Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Brune” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Brune

Håkon Øvreås,

Øyvind Torseter (Illustrator)

3.74 · Rating details · 396 ratings · 84 reviews

Om dagen er Rune Rune, men om natten er Rune Brune - superhelten som ikke er redd for noen ting. Med pensel og brunmaling lister Brune seg ut. Og det er vel ikke Rune sin feil at Brune maler syklene til de store guttene i superhelt-timene?

Brune er en bok om vennskap, mot og om å ta igjen. Det er også en bok om å savne bestefaren sin, og om hvordan alt kan gå galt når super ...more

Get A Copy

Hardcover, 130 pages

Published 2013 by Gyldendal

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Brune, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Brune

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.74 ·

Rating details

· 396 ratings · 84 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Brune

Oct 26, 2020 Abigail rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Middle-Grade Readers Who Enjoy Stories of Contemporary Children Dealing With Tough Issues

Shelves: childrens-fiction, grandparents, death-grieving, imaginative-play, bullying, superheroes, childrens-translations, enchanted-lion-books, norwegian-children, batchelder-award

Rusty, whose grandfather dies at the very beginning of Håkon Øvreås' story, must contend with this loss, and must face three older bullies in this children's novel, translated from the Norwegian. Although calm on the surface - when his father tells him that Grandpa has died, his reply is a simple "Okay," with no further comment - it is clear that there is much going on underneath the surface for Rusty, who begins to encounter (view spoiler), when he i Rusty, whose grandfather dies at the very beginning of Håkon Øvreås' story, must contend with this loss, and must face three older bullies in this children's novel, translated from the Norwegian. Although calm on the surface - when his father tells him that Grandpa has died, his reply is a simple "Okay," with no further comment - it is clear that there is much going on underneath the surface for Rusty, who begins to encounter (view spoiler), when he is out late at night. Assuming the role of a superhero - the eponymous 'Brown,' who wears a brown cape and mask, and who paints one of the bullies' bikes brown - Rusty connects with two other children, Jack and Lou (Louise), who also form superhero alter egos, and join Brown on his crusade against the three older boys. In the end, both story lines - that of the loss of a grandparent, and that of confronting older bullies - have been addressed, and Rusty is able to move on with some peace of mind...

Originally published in Norway as Brune, this short middle-grade novel is the first of a trilogy - the second two, Svartle and Blåse , have yet to be translated into English - and won the Batchelder Award, given annually by the American Library Association for the best children's book translated from another language. I found the story poignant, all the more so given the understatement and restraint shown by Øvreås in telling the tale, and I found the superheroes' turning of the tables on the bullies amusing. The adult in me worried that Rusty was making his situation worse and worse, by not confiding in his parents, but the part of me still connected to my child self understood that this was true to life. Not only is Rusty aware that his parents, especially his mother, are going through a hard time, which might make him reluctant to speak, but he himself is attempting to grapple with his own loss. I also thought the depiction of religion here was quite interesting. My understanding is that Norway is generally quite secular, and that most people interact with their church only for major events - holidays, baptisms, weddings, and funerals - so I was surprised that some of the characters here were more involved - one parent attends Bible study sessions, one grandparent is described as quite religious. On the whole, the depiction ranges from neutral to negative, and the minister himself is a fairly unsympathetic character, more concerned with the bike painting, than with the fact that Rusty has just lost his grandfather. While I have no doubt that this reflects some people's realities, as the daughter of a minister - a gentle man who genuinely loved others, a man to whom people would bring their troubles and sorrow - this made me rather sad. I felt sad for the characters, that they did not have a spiritual leader suited to their needs. That is a very individual reaction of course, and no doubt influenced by my own life circumstances. I doubt most child readers would feel that way, although they certainly might identify with the idea of adult authority figures in general remaining blind to their needs.

Leaving these issues aside, I would recommend this engaging, poignant and somewhat quirky book to middle-grade readers who enjoy stories of contemporary children dealing with some of life's tough challenges with humor and imagination. The accompanying artwork from Øyvind Torseter has a quirky sensibility well-suited to Øvreås' text, and will increase the young reader's pleasure in the book. For my part, I hope that the subsequent two volumes in the series are also translated. ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2020 Patricia Brandys rated it really liked it

Shelves: international-literature

The book "Brune (Brown)" was written by Hakon Ovreas in 2013 in Norway. It was translated to English. It received the 2020 Batchelder Award that is given to books originally published in another country and translated to English. I was able to find the book at my local library but it was the second library I had to check.

Brune is about a young boy named Rusty who moves to a new city and learns that his grandfather has passed away. He is devastated by the news and is unsure of how to occupy himse ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 07, 2020 Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: elementary, middle-school, advisable

Brown (My Alter Ego is a Super Hero book 1) by Håkon Øvreås and Øyvind Torseter 128 pages. Enchanted Lion Books, 2019. $17.

