1 will be the guest of honour at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2013. This is the largest book fair for literature for children and young adults and our participation as guest of honour is a unique opportunity for Swedish authors and illustrators to reach readers far beyond Sweden’s borders, and to promote children’s and young people’s right to culture internationally. Our participation starts in 2012 and marks the 10th anniversary of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. This will be celebrated with various events including an exhibition featuring previous award recipients.

Last year over 1.600 books for children and young adults were published in Sweden. Mats Kempe, author and librarian has been given the almost impossible task of choosing and presenting a selection of last year’s rich offering. For more information about the books and their authors please contact the relevant publisher.

Kennet Johansson Director General Swedish Arts Council

2 Illustrations cover: from ”Memmo och mysen söker efter färger” by emma virke. 3 inside cover and next spread: from ”vita streck” by sara lundberg. picture Front cover: From ”summer” by sara lundberg. 4this page: from ”my life as a detective” by malin axelsson (text) and magdalena cavallin (illustrations) 5 sitting down to write about Swedish any other way. With her expressive and call ‘scenes from a marriage’, in which ambitions and written stories that are finally returns home. Her distinctive picture books I find it hard not to be- to some extent naive imagery and her women try to adapt their lives to suit more open to interpretation and in humour is here, as are the expressive gin with the author and illustrator Eva multi-layered stories, Eva Lindström is men – or in this case male birds, for which the humour is subtle and more illustrations where everyday reality Lindström, born in 1952. She has been a shining example of an author who is example Min vän Lage (My Friend Lage) ambivalent. I skogen (In the Forest) and collides with absurd interludes, along nominated seven times for the August able to write for all ages, and in a voice and Vid bergets långa breda fot (At the Jag tycker inte om vatten (I Don’t Like with the complex relationships between Prize, one of the Swedish literary prizes all her own. In recent years she has Long Wide Foot of the Mountain), to Water) can be included in this category. humans and animals. given the most media coverage, but moved between depictions of child- her masterpiece Sonja, Boris och tjuven Her latest book, Apan och jag (Monkey If there is a recent trend in Swedish curiously enough she has never won it. hood in the books Jag gillar Stig (I Like (Sonja, Boris and the Thief), about life and Me) is a little book about a friend- picture books I would have to say Picture She is frequently in demand as an il- Stig) and Stig och jag gräver en grop (Stig on a typical Swedish campsite and the ship between a monkey and a woman, that books concentrating on artistic lustrator of books by other authors but and I Dig a Hole), in which the narra- police investigation that follows when in which the monkey suddenly finds presentation have become even more most of all it is her own books I have tive voice belongs to a headstrong and things start to go missing. In recent another friend (this time a mouse), but prominent with the visual and narrative books come to… well, love. I can’t express it dominant girl, to the books I jokingly years she has broadened her artistic is missed so much by the woman that it emphasis receiving greater attention.

6 from ”apan och jag” by eva lindström. 7 Two well-established children’s authors, to make his way back to their old fruit itself and its anxieties on a children’s a handbook of creative writing that was remote control – street lighting, neon for Öjvind Vita White Stripe finds the (text) and Anna Höglund groves to pick oranges while his sister existence, not least via news stands awarded the in 2009. In signs and lamp posts. Sara Lundberg is answer to her question – she is painting (illustrations) have created the engag- Sulafa, who is disabled, goes with him and the TV screen. Children know that the same year the first book in her own current in two new books, one of them lines so that Öjvind can find his way ing book Pojken, flickan och muren (The in her thoughts. Adham has company painful reality exists and sometimes it name was published, the picture book the follow-up, Vita Streck och Öjvind back to her. Lundberg also provides the Boy, the Girl and the Wall). They have on his walk in the form of Shoo, one is more manageable if we can read and about Vita Streck (Vita White Stripe), (Vita White Stripe and Öjvind) where illustrations for Majken Pollack’s text in already collaborated on numerous titles. of the many village strays. This is a tale talk about it together. the girl who paints all the road mark- the character of Öjvind comes blowing Emblas Universum (Embla’s Universe), This story came about after a trip Stark of longing, poetry and crass everyday A new star in the Swedish picture ings and crossings. In her hair ribbon in with the wind plunging straight into about a big sister who wants to immerse and Höglund made to Palestine. We life, and how children find strategies for book universe is undoubtedly Sara live old Mr Red and Mr Green, and Vita Vita’s paint pot. He asks Vita the exist- herself fully in her games without let- are introduced to Adham and his sister dealing with difficult situations. I wish Lundberg, born in 1971. She had her White Stripe herself sleeps in the breast ential question: why do you paint lines? ting her little sister join in. Lundberg’s Sulafa whose family have been driven more children’s authors would take sim- breakthrough as an illustrator and pocket of the gentle giant Alvaro. And just as Vita is about to attempt pictures, like her stories, are whimsical from their previous home to an exist- ilar strides out into the world we adults designer with the book Skriv om och Alvaro is responsible for the lights, an answer the wind sweeps Öjvind up and full of vivid imagination meta- ence behind a high wall. Adham decides have created. A world which imposes om igen, (Write Over and Over Again), switching them on and off with his again and blows him away. In her search levels, a mix of technique and style,

