Talking to Alaska

Sven is a Dutch boy aged thirteen. In the previous year he was diagnosed with epilepsy, a finding he detests. Alaska is a female seizure alert dog whom he initially calls ‘the beast’ because she makes him noticeable while all he desires is to be seen as normal. Parker is a girl of the same age. Her family owns a shop. Also last year Parker witnessed a violent robbery and has been left traumatised.

Parker’s family owned Alaska before she was trained as an assistance dog. Parker misses Alaska and deeply resents that she was obliged to give up the dog on account of her little brother’s canine allergy. Can Alaska bring Parker and Sven, her past and current owners, together? Can the two teenagers and the dog find the person who robbed Parker’s family’s shop?

Woltz sets out in this book to demonstrate just how strong the bond between humans and animals may be. However she does not shy away from the dark feelings Sven has towards his epilepsy and towards himself as its bearer. Woltz’s achievement is significant. Few writers depicting young characters with various impairments choose to depict the full range of emotions such characters feel. Woltz also highlights both sides of the phenomenon of social media, both its positive and its negative aspects.

This reviewer found only one sentiment informing this book of doubtful value. Sven states that having an impairment that is not visible is much less easily understood by others than having one that is visible, such as one that involves the use of a wheelchair. This comment is allowed to pass unchallenged. In the experience of this reviewer such disabilities are different but neither is more nor less easily understood. To a non-reader of the Dutch original, Watkinson’s translation feels excellent, smooth and unmannered.