The Rise of the Phoenix Book

I wish I was read this story collection as a kid, rather than 'The Little Match Girl' and the likes by H.C. Andersen. This book is definitely dark, sad and beautiful. But more than anything, it offers a glimmer of hope for a better life. On top of that, the stories fills your head with beautiful imagery of the times long passed.

Lindgren is the only author I have read who can write about children in poverty in a way that gives them a voice. It is truly as if *they* are telling the story. As if you are directly connecting with the characters without an adult author in between.

I would highly recommend reading this for children, as this book allows them to understand and empathise with highly deprived children. This is perhaps more important now than ever, given the refugee crisis in Europe.