8 Above: from ”memmo och mysen söker efter färger” by emma virke. 9 left side: from ”pojken, flickan och muren” by ulf stark (text) and anna höglund (illustrations). and references to art and film history, to me. Edward Gorey’s Gashlycrumb sioned and highly acclaimed illustra- and so much visual information they Tinies must have been the source of tors of recent years is Maria Nilsson can be read over and over again. Sara inspiration for this book, but Magntorn Thore. Her pictures turn up everywhere Lundberg’s illustrations sparkle and her reins in the morbid tendencies of his in Swedish life, not least in the world stories are as unpredictable as the dizzi- rhymes rather more than Gorey: ‘Her of picture books. Last year she was est roller coaster ride. brother gave a kite to Li/ She said “It’s nominated for the August Prize with One of the latest Swedish picture far too big for me!”. If we fail to find the no fewer than two titles, which I believe books to make people sit up and take child hidden in each picture we can see is so far unique. The first was her very notice is the seemingly modest Hitta them all at the end of the book. This own picture book Petras prick (Petra’s barnen! (Find the Children!) by Erik makes Hitta barnen! suitable for young- Spot). Petra, looking rather like a tired, Magntorn and Lisa Sjöblom. It is a er children as well, without losing any of middle-aged leopard, unwillingly wakes rhyming ABC book in which we have its captivating and slightly creepy con- up one morning to discover that one to look for children hidden in the black tent. Lisa Sjöblom’s pictures with their of her spots has removed itself from and white illustrations. Erik Magntorn’s stylised designs rich in detail entice the her fur and is trying to escape into the body of work includes several picture reader into a world that is both strange- world. First Petra tries to stick the spot books in collaboration with other illus- ly alien and frighteningly familiar. back on with tape and then replace it trators, but Lisa Sjöblom is a new name One of the most frequently commis- with a medal. The second book is more

10 Above: from ”petras prick” by maria nilsson thore. 11 left side: from ”hitta barnen!” by Erik Magntorn and Lisa Sjöblom. a chapter book for younger children, for embellishing the story with her own eccentric but detailed facial expressions written by Lotta Olsson called Konstiga particular gift for hilarious animal illus- of the beautifully ugly characters that djur (Odd animals) it is in dialogue form, trations. etched themselves in the memory. Her with just a hint of Winnie-the-Pooh be- Maria Nilsson Thore has also started second and latest book Memmo och tween a giant anteater and a dormouse. a series of very expressive picture books Mysen söker efter färger (Memmo and The giant anteater who feels like an for the very youngest children in col- Mysen look for colours) is about Mem- outsider because people think he looks laboration with her sister Annika Thore mo and his (living) teddy bear Mysen. so odd wants to start an oddest animal who writes the text. At the time of writ- Memmo wakes up in the middle of the competition to try instead to bring out ing two books of a planned series of night and wakes Mysen. Everything is the positive aspects of looking odd, but six have been published: Sami somnar black, all the colour has drained away. when entries start coming in from the (Sami Falls Asleep) and Vira vaknar They set off on an excursion through aardvark, the pangolin, the long-nosed (Vira Wakes Up). the daytime and through the country- monkey and the platypus, the giant Finally I must mention yet another side to study how colours change anteater begins to realise that most new writer of children’s books, Emma depending on the position of the sun. animals – well, almost all animals – Virke. Her pictures are boldly distinct- I am very impressed with the way are odd in different ways. Yes, even the ive but created with acute precision. She Virke’s mixed-technique illustrations ‘normal’ little dormouse is odd. This is made her debut in 2010 with the book inhabit the pages with such confidence. of course the kind of text which offers Brevet till månen (Letter to the Moon) I believe we will be hearing a lot about Maria Nilsson Thore huge possibilities and in that book it was primarily the her in the future.

Above left: from ”konstiga djur” by lotta olsson. below: from ”vira vaknar” by annika thore (text) and maria nilsson thore (illustrations). Next spread: from ”Memmo och Mysen söker efter färger” by emma virke.

