Explore the profound societal narratives of Scandinavia’s Sámi people in Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius a gripping masterpiece.

In what is often seen as the model example of societal structure, it surprises many to find that Scandinavia is still coming to terms with embedded ethnic discrimination of the Sámi population. While there have been some improvements in recent years, the land these nomadic people have historically called home is coming under increasing pressure. Their land, language and culture are under constant threat.

It’s against this backdrop that Swedish Sámi author Ann-Helén Laestadius sets her real-life-based coming-of-age novel, Stolen.

The picturesque snowy landscape of northern Sweden seems a peaceful, idyllic backdrop for a childhood, but when nine-year-old Elsa witnesses the brutal murder of her pet reindeer Nástegallu it’s not only the reindeer that is taken but Elsa’s innocence as well. At that tender young age, Elsa vows revenge and swears she will, in turn, kill the reindeer slayer one day.

This killing isn’t some isolated incident; however, the Sámi community faces a constant stream of threats, intimidation, and further killings of their precious herd. It is an age-old tale of misunderstanding and mistrust between communities, a world where the local Swedish community mistrusts those who speak the Sámi language, where the native dress can be seen as a provocation rather than a proud cultural tradition. Even within the Sámi community itself, there’s mistrust of those who have married into the community, despite their efforts to integrate.

It makes for a powder keg of emotions waiting to explode but, as the years pass, Elsa bides her time, the memory of the reindeer killing remains a strong formative influence in her life and, many years later, the death of another loved one causes yet more trauma and leads to a climatic thriller.

Laestadius draws on the rich culture of the Sámi community to infuse the work with a real humanity. Sámi dress, culture, and the challenges they face, both within their community and with wider Scandinavian culture, are craftly detailed through the lens of 9-year-old Elsa. Sámi language words are left untranslated to give further authenticity to the piece.

As Stolen moves on a decade the piece becomes, understandably, darker but this is more than a mere tale of revenge, Laestadius never justifies the actions on either side, the complex moral maze of what is justifiable revenge or when revenge is just as abhorrent as the original act is an unresolved question.

There’s a poetic style to Stolen, sometimes at odds with the darkness of the subject being described, perhaps down to Laestadius‘ background writing Young Adult novels and the initial chapters do occasionally seem to meander. As Stolen gets into its stride, that naivety gives way, and we get a compelling and chilling insight into the challenges this fascinating community faces all set against a page-turner thriller in the very best Nordic Noir tradition.

Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius, translated by Rachel Wilson-Broyles, is out now published by Bloomsbury. Netflix’s film adaptation is released on 12 April.