on. Her favourite book is 'Kepple's Guide to the Vikings' and she frequently sends emails to the author asking for advice on how a Viking would behave in the situations she encounters. She also decides that she wants to become a Viking Hero of her own legend, protecting her tribe - Zelda's boyfriend Marxy, Gert and his girlfriend Anna (called AK47 by Zelda) and standing up for people who can't defend themselves.

Zelda is a unique character, easy to like as she fearlessly strives to do her best for her tribe. When she comes across people who are cruel or nasty she will boldly call them out, using the swear words she has grown up hearing. Things also don't always go her way as she is often unable to take into account how others will react, but she is able to learn from situations that go badly. When she decides it's time to have sex with her boyfriend Marxy (also cognitively impaired), she tackles the issue head-on, unashamedly seeking advice and instruction from Gert's girlfriend but the results are both humorous and sad. She is also easily deceived into being too trusting of others, leading to a major disaster for Gert and Anna. However, despite all this it's a delight to see Zelda experience a lot of personal growth as she gains enough confidence and independence to take more control of her own life.

This quirky debut novel gave a lot of food for food, especially on how disabled people should not be labelled, but treated as individuals, all capable of personal growth with the right opportunities and encouragement.

Excellent book to make you realise the capabilities we all have , and not put people into boxes. A great book to make you strive for the stars and to believe you can do things. I highly recommend this book.

As a lover of Vikings, I was of course drawn to the title and the cover was also appealing. I loved this book. It was beautifully written, the characters were real and delightful. I think it’s so important to have characters such as Zelda and show different perspectives of the world. Such a heartwarming book!