12 13 14 15 Chapter books for children

this is perhaps the category of books concerned she takes Linn and her world mat, testing its possibilities. In his latest in which the various genres most no- completely seriously. series about the boy Pim-Pim and girl/ ticeably leave their imprint. Often the Three of Sweden’s most well-known angel Extra he heads in the direction of books can very clearly be allocated a male authors of books for children and a more direct narrative form. En ängel place among thrillers, fantasy or every- young adults have each written excel- har landat (An Angel Has Landed) is the day farce, for example, but I would say lent and entertaining chapter books for recently-published second part in the it is probably the books that have not children aged 9 – 12. Some years ago series. Extra is a new girl in Pim-Pim’s chosen their own distinct genre that are Bo R Holmberg won the August class. She lives with a magician, a cat the most interesting. Saying that, there Prize for Eddie Bolinder och jag (Eddie man and a somnolent old woman called is a risk that these very books disappear Bolinder and I). Currently he is work- The Queen. Pim-Pim’s grandmother in the general flood of books simply be- ing on a series with themes of running goes to their house from time to time cause they are quite difficult to classify. away and social class, and his latest, the to play poker. Pim-Pim and Extra share I thought I would begin with a book third in the series is called Teresa och something very special: Pim-Pim is the for younger readers which I think is a jag (Teresa and Me). Brandon whose only one in class who knows that Extra little gem, I love you Viktoria Andersson single mum has a criminal for a boy- is in fact an angel with special powers by Maja Hjertzell. Hjertzell has a friend becomes friends with Teresa, to intervene in daily life. When a few handful of titles to her name, books for daughter of a chief executive. Together boys in the ninth grade start shouting: children and young adults of various they escape their everyday life and their “Off with your jumpers and show us ages. In I love you Viktoria Andersson families to create brief havens of respite what you’ve got!” to the girls on the we are introduced to the rather unusual and shared times together. In this story stage in the school hall there is a flash nine year-old Linn and her struggles they run away to Teresa’s grandmother’s of lightning and suddenly the boys who with everyday life. Her beloved cat Spike empty summer cottage in the little vil- have called out are sitting there bare to has gone missing, her mother is organ- lage of Backe by the river Moälven. It the waist, their jumpers piled up on the ising a girls-only party for Linn, inviting is a magical place with the meandering stage. They have to walk up and collect class mates Linn doesn’t even like, and river and its sheer dramatic banks and them. Justice at last. But only Pim-Pim then there is the woman who lives in the copper brown water, tangled vegetation knows that Extra made it happen. The same block, the bad-tempered Runa and and bears around the next corner. This book leads us through Pim-Pim’s every- her barking dog Rex. One day mobile is in fact one of Sweden’s most beauti- day life, with his divorced parents and library assistant Viktoria Andersson ful places. One or another mysterious rowdy class mates. There is also Extra, moves into the little white detached fisherman turns up in the story, as does who at times makes him feel special house next door called the Sugar Cube. Brandon’s friend Sami who helps the and chosen and at other times treats She smokes and has problems with her runaways find food in the nearby village him as if he didn’t exist. The book love life, but she bonds with Linn. After of Gottne. But their time together in reminds me a little of Wim Wender’s a fire in one of the apartments most the cottage on the river bank is limited: Wings of Desire, but is completely free of the puzzle pieces fall into place for Teresa will soon be leaving the area and of the film’s somewhat pretentious Linn. Through Viktoria Linn gets to moving far away to Malmö with her overtones. know Simon, who is the same age, and parents. I am looking forward to find It is at times almost painful to read finally Spike turns up. The story might out how future runaway adventures will ’s new book En vän som not sound very original but Hjertzell overcome the geographical distance. heter Mia (A Friend Called Mia). The impresses primarily with her delicate The publisher of this series specialises in book is about Lina who lives with her feeling for language. With small means easy readers, but if by easy readers you little brother Ola and their mother, a and a dislocation of syntax she sculpts think of short, blunt sentences and sim- chronic alcoholic. Lina shoulders more the portrait of the slightly unusual child plified vocabulary, you are completely and more of the responsibility which Linn and her alienation. This is a typical wrong. The easy reading element of Bo ought to be taken by the adults. She lies short exchange between Linn and her R. Holmberg lies in his linguistic ele- to the staff at her little brother’s nursery, two class mates Emma and Siri: gance. His brilliant feeling for rhythm telling them that their mother has a ser- “You can be with us for gym, if you and the chime of his vocabulary take us ious heart condition and needs to rest like,” said Siri. sailing through the book as if on a river at home in peace and quiet. She wants “No thanks,” I said. – unpredictable but with an inexorable to conceal the real situation to prevent They only want me because I can forward momentum. the staff contacting her mother at home. run fast. One of the most interesting authors At her school the teachers become sus- In the same way Hjertzell pares down in Sweden as far as style is concerned is picious and begin to see through Lina’s her vocabulary to reveal a subtle sense . In numerous books he has explanations. One day an author comes of humour, while as far as the action is pulled and pummelled the novel for- to visit the class. She tells them about

