Reviews

• “The Cube is a book that’s hard to put down, as something is always happening. It’s a story about freedom, dictatorship, friendship, and family. The book is filled with strong emotions such as jealousy, anxiety, and frustration. These feelings are described in a way that makes them easy to relate to. The author paints the setting and events very vividly. This book is truly worth reading!”

• “Debut author Nils Lundkvist works as a middle school teacher, which can be sensed in the nuanced and warm portrayal of the twelve-year-old main characters. The depiction of the authoritarian regime’s gradual takeover during the parents’ lifetime is well thought-out and evokes associations with the political developments of our own time. The story is thrilling, and with every revelation a new question arises /…/ a promising start to a new series for sci-fi fans in middle grade. ”

• “…the tension is driven by all the unanswered questions; even within the family, everyone seems to have secrets. The book feels timely in many ways: a love of nature, the resistance to exploiting resource-rich regions while they are dismissed as backward, the oppression of minorities – and the authoritarian rule, not far-fetched given what is happening in the world and in our own country.. ”

• “The History of the Outer Wilderness is a very welcome addition to the middle-grade dystopian literature scene. Above all, it’s Lundkvist’s skillful, slow-paced storytelling that feels truly fresh. The book is full of charming details that show his genuine affection for the classic summer cottage setting (anywhere in the northern inland) – forests, marshes, a small tarn, more forest, and a sleepy fly bumping against the kitchen window. And the endless worlds these places can hold for a child. Slow-paced, yes, but continuously exciting.. ”

• “What a debut this is! Nils Lundkvist is a middle grade teacher, which is, of course, a great advantage when writing for children. But the fact that he can also craft a well-constructed suspense novel on his first try?! Impressive! /…/ This book juggles many elements at once: family, secrets, an oppressed society, new friendships, vivid descriptions of nature, suspense, and beautiul characters. It might sound overloaded, but it’s executed so well that it feels both solid and thrilling. ”

• “The Cube is a story about dictatorship, friendship, and the wilderness. The book is thrilling, surprising, and I would even dare to call it unforgettable and truly unique. It also reminded me of another emotional first-person story about a lonely boy – the young protagonist in Astrid Lindgren’s Mio, My Son, who must confront the forces of evil. ”

• “The narrative tempo is slow, with a love for all that grows and for the wilderness revealed in the details, as a sense of resistance arises. A debutant who has found his own voice in the crowded dystopian genre. ”