2017 Reading Challenge discussion

I'm not sure why my library system has this book cataloged in the Juvenile section, and not Teens. The protagonist is 14, and the story is rather dark and has elements that aren't really appropriate for grade school children. I chose to read it because of good reviews, and I'm always looking for books that are good to suggest to middle school students.

I did enjoy the book - it weaves a number of Norwegian folk tales into the narrative about a young girl who is first sold to "the Goatman" by her aunt, then plots an escape to retrieve her younger sister and make their way to America. The story takes place around 1850, so the prospects for some young people were pretty grim. Some parts of the story were somewhat implausible, but work if you take it all under the folk tale aspects of the book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoys folk tales from other countries.