In Andrew David MacDonald’s When We Were Vikings, we step inside the mind of Zelda, a 21-year-old woman struggling to gain independence, especially from her older brother, Gert. Most older brothers are overprotective, but Zelda is a slightly different case as her mother’s continuing alcoholism through her pregnancy affected Zelda’s development causing her to be diagnosed with FASD at birth. However, she’s defied the odds since day one and becomes quite bright and independent in spite of her disability.
Zelda is obsessed with Vikings and perceives her entire life through the characteristics of Viking life. She even refers to the people who are closest to her as her “tribe.” This includes her brother, his ex-girlfriend, and her boyfriend, Marxy. Things become complicated when Gert gets involved with drug dealers as he tries to pay off a debt that helped him take his sister away from their Uncle Richard, an abusive alcoholic who on several occasions tried to get handsy with Zelda.
Zelda knows Gert is smart and has a lot of potential but keeping him on the right track is a job much bigger than she can handle. Especially as she struggles to get a life of her own which includes having a boyfriend, getting a job, and wanting to experience sex for the first time. Through some difficult situations, Zelda begins to see that the world isn’t split into “good people” and “bad people.” She soon learns that some bad people can have redemptive moments and that those who are closest to us — whom we may consider heroes from our very own “tribes” — can also have villainous ways about them. Sometimes the choices of those closest to us can hurt us. This is a lesson every single one of us has to learn, and it’s never through easy means. Soon Zelda realizes, part of her journey is understanding that it’s not up to her to save anyone in her “tribe” who doesn’t want to be saved.
“...Sometimes life finds us, and when it does we have to rise to the occasion and have courage. And we make lists, rules, and try to order things, trying to control them, when actually the most important parts of life, the parts really worth cherishing, are the things that we don't expect.”― Andrew David MacDonald, When We Were Vikings
MacDonald achieves several noteworthy points in When We Were Vikings: he credibly slips, not just into the mind of the opposite sex, but also into the mind of a young woman with a cognitive disability, all while presenting a story about bravery, loyalty, and inclusion. Zelda, though different in many ways from most of us, is relatable as she strives to achieve the same things we all want: safety, connection and independence.
When We Were Vikings remains pure of heart throughout while also keeping things real and opening up the discussion of inclusivity. It’s an easy, endearing tale that will charm the hearts of many readers.