HUGO AND JOSEPHINE

by Maria Gripe ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 15, 1969

Either you must be exactly like all the others. Or you must be completely different from them -- as Hugo is. You mustn't ever be nearly like everyone else. As Josephine is."" Before Hugo appears in the classroom -- he's finally finished carving a troll -- Josephine has been bullied and teased; now she benefits from the respect for his calm assurance and blunt good sense. Besides enjoying the favor of pragmatic Karin and the ecstasy of sipping lemonade on her terrace overlooking the street (""Isn't this just like sitting in a real cafe?""). Then Hugo stops coming to school, ""a listlessness comes over the class, the children pick on Josephine again, she even loses Karin. What Karin won't tell her she finds out -- Hugo's father is in jail. Not at all daunted -- openly explaining the factory fight -- Hugo returns and resumes his special place. Other little girl gaffes impinge (especially what Josephine makes of a restaurant menu) but it's Hugo -- refusing to learn to read until he's ready to teach himself, serving forth single grapes solemnly and ceremoniously -- who gives dimension to what would otherwise be another amusing Scandinavian trifle.

Pub Date: Sept. 15, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1969

Categories: FICTION