Malin Klingenberg

Alberta Ensten’s mum is a researcher and inventor who has succeeded in designing a flying house that runs on a mixture of solar and cloud energy. The secret helicopter house will be Alberta’s mum’s entry for the big invention competition. Alberta is plain average at school and plain average in stature. Yet she stands out because of her big glasses and her braces decorated with sparkling diamonds, which she ended up with when the dentist misunderstood what Alberta wanted. The shy Tor with the kind eyes has long been fond of Alberta, perhaps even more so when she gets her new glasses and braces. When Alberta forgets her purse at the grocery store, Tor finally sees his chance to pluck up the courage and talk to Alberta, and he runs after her to reunite her with her purse. Tor follows Alberta home, and when no one answers the door, he goes in. A few minutes later, the whole house lifts up off the ground. Alberta’s mum has started up the helicopter house to fly off to the invention competition with both Alberta and Tor on board. None of them knows that they’re being stalked by an evil invention thief who wants to steal the invention. Tor and Alberta find themselves in an exciting adventure that begins high up in the clouds.

Klingenberg’s chapter book Alberta Ensten och uppfinnarkungen (“Alberta Ensten and the invention king”, not translated into English) portrays the children as more enterprising, perceptive, and compassionate than the adults. Although they have no bad intentions, it is the adults who are forgetful, gullible, and somewhat self-absorbed, while the children ensure that everything is sorted out in the most ingenious ways by the end of the adventure. Klingenberg’s obvious gender awareness gives the novel a modern feel, while Ida-Maria Wikström’s graphic illustrations contribute to the chapter book’s timelessness. Both author and illustrator have succeeded in creating a playfulness that makes the book humorous and easy to read. The careful choice of language makes this a great read-aloud book that children and adults can enjoy together. Klingenberg lives in Åland and has written several books for children and young people. Her book Alberta Ensten och uppfinnarkungen is Åland’s nominee for the Nordic Council’s Children and Young People’s Literature Prize 2015