Content: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Rusty is staying with his Aunt when his grandfather dies. She lets him take home a can of brown paint for the fort he and his friend Jack are building. But when they go to their fort in the woods, 3 bullies - the minister's son included - are pulling down their fort and chase Jack and Rusty away. That nig ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 25, 2020 Susie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Didn't really work for me; I've often enjoyed the Batchelder winners (Murderer's Ape is a favorite), but this was a bit too odd for me. I was bothered by the (mis)placing of blame, the somewhat sinister minister, and some of the interactions between Rusty and his parents. Yes, in a time of grief things could be strained, but they were blaming or suspecting him without realizing his trauma from his grandfather's death and the three boys. There were also some things lost in translation: the floodl ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2020 Kris rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: elementary-school, childrens, death, batchelder, family, illustrated-book, notables-2020

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 15, 2020 EricaK rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: international-lit

Hakon Ovreas’ illustrated chapter book “Brown” is a 2020 Mildred L. Batchelder Award winner from Norway, and it is the first book in a series in which the protagonist, an eight year-old boy named Rusty, is the new kid in town whose grandfather has just died. While his parents are distracted with finalizing funeral details, a superhero movie on TV inspires Rusty to become a self-proclaimed superhero himself so he can wreak revenge against three ruffians who started tormenting him. Dressed in brow Hakon Ovreas’ illustrated chapter book “Brown” is a 2020 Mildred L. Batchelder Award winner from Norway, and it is the first book in a series in which the protagonist, an eight year-old boy named Rusty, is the new kid in town whose grandfather has just died. While his parents are distracted with finalizing funeral details, a superhero movie on TV inspires Rusty to become a self-proclaimed superhero himself so he can wreak revenge against three ruffians who started tormenting him. Dressed in brown and wielding brown paint, “Brown” is ready to seek justice alongside unexpected help from other secret superheroes in town. This tale is woven with supernatural elements such as visitations from his grandfather’s spirit who encourages Rusty’s midnight prowls and a seemingly broken pocket watch that works when Rusty is in disguise. The fast-moving plot has readers wondering if Rusty will get caught as he uses his super painting powers against the mischief-makers, and readers will wonder how long Rusty’s grandfather will continue to visit him.

Ideal for ages 6-10, the simple syntax makes the plot accessible and understandable to young readers. Older readers will appreciate the ubiquitous breadth of archetypes that are a juicy delight for those who enjoy layers of symbolism. Children who enjoy tales about alter ego superheroes and seeking justice for wrongdoings will enjoy this book, and children who are coping with loss may find comfort in this story, for it reassures readers that loved ones will always be nearby in spirit. Classroom use of the book can have students discuss the purpose of archetypes in the text and how they can be used to make accurate predictions, and they can partake in activities that ask them to explore themes such as friendship, bullying, justice, and death.

The book’s English translation makes a smooth transition into any culture’s frame of reference. Cultural details take the shape of food references that may be unfamiliar to some readers but certainly not understandable. Syntactical elements flow seamlessly for a well-knit plot structure that maintains the book’s message about the necessity for bravery - not only in the face of bullies, but also in the face of death.

For readers interested in accessing this book, note that it was not available at a local library or on Kindle, but it was available for purchase on Amazon. For more information regarding its award, I acquired the book here: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/...
I accessed this book by ordering a hard copy from Amazon. ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 01, 2020 Adam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: international-lit, picturebooks

Brown was originally written in Norwegian and translated into English by Kari Dickson. I loved this book so much. The story is great, but the illustrations are what really brings it to life. The cartoonish style of the pictures made me experience this book as if I were a child, constantly imagining things as they unfold. The story follows Ra young boy named Rusty and his alter-ego “Brown,” a crime-fighting superhero whose superpower consists of painting things brown. Colors play a large part in ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 29, 2020 Lisa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Rusty is staying with his Aunt when his grandfather dies. She lets him take home a can of brown paint for the fort he and his friend Jack are building. But when they go to their fort in the woods, 3 bullies - the minister's son included - are pulling down their fort and chase Jack and Rusty away. That night, Rusty has an idea - dressed in brown with a brown cape, he becomes Brown - a super hero avenging wrongs - and he paints one of the bullies bikes with the brown paint. Rusty joins him the nex ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 19, 2020 Judy Wollin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Rusty’s grandfather has died. Rusty loved Him but he’s not sad. Rusty stays with his Aunt while Mum and Dad sort out the hospital ‘practicalities’. Rusty is given his grandfather’s broken pocket watch.
Rusty and his friend jack have built a fort. Three older boys are wrecking it. Rusty tells them to stop and they give chase. He races to Lou’s house and hides there. Lou is curious about why the boys are chasing Rusty.
At home things are sad. Mum cries and Dad is tired. In the middle of this Rusty w ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 08, 2020 Melissa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, humor, adventure, 4th, 3rd, to-buy, non-usa, passport, 2019, grandparents

Charming short book perfect for emerging chapter book readers. Similar in feel to Harry Miller’s Run and The Runaways.
Rusty and his friend Jack have built a fort. Unfortunately the minister’s son and his two nasty friends delight in wrecking it. Rusty takes refuge in his friend Lou’s house and gains guidance from visits with the spirit of his recently deceased grandfather. There is a convincing atmosphere of grief, Rusty’s mom is clearly hit hard by her dad’s death and Rusty feels the loss of h ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 09, 2020 Mandy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade, childrens

