The Crow-Girl: The Children of Crow Cove

by Bodil Bredsdorff

Book Overview

A timeless novel about the kindness of strangers Near a little cove where a brook runs out to the sea live a girl and her grandmother. All alone with no neighbors at all, the two lead a peaceful existence. They have a house, dine on sea kale and mussels and sand snails, and build fires from driftwood. But the grandmother is very old. When the time comes that the girl must bury the woman, she makes up a funeral song about the birds she is watching:...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374312478
• ISBN13: 9780374312473
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A well done novel for children and adults

This story is a beautiful work of fiction. In the true Scandinavian writing style this story is one which is not limited in the age of the reader. Also following in the Scandinavian style the settings are nondescript, so as to be able to happen anywhere in the world. The story is both well-written and well translated. A wonderful story where a child learns to become both more self-sufficient and to rely on others. This story also shows death in a way that shows children that death is not the end of the world or of the love. It is a wonderful read and one which is appropriate for children of all ages.

The Best Book I ever read

This, so far is the best book I ever read. Yes,the cover looks dull, but inside,there's a great novel. Buy this book,definitely.It's sad,and emotional.Don't be surprised if you end up in tears when the book ends.The author should receive the Newberry Award. This is a must have for the year 2005. Buy it!!!

Crow worthy

There exist, in this world, a few perfect children's novels. And by perfect, I mean that they adeptly combine meaningful storylines that contain universal themes with plots and characters that kids are genuinely interested in. "Charlotte's Web" is one of these. And now, joining the ranks, comes another. "The Crow-Girl" is a recent import from Danish author Bodil Bredsdorff. In this remarkably small but astoundingly well-written book, a girl sets out on a quest whose course she does not dictate and proceeds to create something she has needed all her life. Kids may look at this book and shy away because it looks dull. Don't let them. This is one of the best books written in a very long time. A deeply satisfying novel. The girl and her grandmother have lived in their tiny cottage by the sea for as long as the child remembers. Brought up by this single relative, the girl has learned everything she needs to know about gathering food and staying alive on what the sea provides. With her grandmother's death she at first plunges into misery, but continues to live and work. In time, the girl sets off to find other human beings and runs across a variety of people. She acquires the name of Crow-Girl due to her appearance and escapes the machinations of a cruel couple. She rescues a boy from his depression-infused father and leads two women from starvation. By the end of the tale the people she has helped and the life that she has led results in the formation of a small community and, more importantly, close-knit family to which the Crow-Girl now completely belongs. This is a book about survival as well as what a person needs beyond food and water to truly be alive. With a heroine you feel confident will never lack for anything and the two crows that seem to guide her on her journeys, it makes for a sometimes riveting, sometimes emotional, but always interesting book. By the end of the tale our heroine has gone from simply being referred to as a young girl to Crow-Girl, to finally being given a real name of her own. And that, in a way, is a great way of explaining why this book is so good. It's filled with remarkable details like that one. Most importantly, the Crow-Girl isn't perfect. This isn't some idealized child who spouts wisdom and goodwill wherever she goes. She's just as prone to depression and mean-spirited thoughts as anyone. At the same time though, she's remarkably accomplished due to her upbringing. She has a love for the land, especially her little cove, that guides everything she does as well. Translated with remarkable skill by Faith Ingwersen, this book is bound to convince any and all people that translated children's books should be ten times as common as they currently are today. This is one of those small perfect jewels that are sometimes so hard to find. I seriously hope that more people will read and discover "The Crow-Girl" as time goes by. It is truly beautiful.

A tender, feel-good story

A young girl lives with her grandmother in a simple whitewashed house in a little cove by a brook. They live a simple life together. The girl collects driftwood for fires and gathers sea kale, mussels and sand snails for their meals. However, the girl's grandmother is very old and knows her time is limited. Before she dies, she tries to share her knowledge of the world with her granddaughter "chick." She tells the girl about the two kinds of people in the world --- those who make you feel cold inside and those who make you feel warm inside.One day the girl wakes up and finds her beloved grandmother cold and still. She holds a lovely funeral for her and sings a song about her flying like a crow. The next day the girl sees two crows in the sky that seem to be calling to her. She follows the crows and begins her adventure.During her journey the girl meets people who make her feel warm inside and others who make her feel cold inside. One of the people on her journey names her Crow-Girl. She always trusts her instincts, and does not journey alone for long. Soon, she has before her the makings of a new family.THE CROW-GIRL is translated by Faith Ingwersen from its original Danish, and is written in lyrical prose. Young readers who want a tender, feel-good story about trusting your own intuition will love reading this timeless novel. --- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner (renee.kirchner@usa.net)