About the Book

Ode to Billy Buck/Ode til Billy Buck is available in a bilingual English/Norwegian Bokmål (facing pages of English on the left, Norwegian Bokmål on the right) and also as an English-only and a Norwegian-only version. The story, about the friendship between two children in Ames, Iowa, USA during the 1950s, is inspired by the author’s own childhood, but it is not purely autobiographical. The author cut jigsaw pieces out of reality, jumbled them well, and glued them onto each page of this book in intentional patterns. Although they share nicknames, Mari Bjørk is not quite Anne, and her family is not quite hers either. All the characters in this book are results of the author’s jigsaw-jumbling — except, of course and may be, Billy Buck.

In the Author’s Own Words

I have described Ames of the 1950s as true to reality as my memory allows me seven decades later, well assisted by Ames History Museum’s goldmine of a website and other sources. The buildings, stores, parks, and streets all have their 1950s names and locations. The weather is accurate for any given date in this narrative. I might have exaggerated the cornfields surrounding Ames a bit, since they are seen through the eyes of a child way back in those olden days.

The language in the Norwegian version is the same transitional variant of Bokmål that Mari’s parents would have used in the 1950s. All colors in the English version are spelled exactly as they are written in Mari’s Crayola box and kept in a matching mode in the Norwegian version. And yes, I’ve broken some grammatical and orthographic rules in both versions. That’s because I’ve followed Mari’s perception of the way things are.

How Can I Buy the Book?

Anne Zooey Lind’s bilingual Ode to/til Billy Buck is available worldwide online and in your favorite bookstore around the corner. You can also order directly from us (use the links below), depending on which entity you want to support more: author, bookstore, or publisher.

Library, Bookstores, and other Institutions

Our books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational or business use by libraries, bookstores, and other institutions. Please use our online order form to purchase books at a 50% discount. All other customers, please use the links below.

Available in paperback, casewrap hardcover, and digital versions (ePub and Kindle formats).

If you prefer buying directly from us, please use the Add to Cart button below, otherwise use the links further down which will take you directly to the specific online Amazon store listed for your country.