Young Adult Literature; Comedy; Satire and Parody
Although some people might consider Pippi Longstocking children's literature plain and simple, we think that's a bit too… well, plain and simple. Sure, even super-youngsters (three- and four-year-olds) can enjoy a good Pippi read-aloud, but there's more to Lindgren's high-spirited heroine than her silly antics might at first suggest.
For one thing, like many of the young adults in young adult lit, Pippi struggles with identity and independence. She's a young girl living alone (with a horse and a monkey) fairly successfully, but she still wants someone to sing her to sleep at night and isn't quite sure what to do with herself when her friends aren't around. Also, she can't exactly decide whether or not she wants to fit in to the adult society around her, as demonstrated by her difficulty settling into one role or the other at Mrs. Settergren's coffee party.
Of course, with all its humor and Pippi's continual triumphs over adversity, Pippi Longstocking is also a comedy. And because it pokes fun at social institutions such as public education as well as adults' attempts to control situations that they ultimately can't control, Pippi also qualifies as satire and parody.
In short: Pippi packs a lot of punch.