Tree Heart

Gabi Frödén

It’s the 1970s when Anja steps into the classroom for the first time. She is radiant, according to Karin.
It turns out that Anja lives on the same block, Karin can wave to her from her window. At Anja’s home, it’s strictly religious – at Karin’s home, it’s parent-free. Karin’s chain-smoking mother is a journalist and is all caught up saving the world. The only thing Karin has left after her absent father is a tree nymph book, and she draws trees everywhere, on her arms, on the walls. She doesn’t really know what she feels for Anja. Anja, who has scars on her forearms that feel like bark under Karin’s fingertips. They plan to interrail in the summer, to escape from Anja’s father Risto’s nasty gaze and mother Marit’s constant surveillance. But the day after school ends, Anja has disappeared.
An unprecedented novel for young adults about friendship, religion, and the longing for love and approval.

Gabi Frödén is a Swedish illustrator living in Glasgow with clients like The Guardian, Huffington Post, The Observer, BBC, NHS and various charity organizations. She has an eclectic background: before working as a full-time illustrator, she worked with music, she has been a singer in a circus at the Round House in London and in a dance performance at the Opera house. She has studied religion at Uppsala University. In Glasgow, she works with an organization that runs songwriting workshops in prisons.

Press voices 

“There is a fine line between a humoristic jargon and tragical undertones in the youthful drama. Gabi Frödéns love story is bittersweet and beautiful.” Kristianstadsbladet

“It is at the same time quite a regular and unusual story that is hard to let go. It is about trees, the 70-s and religion. Read and wonder!” Vi läser