Your Estonian Summer Reading List
It has been 500 years since the publication of the first book in Estonian and summer has arrived in Estonia! That means it’s the best time to go over some new and some older classics that can keep you company all summer long.
We have put together a list of books suitable for both beginners and advanced speakers of Estonian. After each title, you will see a short description of the level or genre. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Plahvatus nätsuputkas ja teisi jutte by Brigitta Davidjants (“Explosion in a Cigarette Box and Other Stories”) - a collection of short stories with a humorous twist
Brigitta Davidjants's collection of short stories “Explosion in a Cigarette Box and Other Stories” tells the heartfelt and humorous story of a girl from a mixed Armenian-Estonian-Latvian family growing up in Estonia in the 1980s-1990s and coming of age after the turn of the century.
Taeva tütred by Piret Jaaks (“Daughters of Heaven) - an in-depth historical novel
“Daughters of Heaven” is a novel based on a vigorous collection of historical material to tell the life story of Anna Hedvig Büll (pictured below). She was born in Haapsalu at the end of the 19th century and dedicated her life to humanitarian missions. The novel was awarded third prize in the 2023 Estonian Writers' Union Novel Competition.
Lõikejoon by Carolina Pihelgas (“The Cut Line”) - short novel 96 pages
This short novel starts as the story of a young woman trying to heal from a breakup by removing herself from her daily life and leaving the city. Instead of peace in nature, she is met with the expanding military base close to her once dreamy country home. The book explores her internal battles and relationships with her ex, her family and her environment.
Sipelgas Si by Johannes Selg (“Ant Si”) - young adult novel with some archaic vocabulary
From 1939, but has been re-released with the illustrations of Takinada, inspired by Estonian folk culture, nature and Japanese mangas.
Si's life isn't very complicated - his days are filled with friends, military training and work. But then an attack by a marauding enemy destroys everything he holds dear, and his entire community faces extinction. This young adult novel delves deep into themes of nature conservation and how to work together for a common cause.
You can also listen to a part of the book on the Kuku Radio website here. https://kuku.pleier.ee/podcast/jarjejutt/191167
Lydia by Kätlin Kaldmaa - children’s book with 40 pages
This book will take you back to 1843, when a girl named Lydia Emilie Florentine Jannsen was born in Vändra. No one could have known that this was the moment that a star was born! You may know her today as Lydia Koidula, one of the most prominent cultural figures of the Estonian national awakening and a permanent fixture of Estonian culture.
This is just a simple list of five books to get you started for the summer. If these books are not really your style, you can look up the authors and have a look at their other works. You can also look up the various publishing houses for new releases or find something based on awards such as the Estonian Writers’ Union’s Novel Writing Competition winners.
Summer is also a time where libraries are open to everyone for events and they encourage readers to join different types of reading challenges. You will find all these events on the libraries’ home pages by looking for “Suvelugemine 2025” (Summer Reading 2025).
Which of these books will you add to your summer reading list? Do you have any other fun suggestions for the community? Let us know in the comments below or head over to the Practise Your Estonian forum to share your favorite picks!
Ingrid, OLS Community Manager – Estonian