ALWAYS in the MIDDLE is today’s stop for THE NIGHT RAVEN blog tour!

Originally published in Sweden, the tale has been translated into English and is the perfect murder mystery for upper middle grade readers. Here’s the book jacket lead-in:

It’s 1880, and in the frigid city of Stockholm, death lurks around every corner. Twelve-year-old Mika knows that everyone in her orphanage will struggle to survive this winter. But at least the notorious serial killer the Night Raven is finally off the streets…or is he?

Mika is shocked when a newborn baby is left at the orphanage in the middle of the night, by a boy with a cryptic message. Who is he? And who is this “Dark Angel” he speaks of? When a detective shows up, Mika senses something even more sinister is going on.

Drawn in by Mika’s unique ability to notice small details―a skill Mika has always used to survive―the gruff Detective Hoff unwittingly recruits her to help him with his investigation into a gruesome murder. Mika knows she should stay far, far away, and yet…with such little hope for her future, could this be an opportunity? Maybe, just maybe, this is Mika’s chance to be someone who matters.

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The time period brings forth the plight of many children left in orphanages during that time. Mika is a brave and endearing protagonist. Her connection with the less than friendly Detective Huff is a unique paring. It’s one that shines as the character arcs come full circle from distrust to a special bond between these two.

The mystery is not easy to figure out which makes this even better. The 33 mostly short chapters in less than 200 pages gives the story an urgent, can’t put down feeling. Many of the chapters provide a new reveal helping to push you into the next chapter.

The third person present tense is one you don’t find in many MG books, but it does work here. THE NIGHT RAVEN is a creepy addition to the shelves of any young reader who like mysteries set in the past. A sequel, THE QUEEN OF THIEVES, is due out next year.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE NIGHT RAVEN by JOHAN RUNDBERG

1. The cover depicts the story to perfection: two dark figures with the city of Stockholm in the background.
2. A girl stuck between being a youth and having to make adult like decisions will be an instant draw for young readers.
3. Mika takes the role of a motherly figure in the orphanage and shows her compassion with a newborn and young Edvin.
4. Mika’s sense for details was fun to observe. She’s insightful and already a detective in training.
5. Portrayed as a dark time period for Mika and those around her, the grittiness is often wiped away to show hope for the future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/TRANSLATOR

Johan Rundberg is an award-winning author of children’s books who lives in Stockholm. He has written picture books, early readers, and middle grade, including Kärlekspizzan, Knockad Romeo, and the series Häxknuten. In 2021, he was awarded Sweden’s most prestigious literary prize, the August Prize, in the children’s and YA category for Nattkorpen, the original edition of The Night Raven, which was first written in Swedish. Nattkorpen was also the winner of a Swedish Crimetime Award in the children’s and YA category. There are now four books in this series published in Sweden.

A. A. Prime (Annie Prime) is an award-winning translator of Swedish literature. She was born in London and traveled the world studying a number of languages before settling in the English coastal town of Hastings. She now works full-time as a translator, specializing in the weird, witty, and wonderful world of children’s and young adult fiction. She holds an MA in translation from University College London and has published more than twenty books in the UK and US. In her free time, she can be found belly dancing, folk singing, horse riding, and sea swimming.

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