The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: MacDonald, Andrew David. When We Were Vikings. New York: Scout Press, 2020.

The novel takes place in the present day in an unspecified town in the United States. The protagonist and narrator is Zelda, a 21-year-old woman with cognitive disabilities. Zelda is deeply interested in the history and culture of Vikings. She lives in an apartment with her brother, Gert, who is a year or two older than her. Their mother died of cancer, and their father is absent from their lives. Their mother was an alcoholic, and Zelda’s cognitive disabilities are due to the fact that her mother drank heavily when she was pregnant with Zelda. For a period of time, Gert and Zelda lived with their abusive uncle, Richard.

Gert attends a nearby college on a scholarship. Gert’s now ex-girlfriend Annie was the one who encouraged him to apply for the scholarship. Zelda attends life skills classes at a local community center. Zelda is friends with Annie, and she hopes Gert and Annie will resume their relationship someday. Zelda is dating Marxy, who is about the same age as her, and who also has cognitive disabilities. Zelda and Marxy are in the same class at the community center. Zelda and Marxy desire to have sex in the near future, but Gert is opposed to the idea.

One day, Zelda goes to the campus of Gert’s college to bring him a calculator that he left at home. However, Zelda finds that he is not in class. Some of his classmates say that he has been frequently absent from class. It soon becomes apparent that Gert is working for a local criminal named Toucan. Gert knew Toucan in high school, and now Toucan makes money by selling drugs. Toucan gave Gert a loan so that Gert could move himself and Zelda out of Uncle Richard’s apartment. Gert now works for Toucan as a drug dealer to pay back the debt.

Zelda decides to acquire a job so that she can help Gert repay the debt. Zelda acquires a part-time job at a local library. Zelda also tells Annie about Gert’s involvement with Toucan. Annie and Zelda confront Gert and urge him to stop associating with Toucan. Gert assents. However, it soon becomes apparent to Zelda that Gert is still working for Toucan. Zelda notices that Hendo—a man who also works for Toucan—comes to the library sometimes. Zelda and Hendo form a rapport, and Zelda feels herself growing attracted to Hendo. However, Zelda represses these feelings, as she still loves Marxy.

However, when Zelda and Marxy finally try to have sex with each other, the attempt is unsuccessful. Marxy’s cognitive disabilities are somewhat more pronounced than Zelda’s and Marxy is unable to complete the task. Marxy becomes frustrated and breaks up with Zelda. Zelda is sad, but she feels better whenever she interacts with Hendo. One day, Hendo takes her on a date and then suggests that they go back to Zelda’s apartment. However, instead of spending time with Zelda, Hendo steals a bag of drugs from Gert’s room and flees.

The drugs were given to Gert by Toucan so that Gert could sell them. Hendo is nowhere to be found, and Toucan begins to threaten Gert and Zelda. Zelda goes to Toucan’s home to confront him. Toucan violently beats Zelda and almost rapes her. Annie arrives and tries to protect Zelda, but Toucan violently beats Annie as well. In self-defense, Annie uses a gun to shoot Toucan. Toucan dies from the wound.

After Annie recovers from her wounds, she decides to leave town and visit her estranged family. Annie signs her lease over to Zelda so that Zelda has apartment of her own. Gert drops out of school. In the final scene, Zelda brings Gert into her new apartment, potentially to let him live there for the time being.