Ann-Helén Laestadius’ Punished, the second book in the Sapmitrilogin series, follows her internationally acclaimed novel Stolen with yet another harrowing exploration of the systemic oppression faced by the Indigenous Sámi people. Based on real historical injustices, Punished takes readers on a journey that is at once deeply personal and universally unsettling.
At its heart, Punished is a dual timeline narrative that captures the lifelong trauma of five Sámi children who were torn from their families in the 1950s and forced to attend a government-run boarding school. They were forbidden to speak their native language, subjected to cultural erasure, and physically abused by their housemother, Rita. Thirty years later, their unresolved pain resurfaces when Rita—now an old, frail woman—unexpectedly returns, forcing them to confront their past and the scars they carry.
This novel is a masterclass in storytelling, but it is not without its flaws. While Ann-Helén Laestadius crafts an intense emotional landscape, Punished occasionally struggles with pacing, particularly in its modern timeline. In this review, we will explore the strengths and weaknesses of Punished, analyzing its narrative structure, character development, themes, and the haunting question it poses: What would you do if given the chance to punish the person who hurt you as a child?
A Heart-Wrenching Plot Driven by Memory and Justice
Ann-Helén Laestadius structures Punished in a dual timeline format, shifting between the 1950s, when the protagonists are young children suffering the horrors of the boarding school, and the 1980s, when they are adults struggling to reclaim their identities and deal with the re-emergence of their tormentor.
- The Past: In the 1950s, the narrative captures the cruelty and dehumanization of Sámi children in the “nomad school.” The institution is a place of forced assimilation, where speaking Sámi is met with physical punishment and emotional abuse. Housemother Rita is the epitome of state-sanctioned cruelty, meting out severe punishments and enforcing silence among her young charges. The novel’s opening chapters are suffocatingly bleak, painting a vivid portrait of how cultural genocide was inflicted upon Indigenous children through seemingly “civilized” institutions.
- The Present: In the 1980s, the five main characters—Else-Maj, Jon-Ante, Nilsa, Marge, and Anne-Risten—each process their trauma in vastly different ways. Else-Maj clings to her Sámi identity but finds solace in religion; Jon-Ante is haunted by painful memories; Nilsa harbors an anger that has hardened into something dark; Marge wrestles with the ethical implications of adopting a child from Colombia while grappling with her own displacement; and Anne-Risten distances herself from her Sámi roots, burying her past beneath her Swedish name. Their fractured lives are disrupted when Rita, the woman who terrorized them in childhood, reappears—acting as though nothing ever happened.
- The Confrontation: The central tension of the novel hinges on the five survivors’ varied responses to Rita’s return. Some want revenge, some want justice, and some want to move on. This internal struggle is the novel’s most powerful aspect. The question of retribution versus healing looms large, and Laestadius does not offer easy answers.
While Punished by Ann-Helén Laestadius is gripping and deeply immersive, the present-day sections occasionally lag, especially in the middle of the novel. The pacing suffers as the adult characters struggle to find a collective response to Rita’s presence. The resolution, while powerful, does not provide the catharsis some readers may crave—but perhaps that is intentional. Real-life justice is rarely neat.
Character Analysis: Five Broken Souls in Search of Healing
Laestadius excels in character development, presenting five distinct voices that reflect the myriad ways trauma manifests.
1. Else-Maj – The Survivor
Else-Maj is one of the strongest characters in Punished. As a child, she was small and vulnerable, but she learned to endure. As an adult, she embraces her Sámi identity yet finds refuge in religion. She is torn between forgiveness and anger, making her one of the most compelling figures in the novel.
2. Jon-Ante – The Haunted One
Jon-Ante is arguably the most tragic character. He carries the weight of childhood torment on his shoulders and struggles to build a future. His pain is palpable, and Laestadius does an exceptional job of illustrating how unresolved trauma can corrode a person’s spirit.
3. Nilsa – The Vengeful One
Nilsa is fueled by rage. He is unwilling to let go of the past and is eager to exact revenge on Rita. His anger is both a strength and a flaw—while his desire for justice is understandable, it blinds him to any other form of healing. His storyline is one of the most intense in Punished.
4. Marge – The Seeker
Marge’s internal conflict adds depth to the novel. Her decision to adopt a child from Colombia forces her to confront the pain of cultural displacement. Is she repeating history by taking a child from their homeland? This ethical dilemma makes her one of the most thought-provoking characters.
5. Anne-Risten – The One Who Erases Herself
Anne-Risten, who now goes by Anne, has distanced herself from her Sámi heritage. She embodies the psychological impact of forced assimilation—she hides her past, even from her friends. Her character arc is heartbreaking, as she is forced to reckon with the parts of herself she has tried to bury.
Each of these characters is drawn with precision and depth, making Punished by Ann-Helén Laestadius a deeply human novel.
Themes: Cultural Erasure, Justice, and the Weight of Memory
1. Cultural Erasure and Identity
The most devastating aspect of Punished is its exploration of cultural erasure. The Sámi children are stripped of their language and traditions, forced into a Swedish identity that is not their own. The novel asks: What happens to a person when their very essence is taken from them? This question lingers long after the last page.
2. Justice Versus Revenge
The moral dilemma at the heart of Punished is whether justice can ever be truly served. Can revenge bring peace? Should they forgive Rita, or should they make her suffer? Laestadius leaves this question open-ended, allowing readers to wrestle with it themselves.
3. The Intergenerational Impact of Trauma
Punished by Ann-Helén Laestadius highlights how trauma is passed down through generations. The pain of the characters is not just their own—it is inherited, a wound that festers across time. The novel does not shy away from the reality that healing is a slow and often incomplete process.
Writing Style: A Lyrical Yet Unforgiving Prose
Ann-Helén Laestadius writes with a raw and unflinching voice. Her prose is immersive, and her descriptions of Sámi life are richly detailed. The novel’s stark realism makes it difficult to read at times, but that is precisely what gives it power.
However, the modern sections occasionally feel sluggish. While the past is gripping, the present-day characters spend a little too much time deliberating, which slows the momentum. A tighter edit could have improved pacing.
Final Verdict: A Powerful but Unsettling Read
Pros
- Punished is an emotionally resonant and deeply important novel that shines a light on a dark chapter of Sweden’s history.
- The characters are fully realized, each dealing with trauma in unique ways.
- The themes of justice, memory, and cultural erasure are masterfully explored.
- Laestadius’ prose is haunting and evocative, immersing readers in both the beauty of Sámi culture and the horror of its oppression.
Cons
- The pacing in the modern timeline drags in some sections.
- The novel does not provide full closure, which may frustrate some readers.
- Some character arcs could have been explored with greater depth, particularly regarding how they navigate healing.
Final Rating
Punished by Ann-Helén Laestadius is an essential read for those interested in Indigenous narratives and historical injustice. It is not an easy book, but it is a necessary one. While the slow pacing in parts prevents it from being flawless, its raw power makes it unforgettable.
Would you punish the person who hurt you as a child? This novel forces us to confront that very question, and the answer is never simple.