The Brothers Lionheart

Author: Astrid Lindgren

Rating: 2/5

Karl and Jonathan are as close as brothers can be. A tragic accident causes Jonathan to be sent to Nangijala, separating the brothers. Karl will do anything to be with Jonathan again.

Spoilers ahead.

Detailed Summary

Karl is a sickly child who is going to die from a respiratory condition. There’s a fire in the apartment they live in and Jonathan, his older brother, jumps out the window to save them both. He goes to the afterlife aka Nangijala. Karl dies rather after seeing a white dove (a sign that Jonathan is communicating with him). He also goes to Nangijala and is reunited with Jonathan in Cherry Valley. Karl is introduced to Sofia, the dove-keeper and leader, Hubert the hunter, and Jossi who runs the local tavern. He’s told about how Tengil has taken control of Thorn Rose Valley and that Jonathan is helping Sofia fight it. Jonathan leaves and Karl follows after leaving some cryptic messages for Sofia. He’s discovered by soldiers who take him to Rose Valley and he pretends a man named Matthias is his grandfather. Jonathan is in Matthias’ house so the brothers are reunited. The brothers slip out to rescue Orvar, one of the freedom fighters. Karl meets Sofia, Hubert and Jossi on the way back and calls Jossi out as the traitor. There’s a battle and Jonathan grabs the horn that controls Katla, the dragon monster. In the aftermath, Jonathan and Karl lead Katla into the cave but the horn drops into the water. The sea serpent attacks Katla instead and they kill each other. Jonathan is paralysed because he was touched by a bit of Katla’s fire. The only way Karl and Jonathan can remain together is by committing suicide to enter the next afterlife.

Review

I have mixed feelings about this book. I absolutely adore reading about sibling relationships in books because that always reminds me of my sister. The parts I found compelling about this book had to do with Jonathan throwing everything away to make Karl happy and always putting Karl ahead of his own needs. I just don’t know if suicide to escape life’s problems is the best message to give to kids (or anyone really!).