The Bag/Påsen

When the kids in The Bag come home, they notice it right away. Something’s off. It’s too empty. Too straight. And it smells… clean. The parents claim they’ve only done a bit of dusting and tidying up, but in the hallway stands a black plastic bag, filled with all sorts of things labeled “unimportant” and “broken.” Immediately, a rescue mission begins. A favorite eraser, a beloved snuff tin filled with Greek sand, and a mini pen from the Gotland ferry are all retrieved. But worst of all — Kussivrä! A piece of firewood that’s far more than just a stick. It’s a baby cousin, a friend, a part of the family! How could the parents even think of throwing him away?!

The Bag by Emma AdBåge is a sharp, funny, and deeply relatable story about the vital importance of play, about power and about relationships. Who really gets to decide what’s trash and what’s a treasured toy? And what would happen if adults always got their way?