Rambo
Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Rambo is a short -tempered eight grader who has grown up with his mother. He is used to coping even when mom has been depressed. When summer holiday arrives, Rambo is worried about going hungry because mom doesn’t cook and forgets to go to the store to buy food. Mom surprises Rambo with a trip to her boyfriend’s family cottage. The boyfriend Risto’s parents are at the cottage, and they take Rambo under their wing. He experiences care and gets multiple meals a day. Later, Risto’s niece Liina joins the group. She seems irritated about everything. Rambo and Liina try to get along with each other and succeed, forgetting their roles in the outside world and being their own selves.
Edited by: Lastenkirjainstituutti
Comment:
The novel tells a story of a boy who gets to be a normal teenager for one summer. He has been forced to be strong and independent when his mom has been depressed. At the cottage, he receives care he is not used to. Rambo lives his life by being completely himself. He is strong and quick-tempered, but also sensitive and caring. Rambo wants to earn the trust of Risto’s parents, but on the other hand he doesn’t care what others think of him. Rambo wonders why Liina is constantly in such a bad mood, even though everything seems to be fine. During the summer he learns that it can also get difficult in families where the conditions for normal life seem to be in order. In addition to Liina, Rambo gets to know Risto and his father. Through various conversations, Rambo learns about the traumas of the male members of Risto’s family. The novel describes different families and their internal dynamics, mental health problems and the life of a young person in a summer cottage environment in Finland.