Rhubarb Lemonade by Oskar Kroon: Review

13-year-old Vinga is navigating life amid her parents’ split, and the island her grandfather lives on is the ideal escape from it all. Here, she can forget her parents’ problems and be with the only person who understands her: her grandfather. They drink homemade rhubarb lemonade and play chess under the lilac tree in his garden, far away from the city Vinga hates so much. On the island she can sit by her cliff near the lighthouse, work on her sailboat and be herself – that is, until Ruth arrives.

Ruth who loves the city and can’t stand being on the island away from her gaggle of friends, something Vinga cannot relate to.

Set in the hot Swedish summer, Rhubarb Lemonade by Oskar Kroon is a truly captivating novel. The themes of family, new and unfamiliar relationships, and ultimately grief, are beautifully portrayed in this book, which has been translated into 13 languages. It’s so full of heart and strong characters like Vinga’s grandfather, the former ship’s captain who never leaves the island. His relationship with Vinga blossoms as they bond over repairing a sailboat during the summer, and there is a very apparent sense that he is the most stable figure in the young girl’s life. This was so endearing to read about because they understood each other so well, and could communicate the most complex of feelings without saying a single word. Vinga and Ruth had a similar story. Although they are opposites in every sense of the word, the two girls found themselves gravitating to each other all summer.

It is for these reasons that I absolutely recommend reading Rhubarb Lemonade no matter what age you are, as its tale of love and friendship is sure to resonate with you.

Aoibhe Toft, 17