The Circle (Elfgren and Strandberg novel)

The Circle (original Swedish title *Cirkeln*) is a young adult fantasy novel by Swedish authors Mats Strandberg and Sara Bergmark Elfgren. It opens the Engelsfors trilogy. Set in a made-up rural town in Bergslagen, central Sweden, the story follows several teenage girls who, despite having almost nothing in common, learn they are witches destined to defend the world against a supernatural threat. Beyond fantasy, the book draws on horror elements, psychological realism, and unreliable narration. The novel has been sold for publication in 21 languages besides Swedish. Random House released the English translation in the UK on June 7, 2012, and in other English-speaking countries later that summer. It won the Bokbloggarnas litteraturpris, awarded by major Swedish book bloggers, and the Bokjuryn, where over 30,000 Swedish children and young adults vote for their favorite books. It was also nominated for the August Prize youth award in 2011.

The plot centers on six "chosen ones": Minoo, Rebecka, Vanessa, Anna-Karin, Ida, and Linnéa, all first-year students at the same secondary school. For thematic and narrative reasons, Linnéa does not serve as a point-of-view character, while Ida does (Chapter 16). The characters often prove unreliable narrators, as their self-descriptions and views of others conflict—for instance, Minoo’s remarks on Rebecka’s beauty versus Anna-Karin’s thoughts on her own weight. The apparent suicide of Linnéa’s close friend Elias, whom she considered a brother, triggers a series of strange events in the town.

Key characters include Minoo Falk Karimi, an excellent student and teacher’s pet who, with Linnéa, accidentally finds Elias’s body early on; she becomes close friends with Rebecka and later Linnéa, and has a crush on her teacher Max. Rebecka Mohlin, a popular girl with a history of anorexia, dates Gustaf and believes the Chosen Ones must stick together. Anna-Karin Nieminen, an only child living with her mother and grandfather on a farm, is an outcast bullied for her appearance and struggles with self-image. Vanessa Dahl, outgoing and considered promiscuous, dates older men, including Wille, and becomes best friends with Linnéa. Linnéa Wallin, a goth and social outcast living alone in social services housing due to her mother’s death and father’s alcoholism, had a sibling-like bond with Elias.