First published 1966
Nine-year-old Nancy has come to live with her adopted Swedish grandparents for an entire year. She settles into their home and learns their customs, but one tradition creates a puzzle. In Swedish culture, children celebrate name days instead of birthdays, but Nancy's name isn't Swedish. Her grandparents and neighbors rack their brains trying to solve this problem. How can Nancy join in this cherished tradition when her name doesn't appear on the Swedish calendar? The family searches for creative solutions while Nancy watches other children celebrate their special days. This gentle story explores how families blend different cultures and find ways to make every child feel they belong, even when traditions don't quite fit.
Genres: fiction, family, family-life, 20th-century, adoption
Vibes: emotional, gentle, intimate
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Sweden
Period: 20th-century
248 pages · Hardcover · Harper & Row