Children's Books
Under the pen name, A. Johnsson, Astrid writes illustrated children's books and middle grade fantasy.
Bearly Injured is A. Johnsson's first children's book and also her first co-authored book.
After Kumako falls out of a tree, her twin sister Kitsumi worries about what to do. Kumako wants her to stay quiet and not tell their parents about the incident, but Kitsumi can see the pain in her sister's eyes. It takes courage to speak up, especially when everyone Thinks you're a dreamer, with your head in the clouds.
For Kumako, the pain isn't so bad. She's sure it's just a bruise, but there's no mark on her leg where it hurts. However, the pain isn't anything like a friend said it was when she broke a bone. Kumako doesn't want to worry her parents unnecessarily and thinks it's best to keep going, especially since she wants to continue with her track and field training, something she loves, but is only allowed if her grades are good. While it takes courage to speak up, there is also a bravery in listening to the body and understanding what it's telling us about injuries.
Kumako and Kitsumi must go on an adventure to the world of healing where their guide, Karasu, takes them on a journey to remember.
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Excerpt from Chapter 1 of Bearly Injured
It was a beautiful spring afternoon. Flowers and cherry blossom trees lined the walkway and entrance to Nobuki Elementary. A breeze blew through an open window of the classroom and snapped Kitsumi out of her daydreaming.
“We will have a final on conversational English tomorrow. Please make sure you study chapters twenty-two through twenty-six,” the teacher, Ishimura Sensei, said.
Kitsumi had missed Ishimura Sensei’s test review. She had been daydreaming. Her twin sister, Kumako, was an excellent note-taker, and Kitsumi relied on her too much. She needed to learn to be more alert in the classroom. Kitsumi fidgeted and waited for the dismissal bell.
The three-toned chime sounded throughout the school.
Kitsumi tapped Kumako’s shoulder. “Are you ready to go home and study? Did you take good notes?”
“Yes, I took notes, Kitsumi. Were you daydreaming? I saw you looking out the window.”
“I’m sorry. I know I need to pay attention in class. Thank you for taking notes.”
“You’re welcome.”
The twins took a shortcut through Momiji Park when suddenly Kumako stopped in front of a giant maple tree. She dropped her book bag and jumped up to the first branch.
“Kumako, what are you doing? We need to get home and study. We don’t have time to climb trees. Okaasan is expecting us!”
Kumako climbed higher and ignored her sister. She was halfway up the tree when a large black bird burst from the leaves with a squawk and, next, Kumako’s scream stopped Kitsumi’s heart. Kumako plummeted in a whirl of sticks, knocked against a branch, and fell to the ground, fresh, reddish leaves sticking from her hair.
Kitsumi rushed to her sister and yelled for help. What could she do? Kumako stirred and opened her eyes, dousing Kitsumi with relief.
“Kumako, what happened? Did something scare you? Was it a crow? I heard a crow caw loudly.”
“Kitsumi, calm down. I’m all right. Just give me a moment.”
“Breathe, breathe, just take a deep breath, and breathe,” Kitsumi said out loud. “Kumako, you scared me! Why did you climb the tree?”
Kitsumi helped Kumako sit and supported her body.
“Are you hurt? Can you walk, Kumako? Do you need help?”
Kumako shook her head. Kitsumi grabbed her twin’s book bag and wrapped her arm around Kumako’s back to support her.
“Kumako, you’re limping. Does your leg hurt?”
“I’m fine. Please don’t tell Okaasan and Otosan what happened today. I don’t want to get in trouble. I’m sorry I scared you.”
“I won’t say anything since you’re fine, Kumako. But it still worries me.”
“Let’s go home, Kitsumi.”
***
Kumako couldn’t believe she’d fallen. She was usually a good climber, but the crow had startled her. The bird was glossy black, and really big. It was beautiful, even if it had caused her to tumble.
You should pay better attention, the crow had said. Startled, Kumako lost focus and paid even less attention to what she was doing. A bird speaking? That was crazy! And while she thought about that, Kumako had put her hand on the next branch without looking. I must have been dreaming. A creature talking to me? That’s impossible.
Dreaming with her eyes open. That was more like Kitsumi. Kumako shook her head and took a step, but her shinbone sparked with pain. She had to press her teeth tightly together to stop herself from crying out.
Kitsumi’s eyes were wide, and they shimmered. Kumako couldn’t bear to be the one who made her sister cry. Kitsumi was also likely to panic and tell their parents no matter how much Kumako wanted her to keep quiet about the fall. They’d just be worried, too.
The way her sister had been talking, Kumako knew Kitsumi was already panicking. She needed to think of something to keep her sister calm.
“Will you get my bag for me, Kitsumi?”
Kumako hoped the minor distraction would give her enough time to prepare for the walk home. Her dutiful sister rushed to the tree’s base and collected the backpack, still asking worried questions like a waterfall. Meanwhile, Kumako carefully stepped on her right foot while her sister’s back was turned. There was no stabbing pain this time, and Kumako sighed in relief.
The leg ached a bit, but that shouldn’t be a problem. From what Kumako had heard when a friend at the track and field club broke their leg, one couldn’t walk. It was so painful. This was manageable, even if there was a dull twinge in her shin every time she put weight on her leg.
Kumako felt more confident and smiled at Kitsumi. “You’re right, we should study for that test. Let’s go home.” She took the bag from her sister’s hands and swung it onto her back.
Walking home was an exercise in taking careful, deliberate steps. When Kumako didn’t pay attention to how she placed her right foot, discomfort sliced up her shin, but the rest of the time, it was just a dull ache, like a bruise. Hopefully, if she rested the leg and put some ice on it, it would be fine tomorrow.
Kumako walked in silence, thinking about the fall. She’d already dismissed the talking crow as a figment of her imagination. But what had happened to her to hurt the leg? She’d been startled and missed the grip she’d been aiming for with her hand. The world tilted, and then she was rushing downward faster than she’d been able to think.
Instinct taking over, Kumako had grasped at anything with her hands, and she’d managed to land her tummy on one of the lowest branches, swinging off it to land on the ground. So, why did her leg hurt? She couldn’t even remember knocking it. From what she could recollect, it should be her stomach or ribs that hurt, not her right leg. Nothing made any sense.
It seemed like forever before they came to their wooden house with its dark support beams offset with white. She managed to shuffle into the genkan, a low-level floor where they kept their shoes. She tried to ease her left foot out of the shoe, but the ache in her right leg burned until spots flashed in her vision.
Kumako had to bite down to stop herself from crying out. She couldn’t put all her weight on her right leg. With a subdued whimper, she shuffled to the step where the genkan ended and sat down to remove her shoes.
Meanwhile, Kitsumi kicked off her shoes and placed them in the cupboard on the side of the entrance area without a second thought.
“Tadaima!” she called as she raced into the house.
From the kitchen, Kumako heard their Obaachan reply, “Okaerinasai.”
Tiredness washed over Kumako like a tidal wave. The walk home had taken so much energy. She needed to sleep.