Middle grade illustrated fiction. This story is translated from the Norwegian, so I was curious before I even realized that it was this year's Batchelder award-winner book (recognizing excellence in translated literature). Rusty is a young boy who recently moved to the area to be closer to his grandfather. However his grandfather passes away. Rusty doesn't seem to be affected by his grandfather's death, but he is working through it in his own way. When a group of older boys start picking on Rust ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 24, 2021 Jim Erekson rated it really liked it

Shelves: novel

I just kept chuckling about the decision to make a superhero simply called "Brown". It doesn't translate well, and the other translated titles (German, Dutch, Spanish) aren't nearly as hilarious. The English translation by Kari Dickson is just called "Brown". If it had to be brought closer to superhero usage, maybe "The Brown Avenger" could work, but it loses some of the subtlety. Love the naturalness of these kids. See the other 2 in the series, and reviews.

Svartle https://www.goodreads.com/re ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 16, 2020 Chris Hays rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-aloud, teaching, realistic, children, humor, adventure

There is a lot to love about this book. I think one of the biggest wins is that the protagonist acts like a child and is easily related to children with his thought process. That said, I would take care to know that Rusty does not always make the best choices. This includes not telling the truth to his parents. I feel some might be turned off by this, yet for me it offers a perfect perspective for students. The book does not hide the challenging issue of death of a grandpa as it drives some of t ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 12, 2020 Lauren rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s, humorous, heartwarming

I picked up this book because it won this year’s Mildred Batchelder award, and I was not disappointed. This is an absolutely fantastic chapter book for early elementary kids. The tough topics of grief and loneliness are handled here with humor and imagination, accompanied by charming illustrations. Kids will want to go build a fort, dress up like a superhero and fight injustice after reading this, and maybe make some new friends too. I loved how realistically weird (turns out that is a thing!) t ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 19, 2021 Global Literature in Libraries Initiative added it · review of another edition

Shelves: world-kid-lit-wednesday

In Brown, a spare, quirky, satisfying book for middle grade readers, we meet Rusty, aka superhero Brown, at a rocky time in his life. His grandfather dies soon after his family moves to be nearby. A group of three bullies—including the minister’s son—destroy the fort that Rusty and his friend Jack have been building. Rusty only evades the three bullies by hiding at the house of his other friend, Lou. The bullies come to Rusty’s house… and so things continue...
------------------------------------ ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 07, 2020 Kim rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I love this author's style. The idea of transforming into a superhero in order to cope with bullies and the death of a beloved family member is possible the most relatable thing I've ever read. The fact that Brown's (Rusty's) superpower is painting things brown is really satisfying for reasons I can't explain. Brown is soon joined in superhero-dom by Black and Blue, aka his friends Jack and Lou, and the shenanigans start getting out of hand. The book resolves nicely, but, in my case at least, le ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 18, 2020 Heidi Burkhart rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Death and bullying are the two predominant themes in this very endearing little book written by Hakon Ovreas from Norway. The story is told with charm and simplicity and would make a great choice for students from Gr 3-7.

This title was the winner of the Batchelder Award this year (2020).

Highly recommended

flag Like · see review

Oct 20, 2020 Teresa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-critics-potential, fantasy, humor, emo, death, bullying-j, wimpy-kiddish

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag Like · see review

Feb 01, 2020 Nell rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade-books

I read this in English, translated by Kari Dickson. Rusty and his friends Jack and Lou get up to all kinds of mischief in an effort to thwart some neighborhood bullies. Rusty's grandfather also plays a neat role in the story. Really good book. ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 02, 2020 Melody rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: j-fiction

Really pretty book.
Translated from Norwegian, a different sort of story.
Death of grandfather; friendship with kids his age; and bullying by older, bigger boys who end up getting in trouble for painting rude words on a church.
I liked the story, and the book itself.

Won the 2020 Batchelder Medal.

flag Like · see review

Jun 11, 2021 Heidi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

My boys and I read this book as part of the Vesterheim Museum's Family Book Adventure.
They're ages 5 and 7 and we really enjoyed this book - especially the parts about friendship and forts and tricking the bullies. The death of the grandfather (not a spoiler) went over their heads a little bit. ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 22, 2019 Ellen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kid-midgr-8-12yo

A nice story for any reader, and especially the child coming to terms with the loss of a grandparent.

flag Like · see review

Feb 07, 2020 Pat rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a completely charming book! It's always a relief when the bullies in a story get their come-uppance and when beloved relatives keep living even after death. ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 08, 2020 DaNae rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bullying, realistic-fiction, z150-in2020, early-chapter-books, grandparent, friendship, grade-3-reading-list, super-hero, translation, caper-heist-prank

Let's say your bullies are a little too much for you, your own puny self, to take on - never fear, there just may be a superhero lurking about that will take care of business. ...more

flag Like · see review