16 left side: from the cover of ”i love you viktoria andersson” by maja hjertzell. illustration by anna nilsson. 17 her book, and when she asks the chil- runs away from home and only Saga is who is going to take care of Elli? Grand- dren how they think things turn out for allowed to know where she is going on mother is in Spain soothing her aching the protagonists, Lina says obstinately: the condition that she does not reveal joints so the job falls to grandmother’s “You wrote it, you tell us.” It turns out it to anyone. Their parents are worried, sister Iris and her mysterious chauffeur/ that the author has had a similar experi- naturally, but try to carry on working. It handyman Tom. Elli is collected by Tom ence growing up with alcoholic parents, is the start of the summer holidays, Saga in his old car and driven to Iris’s curi- and she feels that friendship can be a is not at school and Bea was supposed ous house, a classic house, way of surviving. Lina has a friend: Mia. to be looking after her during the day- which had been left overgrown and Mia has lots of brothers and sisters but time. Suddenly Saga is on her own. She forgotten (even on land registry maps) Lina has never been to her house. One packs her swimming things and cycles until Iris and Tom moved in one day. evening Lina’s mother invites a man to to the beach. The family holiday season The unusual house is built into a rock their flat, another alcoholic, and when has not yet begun and Saga is alone on face. Elli is allowed to borrow a puppy he tries to molest Lina she flees. She the deserted shore. All of a sudden the from Tom. She names it Ylva, but it is has nowhere to go, except to Mia’s. It little black cat she saw earlier appears only a loan. Elli is convinced that she turns out that Mia has no siblings at and seems to want Saga to follow it. has been in the house before, in her very all, but she does have two parents who They leave the beach, walk towards the earliest childhood, and that the kindly drink too much. This story can no headland and down a narrow forest but mysterious Tom has something to doubt be valuable for children who find track. In the forest Saga discovers an old do with events leading to the disappear- themselves in similarly vulnerable pre- ramshackle wooden house with an ex- ance of Elli’s father. Why did he leave? dicaments, but just as valuable for the citing, overgrown garden and a sign that The story develops into an exciting tale people in their immediate environment says Vidablick Guest House. This is the of poachers, family connections and – those of us who sometimes do not see first of many excursions to the ancient werewolves, but never falling into any or perhaps choose not to see a vulner- and very typical Maria Gripe house, predictable genre. able child. and eventually Saga dares to venture Ingela Angerborns Rum 213 (Room The legacy left by author Maria upstairs. There she meets Amanda, the 213) is for slightly older children. Elvira Gripe during the latter half of last only person remaining from a bygone goes on a children’s summer camp but century still impacts much of Swed- era who is still living in the house. on the way there she feels a kind of ish literature for children and young Amanda used to work there as a kitchen premonition. She sees a car with the adults. Gripe, who was awarded the HC maid. With the help of a few shards of number plate RUM 213 – exactly the Andersen medal among other distinc- broken coffee cups a story of passion same number as the room Elvira has tions, wrote many cross-genre books from the past begins to unfold between been allocated along with girls Bea and which moved freely between depictions two women and a man who stood in Meja, and an empty bed. The camp is of everyday social realism and magical their way. This is a story of attachment housed in ‘a large wooden house on two realism, contemporary and historical and distance, love between Amanda and floors and a stone staircase with iron times, life and death, reality and imagi- actress Juliette who worked in France, banisters leading up to the open double nation, nature and the supernatural. between Saga and her sister Bea who has doors’ – a typical Maria Gripe house, in Her books often revolve around inter- run away to Copenhagen, and between other words. Soon small items begin to generational relationships, strong family Saga and her best friend Vera who is disappear from the girls’ room. They ties that break and resulting in estrange- spending the summer holidays in suspect each other, but things are more ment, as well as a fascination for life’s Norrland. complicated than that. There is a paral- mysteries and the big questions. Gripe’s Never judge a book by its cover. That lel story from a past time in this story books often have the ability to reach saying sprang to mind after opening also. The girls get to know an older beyond age boundaries and to captivate Lånehunden (The Borrowed Dog) by woman in a neighbouring house who children and adults of all ages. Through Gull Åkerblom. I’m not sure what I informs them that long ago a young girl the years some of her books have been expected but it was not the story I got. died in their very room. Is it the same turned into superlative and success- This too is a cross-genre tale, beginning girl who is haunting them now? Here ful film productions. From among the as a thriller with a social setting. Elli’s too we have the present and the past, books published last year I have found mother is run down on a road crossing everyday realism and magical realism, three that are appealing and preserve and it is clearly attempted murder. Her life and death, dream and reality con- Maria Gripe’s legacy. The most obvious mother is an investigative journalist and verging to create an exciting book. one is perhaps Katarina Genar’s book has written articles uncovering criminal Pensionat Vida-blicks gåta (The Mystery activity, giving her many enemies. She of Vidablick Guest House). The story is currently in the process of writing begins with family ties being broken. a new article. A police officer stands Saga has a big sister called Bea who guard outside her hospital room, but

from ”being flisan” by beata lyth, 18 Right side: from the cover of ”lånehunden” by gull åkerblom. illustration by mattias olsson. illustrated by amanda eriksson 19 Books for young adults

