Marvelously sad and hopeful at the same time. ( )

I highly recommend this book if you need an emotional, cathartic release like a small sob.
Even if you don't need a sob I still recommend it because it's too damn good and timeless.
Who knew the same author of Pippi Longstocking could write such a marvelous story filled to the brim with death, sacrifice, symbolism, courage, oppression fighting, disease, camaraderie and a dragon.
It's unusually dark for a children's book, but that doesn't say much because the times have changed. It seems like almost everything has to be 'dark' to be relevant.
The contrasting themes in the novel are satisfyingly complimentary- where there is death there is life, where there is disease there is healing, where there is light there is darkness, where there is fear there is courage and so on. The symbolism is on point and profound. One of the things I loved the most about this book book is deliberately ambiguous and open ended- which makes the reader consider how much of the plot is in fact 'real', keeping open a possibility that the entire story may just be a fever dream.
My Swedish friend personally mailed me this book from Sweden- and we had conversations about how when this book was published there was a controversy of worried people believing this book promoted suicide, but that was the farthest from the truth that could ever be. In fact, it promotes quite the opposite: Strength in pain, and endurance is more commendable and righteous than giving in or becoming complacent.
There is so much more I can say about this short book but I conclude with go read it yourself. ( )

"You can be envious and still be a good man at the same time."
Re-reading this wonderful book was really great. This is one of the first books I remember reading that really transported me to another world. When my teacher read this book to my class, everyone was completely absorbed in the story. We stopped class for a whole day to finish this book. I felt that same felling reading it even now. This book has a wonderful tale to tell that it conveys through dark themes, unlike other children's books. I'm really glad I read this again because I feel like this book, like other important books helped shape me into the person I am today. I think about this book and its message a lot and if you decided to read this I can almost guarantee you will feel the same way. ( )

A very unique children's fantasy about life after death. ( )

Ugyan, van-e olyan gyerek, aki csak egyszer is el ne merengett volna az Élet és a Halál felnőttekhez méltó, nagy kérdésein. Bánatos estéken vagy betegség idején gyerekésszel is sokan gondolnak arra, vajon milyen is lehet az elmúlás pillanata. Astrid Lindgren, az ifjúsági irodalom immár klasszikussá nőtt alakja azonban nem a szomorú elmúlásról ír. Különös hangulatú, megdöbbentően szép meseregényében az álmodozások és képzelgések világát rajzolja elénk. Az életnek sosincs vége, álomvilágok és megálmodott történetek olykor megható, olykor pedig nagyon is izgalmas, kalandos jelenetei rajzanak elénk, és e kalandok, történetek mindig újra meg újra álmodhatók, felidézve a bátorság, a szeretet és a becsület nagy próbatételeit.