My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry “Every seven-year-old-deserves a superhero.” whom Granny felt she owed an apology. Now it These are the words that begin this wonderful seems that through her many outrageous antics, story about young Elsa and the adventures Granny has plenty to be sorry for, but through the her granny leads her on. Through the story, deliveries Elsa is forced to find her courage, make Elsa discovers her own strength, truly sees new friends, and realize that Granny truly was a the people around her for the first time superhero in her own way. and discovers the truth about the life her Though this book did take me a while to get grandmother led. Elsa is exceptionally smart, into, I had fallen in love with the story by the time but seemingly afraid of her own shadow. I had finished. Fredrik Backman has a unique Elsa’s granny is anything but conventional. writing style that readers tend to either love or Most people think Granny is certifiably crazy. hate. Though the subject matter in his books gets She ruffles feathers and bucks the system a little bleak and gloomy at times, Backman tells at every opportunity, but her love for her each story with an underlying charm and dark granddaughter is tender and genuine. humor that is hard to resist. He does a great job of Elsa’s life is in upheaval. Her parents are developing each character by showing that there divorced. Her mom is remarried and about is often much more beneath the surface of the to have a new baby. Her dad seems to be uptight neighbor who likes to report everything uncomfortable and disconnected around that bugs her to the police and the man who only her. Elsa lives with her mom and stepdad and comes out at night and the woman who has too granny in an apartment building that is full of much to drink and always ends up shouting in the peculiar neighbors that mostly just terrify Elsa, and who seem to night. The characters are very real, showing the good, the bad and be some of the main targets of Granny’s tricks and torment. To top the ugly. it off, Elsa is relentlessly bullied at school and her only comfort and Backman is a Swedish author whose other famous books include happiness comes from the time she spends with her grandmother A Man Called Ove, Britt-Marie Was Here, and the novella, And Every who is her “best, and only friend”. Morning The Way Gets Longer and Longer. Backman also has a new Granny creates an entire fantasy world for Elsa called The Land-of- title, Bear Town, which was released on April 25, 2017. The Yankton Almost-Awake. It is full of citizens that are unique, mystical, and quite Community Library has these titles available in print, audio, and terrifying at times. But it is a place that Elsa has grown to know and e-books, along with a copy of the DVD adaptation of A Man Called love and a place where she has superpowers to conquer the things Ove. Though you will need the subtitles (unless you speak Swedish), 6”x48” planks with a lifetime to let it’s a great glimpse into that scare her. When Elsa’s granny dies well before Elsa is ready stress-free warranty, Backman’s unique work and style. her go, Elsa feels terrified and angry at today’s décor and designed to coordinate with her Granny for abandoning to stand up to all of life’s messes. by Fredrik Backman her. Then she discovers that Granny has given her a mission to Reviewed by Dana Schmidt complete. She must deliver a series of letters to individuals to ©Floor Designs Copyrighted by Mannington Mills, Inc. ®©™Mannington Mills, Inc. 2016 BEAUTIFUL | DURABLE | FLOORS Designed for real life and built-to-last, Mannington® vinyl, laminate, hardwood, and Adura® vinyl floors are both beautiful and durable. Larsen Carpet Laminate | Porcelain | Resilient | Hardwood gton.com | 1.800.356.6787 Retailer Imprint 6”x48” planks with a lifetim designed to coordinate with today’s déco 208 Walnut|605.665.2067 Historic Downtown Yankton mannington.com | 1.800.356.6787 ©Floor Designs Copyrighted by Manning HERVOICEvMAY/JUNE 2017v23 Retailer Imprint Retailer