for the past year the Swedish consciousness in literary and linguistic filled with precisely the kind of stylish market in books for young adults has aesthetics in the younger generation of and linguistic flair that distinguishes been largely dominated by a single authors. There is a hunger for linguistic contemporary Swedish literature for novel: Cirkeln (The Circle). Written by experimentation and in general the young adults. author duo Mats Strandberg and Sara standard of writing is very good. Another young linguistic alchemist Bergmark Elfgren the novel has made Ester Roxberg’s first novel is called is Isabella Nilsson. Verklighetsprojek- critics and readers alike shout for joy Antiloper (The Antelopes) and involves tet (The Reality Project) is about an and sent book buyers running to the the suicide of a young person. Indie unhappy romance but the book is like shops – because this book can be found Astrid becomes friends with sporty no other – except it does remind me not only in local book shops but in local Ellen, mostly by chance – they were of the Swedish cult novel Bäste Herr supermarkets too. The novel is set in the ones left over, so to speak. Despite Evander (Dear Herr Evander) from 1967 the community of Engelsfors where six their differences they form a close bond by Per Gunnar Evander. In that novel very different teenage girls are brought until Ellen gradually begins to distance the story’s protagonist, Per Gunnar together and have to co-operate to herself, becoming more and more Evander himself, sends reports about survive. This is a book with witchcraft introverted. She lives alone in a tiny his life and his activities to a committee as the underlying theme. I would not flat after moving to the town of Växjö which in turn critically evaluates the say that the novel is undeserving of its to take an athletics course at college. incoming reports. Isabella Nilsson uses success, but it does mean that a lot of Her parents live far away in Gothen- the same format in her book but here it very good literature easily gets lost in burg. Ellen starts chatting online with is the protagonist’s love affair with civil the wake of such a massive best-seller, someone calling himself The Hero. She engineer Isak, 25, that is being reported. which hardly benefits literary diversity. stops eating and her behaviour becomes However, Isabella Nilsson’s committee For example, there have been several increasingly strange. All the while Astrid is nothing like the one created by Per excellent debut novels recently worthy looks on helplessly not knowing what Gunnar Evander: it could instead have of attention. It is interesting to note that she can do to help. An intriguing study come straight out of Lewis Carroll. The the younger generation of writers of of guilt develops around the meaning committee is made up of a packet of books for young adults often set their of friendship and how much responsi- instant hot chocolate, a raisin, Fido the stories close to home, invariably in a bility a young person can take. When cricket, a Monster Ninja Warrier, a T- school environment with a girl in her Ellen says they want her to take ‘happy shirt with a marathon print, Little Miss upper teens as the protagonist, gener- pills’ Astrid is terrified and tells her of Downcast and a man in a yellow track ally in an unhappy relationship with her course she doesn’t need to take any pills. suit, and they have lively discussions boyfriend and with a rather excentric But with hindsight that might just have about the annual report of the person’s best friend. But even though the set- saved Ellen’s life. Eventually even their life they have in front of them. tings and themes are recurrent, the joint plans to travel to Barcelona when A really good debut is Kan vi inte linguistic achievement and the literary they have finished school come to noth- bara låtsas som om ingenting har hänt? standard are high. I like to think this has ing. Instead Astrid goes with her new (Can’t We Just Pretend Nothing come about as a result of the growing friend Olina to London. The betrayal is Happened?) by Anette Eggert, where availability of many creative writing absolute. Or is it simply that Astrid is we meet Millie, her friends and her course in Sweden in recent years. Not saying yes to life? This is without doubt family. The story leaps off the page in that all the authors have been on such a one of the better and more compelling two time frames. In one, Millie and her course, but I have a feeling the courses books for young adults I have read dur- best friend Emma are eleven, horse- have helped to raise the general level of ing the past year, and it is also a novel mad, spending all their time in the

