Swede Dreams (S.A.S.S.) | Eva Apelqvist | A 'Swede' way to spend the afternoon!

Swede Dreams (S.A.S.S.) | Eva Apelqvist | Fun read

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Swede Dreams (S.A....

	Swede Dreams (S.A.S.S.) Eva Apelqvist Puffin, 2007 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 7 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Swede escape! Calista Swanson has begun her study abroad semester in Stockholm, Sweden, and she couldn?t be happier! There?s finally some distance between her and the constant piano-playing of her annoying sister Suzanne. Calista and Suzanne are twins, but the only thing they have in common is their birth date. Suzanne is a focused and gifted pianist, but a social dud. Calista isn?t at all focused, but she always has her friends, and a boyfriend, by her side. And that goes for her time in Sweden, as well. Jonas, who?d been an exchange student at her high school in Wisconsin, lives in Stockholm. He?s the main reason Calista is studying in Sweden, and she knows he?ll be in tow as she explores everything Sweden has to offer, from visiting Swedish castles to learning more about the Viking era, to sampling treats from a smörgåsbord, to strolling the cobblestone streets of Stockholm?s Gamla Stan. Calista loves Sweden from the moment she arrives, but . . . why hasn?t Jonas called?

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A 'Swede' way to spend the afternoon!

Showcasing your individuality when you're one half of a set of identical twins is never an easy task. Just ask sixteen-year-old, Calista "Cal" Swanson. Up until eighth grade, Cal loved having an identical twin to share secrets with, and participate in giggle fests that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. But the moment she hit high school, Cal wanted nothing more than to shed her more sophisticated counterpart, Suzanne. Luckily, Suzanne seemed only too happy to comply. But as the gap between them widened, Cal began to feel as if Suzanne had it all, and she was left in the dust. Sure, she was the one who attracted all the guys, and had tons of friends to hang out with; but Suzanne was the one with a true talent for piano that could win her a spot at Julliard. As well as the skills to assist in her parents pottery shop, something Cal could only dream of. When Cal meets Jonas, a foreign exchange student from Sweden, however, Cal realizes that her niche is languages, and is determined to not only learn how to speak Swedish fluently, but visit the handsome Jonas in his native Sweden. Signing up for the S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas) study abroad program, Cal quickly finds herself on a plane bound for Stockholm, Sweden. Cal couldn't be happier. Finally she'll be able to say goodbye to the preconceived notions about her and her family that have been created back in Moon Lake, Wisconsin, and create a new identity for herself. Not to mention catch up on some long overdue smooching with Jonas. But when Cal arrives in Sweden, she begins to realize that Jonas appears to have forgotten who she is, and hasn't contacted her even once, leaving her to hang out with her host family - Bengt and Britta. Luckily, her host family is totally cool, and are determined to make Cal's Swedish experience amazing from start to finish. Before she knows what's happening, Cal has been swept up into Swedish culture, and is soaking up everything around her - from the language to the history, and everything in-between. Cal has never seen a place so beautiful. And, as she begins to make friends with other students in her classes, she comes to realize that having a boyfriend isn't the most important thing in the world. In fact, sometimes flying solo is the way to go. But that notion goes out the window as she spends more and more time with the handsome, Prince Carl Philip look-alike, Hakan. Hakan has everything Calista has ever looked for in a guy - looks, brains, kindness, and the ability to make her heart flutter at the drop of a hat. But Cal can't figure out if he's the one for her, or if she's just searching for a sense of security in an unfamiliar place. To get her mind off of Hakan, Calista decides to immerse herself in a school project about Vikings, that gives her the opportunity to learn more about an unknown era, while, at the same time, creates the perfect chance for her to do some thinking. And, as the months fly by, and Calista begins to think of Sweden as home, she comes to the conclusion that sometimes, it takes leaving the country, to realize how important family, friends, and home truly are.

Having adored the Swedish culture since I was a child reading the AMERICAN GIRL: KIRSTEN series, I was absolutely thrilled to stumble upon Eva Apelqvist's S.A.S.S. contribution SWEDE DREAMS. Apelqvist's Swedish upbringing, and background make such a strong impact on SWEDE DREAMS, as her knowledge of the culture and the language, as well as the history, add an educational dimension to the tale that gives the reader the chance to learn a little bit about the lovely Sweden, while, at the same time, delve into the world of Calista. Cal is a character who is looking to find herself. Her insecurities, and determination to separate herself from her twin sister are visible from page one, when she hacks off five inches of her hair, and only progress as she leaves Suzanne out of various updates about her new life in Sweden. Her reliance on guys - especially those that are parent and/or friend approved - make her seem slightly naive; but also present a sense of familiarity and relatable-ness that work to make the reader feel a sense of comfort with Cal. What's so refreshing about Calista is that she is so excited about her Swedish adventure, and that excitement transports itself from the page, making it contagious for anyone reading Calista's tale. While her relationship with Hakan is slightly tumultuous at times, it never disappoints, as we have the chance to see Cal's step into a new pair of shoes, and view him as a perspective boyfriend, sans the rose-colored glasses that she has been wearing for so long. Suzanne, on the other hand, while we don't hear much about her - since she is back home in Moon Lake, Wisconsin - is a character whom is very down-to-earth, and, like Calista, determined to please everyone around her - from her parents, to her teachers - even at the risk of being unhappy herself. The two sisters seem to evolve throughout the story, and Apelqvist's heartfelt e-mail communications between the two really tug at the readers heartstrings. It doesn't hurt matters much that Cal's newfound friends - from the artistic Lena to the boy crazy Alabama exchange student, Monique - are present to share in her new experiences. I would have loved to learn more about the moody Moa, who appears quite often, yet never says more than one syllable, accompanied by a few grunts or a head tilt. Moa is a character who seems to have a lot to say, and I think it would be interesting to get inside her head; but perhaps that will be saved for sometime in the future. The amazing descriptions of Sweden - from the snow covered mountains, to the cobblestoned walkways - are absolutely breathtaking, and bring the unfamiliar environment of Sweden to life; while the beautiful language, and surprising history, leave the reader hungry for a cultural adventure of their own. A SWEDE way to spend the afternoon!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

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Fun read

Even though this book is for young adults, I loved it. The story was fun, it was an easy read. Highly recommended.

Highly recommended!!

Swede Dreams is both a fun and informative read for pre-teens and teenagers. It's easy to be swept into Cal's recognizable world of sibling rivalry and boyfriend problems, and readers gain an understanding of Sweden's history and customs along the way!

Very interesting & well-written!

Great intro to Scandanavian culture...

Having been an exchange student in Denmark, I really enjoyed the depth to which "Swede Dreams" explores the culture and daily life of a small Scandanavian country (albeit Sweden, Denmark's sister-rival). It brought back a lot of good memories of learning my way in a new place and learning about myself in the process. Calista is a believable protagonist: excited, yet unsure of herself; wanting to learn as much as she can, yet sometimes second-guessing both herself and those around her. In the early stages of the book, Cal seems a bit too enamored of Jonas, a Swedish boyfriend who is unfortunately not so much into her. As I read, I found myself wishing that she would just ditch the creep instead of trying to rationalize and make excuses for his lousy behavior. But, as a girl in love (so she thinks) for the first time, Cal's reactions are believable, if not exactly what one might hope them to be. Happily, as the novel progresses, Cal does come to realize her own worth, and that there are other, more worthwhile guys to focus on--one that actually cares about her quite a lot.

Overall, a very good read--especially for those interested in a fascinating, less well-known culture. Meget godt, tak!

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reviews: page 1, 2

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