This is a difficult conversation.

Despite its fast-paced title—"The Runaways"—this is by no means an adventure story, nor is it a turbulent tale.

It is a quiet story, sad and philosophical. It is about a grandson who secretly organizes a short trip to a place of significance for his grandfather, away from the rest of the family. The grandfather is currently confined to a hospital bed, but his thoughts are back at that very house, far from the world, where he once lived with his now-late wife. He wishes he could return there, if only for a short while, to breathe in the scent, admire the cold sea from the porch, touch the furniture, and—he remembers it clearly—he believes there must be a jar of the lingonberry jam she made still sitting in the cellar...

The reader will encounter the theme of death from various angles here: it is not only about the grandfather mourning his deceased wife, but also about the grandfather himself eventually dying in the hospital. Furthermore, it touches upon whether one can prepare for death. It speaks to how once strong and healthy people turn into the frail, and how challenging it can be to care for the elderly...

Of course, this is a serious book, but by no means a grim one. The protagonist, a boy named Gottfried, simply loves spending time with his grandfather; there is a strong bond between them, so everything he does is a pleasure, not a sacrifice. He understands his grandfather and strives with all his might to bring him joy, and he, a child, succeeds at this wonderfully. The old man and the young boy are on the same wavelength, and this makes the entire narrative feel light.