20 left side: from the cover of ”cirkeln” by Mats Strandberg and Sara Bergmark Elfgren. illustration by kim w andersson. 21 stable and enjoying a very close friend- Andrea who is sixteen years old. Her sis- the people that were his home during is maintained by phone calls, but as and grandfather. And not least with ship with each other. In the second ter, two years older, has dropped out of the earliest years of his childhood. His the years go by they find it harder to Sunnanvind, the horse she was given time frame there is a betrayal and the school and lives with her slightly older father has recently died, found drowned understand each others’ language at when she was little that has by now friends are barely speaking to each other boyfriend who works in a warehouse. and washed up on a shore, and Torvi is such a distance. Contact becomes more grown and had several foals of her own. any more. Millie has stopped going to They have a baby who might be given travelling to Iceland for the funeral. The sporadic, not least between Johanna and The Iceland Johanna returns to is if the stable to avoid confrontation with the name Mira. Both sisters have an visit evolves into a gradual reclaiming of her father. In Sweden Johanna takes up possible even more isolated and distant Emma. They are fifteen years old and unresolved relationship with their father things Torvi had lost inside himself – a riding again and after a while becomes a than Torvi’s Iceland in Viveka Sjögren’s about to finish secondary school and who disappeared when the girls were language, a place, a family where not stable girl at a riding school, caring for novel. You begin to understand her Millie has started hanging out with the small. He went to the US but unexpect- least his paternal grandmother is signifi- Kaspar, the horse she loves best. How- mother’s motives for leaving the place. cool girls Madde and Louise, who bully edly turns up again one day, spending cant. He resumes contact with his child- ever, the riding school is badly run by Johanna is also feeling negative but the outcast Nora. Millie is drawn in and his time hanging around at home. hood friend Óli, and Óli’s sister Lilja, the manager and falls into disrepair. The slowly something changes. The dra- bullies Nora too – she can’t stop herself Their mother was not at all happy that who was at that time just a little child – girls try to keep the school going, first matic landscape, her relationship with – while Emma sides with Nora. Anette he came back. Then their father dies but no longer. Torvi inherits his father’s by themselves and later with the help her Icelandic family and the scattering Eggert’s language vibrates with energy swiftly of cancer. A year or so later their house which is now standing empty. of parents and other adults. Eventually of people who live in the surrounding and she is convincingly loyal to her mother meets Conny, who has utterly He enters the house, sits in solitude and a vet is called and several of the horses area – not least her childhood friend protagonist. The text pulls the reader in failed in his role of stepfather. The fact allows images from his childhood to have to be put down, including Kaspar. Palli who has grown into a young man – close to Millie, almost tangibly express- that Conny has two sons from a previ- flood over him. His father’s voice is still This triggers a crisis in Johanna’s life the horses and sheep, the language, the ing her ambivalence about wanting to ous relationship does not make things there on the answering machine for him and as a result she cuts off all contact sagas and myths, the weather and wind, be with the cool girls Madde and Louise any easier. Relationships within the to hear. Who was he? Bit by bit a picture with the stable world and instead starts and the physical exertion of herding while suffering the pain of abandon- family are strained: Sandra is not even of the manic depressive father surfaces hanging around with skateboarders. the animals back to the farm, every- ing the sympathetic and fair-minded speaking to her mother and her mother while Torvi begins to understand his Adde becomes a kind of boyfriend, but thing interweaves until the book ends Emma, not least in regard to the viola- has rarely met her grandchild. But mother better. This is a book about he is into drugs and one day Johanna with a slight hint of the metaphysical tions they inflict on Nora. Bullied Nora then one day Andrea finds a letter in having roots in two places and in finds she has Adde’s backpack to look – fascinating and unusual. It is also is also depicted convincingly, just like the post addressed to her mother with two languages, and a double sense of after – and several people want it. By interesting to see how both Anette the persecutor Madde and the more no stamp and no address. Someone belonging. this time Johanna is fifteen and neglect- Eggert in Kan vi inte bara låtsas som privileged doctor’s daughter Louise. must have walked past their front door There is a similar theme to Lin ing her school work so much that it om ingenting har hänt? and Lin Hallberg They are all complex characters with and pushed it through the letter box. Hallberg’s novel Vem är du Johanna? looks as if she will fail her exams and liberate themselves from the horse book their own sore points and shortcom- Andrea cannot resist opening it. It is a (Who are you Johanna?). Johanna spent will have to repeat the school year. genre and allow the horse setting to ings. It’s worth repeating: this really is a threatening letter, demanding money. her first years in Iceland growing up in When Johanna’s Icelandic grandmother take a natural place in books for young good book. Money it appears their father has an equestrian centre with her parents has a stroke Johanna makes the decision adult readers. Riding and the riding A kind of dynamic polarity between hidden away somewhere. Who put the and her paternal grandparents. One day to break away from the skateboarders school environment is of course an town and country is created in the book letter through the letterbox? Who is Johanna’s Swedish mother decides to and make her way to the Iceland of her experience shared by many in Sweden Jag är tyvärr död och kan inte komma Bengt Ewald? And who was Andrea’s leave Johanna’s father and the stables childhood. She wants to have time to and I wonder why that experience so till skolan idag (Unfortunately I’m Dead father – in reality? Why did he leave the and return to Sweden. Thanks to the see her grandmother before it is too late, often has to be pigeonholed into a and Can’t Come to School Today) by family? Was he even in the US all those grandmother contact with Johanna but also to be reunited with her father specific literary genre. Sara Ohlsson. Protagonist Olivia, years? Andrea turns to her friend Molly brought up in the village of Byxelkrok and her sister Sandra to try to find on the island of Öland, attends sixth answers. Elin Nilsson’s debut book is a form college in Kalmar on the main real page turner. land. Because of the geographical dis- tance the youngsters are living a more from among the more established adult life beyond their parents’ constant authors of books for young adults two supervision. Olivia is 17 and for the past books were published last year that I few years she has been together with can best describe as sibling books. They 21 year-old John. When he suddenly are both based on an almost increadibly dumps her she faces an identity crisis. similar theme – in fact I am wondering Who is she now that she isn’t with whether the two authors got together John? Where are her boundaries? She is and deliberately planned it this way. now attracted to a completely differ- However, they turn out to be two very ent kind of man. John is also showing good and comparatively different books other sides. What does she want? And for young adults. where is home? What does country boy Viveka Sjögrens novel I den tysta Kalle mean to her, Kalle who stayed minuten mellan (In the Silent Minute behind on Öland and who unexpect- Between) was nominated for last year’s edly becomes close to her? At her side August Prize. The protagonist is Torvi is loyal Tor, her friend since childhood. who spent the first six years of his life This is another linguistically elegant and in Iceland with his Icelandic family and confidently stylish novel. relations. When his Swedish mother Unlike many others of her genera- leaves his Icelandic father, taking Torvi tion Elin Nilsson has chosen to write with her to Sweden, Torvi loses contact a story based as much on intrigue as with Iceland. Now, at the age of four- relationships. Istället för att bara skrika teen, Torvi climbs aboard an aircraft (Instead of Just Yelling) introduces and returns alone to the landscape and

22 right side: from the cover of “vem är du johanna?” by lin hallberg. 23 photo by gunilla cederlund. It is not exactly usual for Swedish are extremely susceptible and exposed books in this category to leave Sweden to risks. Åsa Anderberg Strollo is and venture abroad, but one author clearly an author with her ear to the who has never hesitated to let her ground. In her novel Hoppas (Hope So) books travel is Monika Zak. Now her Jonna leaves school and the small town third book about Alex Dogboy has of Kolsva to travel to to look been published, a series that has been for work and a flat of her own. A few a huge success, not least abroad. Säg days before Christmas her mother takes Alex, bara Alex (Say Alex, Just Alex) is a few days’ leave to spend the Christmas the title and it is set in Honduras. Street holiday with Jonna, but something child Alex has grown into a young man. intervenes: her mother’s new boyfriend The book begins with his release from invites her on a surprise holiday to prison following a failed attempt to Mallorca and so Jonna is left behind enter the US illegally. He returns to the to spend Christmas with her alcoholic ruined house (damaged by hurricane grandmother. That is the last straw for Mitch) where he previously lived with Jonna and she runs away. The escape to his friend Marvin and their dogs. He Stockholm is a much tougher experi- is reconciled with Zofi, who lost their ence than she expected. It is hard to find child in a miscarriage, and they resume work and when her mobile goes miss- their relationship. Violence, drugs, ing she is totally unprotected and has prostitution and people trafficking are a nowhere to go. She goes to a swimming constant threat. The subject of this book pool to shower and her situation is soon is the fight against poverty and the will identified by an older girl, Alex, who is to survive and the story is based on real also homeless. Jonna is rapidly sucked life. It is constructed as a patchwork of into an existence of cold, hunger, alco- text resembling news bulletins, retold hol, violence, sexual assault, and a ref- anecdotes and directly experienced dra- uge in Stockholm’s underground tunnel matic events. We move in and around system and abandoned store rooms. The the world that belongs to Alex and his City Mission premises are the only place friends but the perspective also includes the girls can feel really secure, and it is hired killers, pimps and Swedish jour- there Jonna gets to know Elina. This is nalists. It is thrilling, engaging, gripping a novel that emphasises the necessity of and disturbing. It is far and away the friendship for survival. book that had the strongest impact on To a certain extent an unusual little me this year. It occurs to me that there book called Under trottoaren (Under the are similarities between Alex Dogboy’s Pavement) inhabits the same environ- fate and that of Swedish Nobel prize- ment and theme as Hoppas. It is written winning, working class author Harry by Pernilla Glaser and tells the story Martinson a little over a hundred years of the underfed boy Sam who has fled ago, in the way their mothers aban- from his home and his abusive father. doned them to travel to the US to earn a However, he has nowhere to go. Down living, and how these children were then in Stockholm’s underground tunnel entirely dependent on the surrounding system he comes across three girls, all society for their survival. Naturally the very dissimilar. There is Lova the ex- old Swedish farming communities were plorer who is underground looking for different from the Honduras of today, the mythical gigantic space known as but Monika Zak has such an ability to the Balloon Room, which is said to have bring social and financial injustice to been blasted out of the rock and is big life in her book that it is easy to make enough to fly a hot air balloon inside, the switch and start thinking about pov- despite being underground. Then there erty and homelessness in our privileged is the orphan street artist Astra whose Sweden of today. curiosity lures her down into the tun- Recently Stadsmissionen (City Mis- nel system but she loses her way and is sion) sought media coverage to pub- helped by Sam. Astra repays the help licise the acute situation of the many by inviting Sam home to her flat where youngsters, often really very young he can eat and get the sleep he needs. people, who are homeless today. Home- Finally there is the strange and scary lessness is spreading among teenagers girl called Åkesson, with her weird stare. who have run away from home perhaps Sam owes her money and she threatens leaving the small towns where they live to beat him up, but instead Åkesson dis- to make their way to the big cities, pri- covers Lova. This drama of four people, marily Stockholm. With nowhere to go whose paths twist and turn around each this group of children and young people other, becomes almost an underground

24 right side: from the cover of “hoppas” by åsa anderberg strollo. 25 illustration by lisa zachrisson. chamber play and makes me think of plant shoot in the post; she has ordered of teenage boys. The final explanation video games and Harold Pinter. seeds and bulbs, but not this particular of the post box raids that never hap- A very dark book, even though it is plant. It grows into an extraordinary pened does not feel entirely convincing set above ground, is Affektion (Affec- flower and when the girls taste the nec- but the journey there is exciting. tion) by Martin Jern. Kate is sixteen tar they are amazingly transformed into I introduced this section about but already very disillusioned. She is boys. We find ourselves in a Jekyll and books for young adults by writing no longer in touch with her best friend Hyde scenario but with a more intricate about the significance of the school Ali, who distributed naked pictures of interweaving of gender roles. Eventu- environment and linguistic effort, and her. Kate’s boyfriend, the completely ally the girls go outdoors in their new that is where I plan to end. In Sanne derailed Henke Berg, has been com- disguise and in a park they meet a gang Näsling’s Kapitulera omedelbart eller mitted to a young offender’s institution led by Tony. The extraordinary flower dö (Capitulate Immediately or Die) following a violent assault and instead, begins to wilt, however, as it is tapped protagonist Mary creates together with under no illusions, she embarks on of its nectar, and Bella and Momo bring her eccentric best friend Lovely a world sexual relationships with a DJ and a their experimenting to an end. Kim on made up only of their private linguis- rock musician. In the background lurks the other hand cannot stop. She bleeds tic jargon. Their language, consisting a macabre event. Classmate and bully the flower in secret until it is close to mainly of different quotes preferably in Zara disappears during a game of hide dying and then sets out into the night English, becomes a place of refuge; they and seek at a party. She is later found in alone. In this book references to literary can leave the everyday reality of the the chest freezer – dead. Is it murder? classics converge in a very contempo- school world behind and disappear into Kate and Ali become the suspects, and rary and exciting novel of ideas. their linguistic parallel world. Mary can perhaps in a way a kind of judgement Cilla Naumann is an established move relatively freely between the two does fall upon them. The book breathes author for adults who a few years ago worlds. Sometimes she can open her- desperation and a sort of emotional chose to branch out and write for young self to the rough school world outside, defiance as a strategy for dealing with adults. She has quickly established sometimes she can draw herself back various situations. It is compelling and herself as one of the very best in the to Lovely and exclude the outer world. uncomfortable at the same time: I had genre. 62 dagar (62 Days) is the title of However, her friend Lovely appears to to take short breaks while reading it. her new book – 62 days, the length of be more locked in their own jargon. Another story which resonates with the Swedish school summer holidays. I also want to mention Jag vill bara harsh social realism combined with an Teenager Tom Olsen spends the sum- att du gillar mig (I Only Want You almost saga-like tone is this year’s mer as usual in the country together to Like Me) by Ingrid Olsson, with August Prize winner Pojkarna (The Boys) with his parents and his brother Bror. its interesting format. The setting of by Jessica Schiefauer. Bella, Momo They work on their mopeds, swim and this collective novel is an unexpected and protagonist Kim are three fourteen raid people’s post boxes (or do they?). void that materialises one morning year-old girls who daily have to endure On the edge of their gang is Lassemiss, a in March after a snow fall has delayed comments and groping from the boys slightly older boy who is different, pos- sixth-form teacher Els-Mari and made in their class. All three live in the same sibly with a ‘birth defect’ as the news- her late for class. We listen in on the residential area. Momo likes sewing, papers later come to describe it when students’ thoughts as they sit and wait sometimes making dressing-up outfits, the drama moves towards its resolution. in the classroom or are themselves while Bella prefers to tend the plants in One day someone in the gang suggests late for school. There are vegans Katja her greenhouse. One day Bella receives a they pour petrol in the shape of a cross and Lena, Lena’s ex-boyfriend Hannes outside the Baptist meeting tent and with his revolutionary longing and set it alight during a service. A police his ping-pong-practising father who investigation is started and the newspa- doesn’t understand. There is slightly pers headline the incident as arson. Tom autistic Pär, gay Andreas and lonely feels unjustly accused and he is afraid of Sofi. There is sporty guy Filip who is a being given a prison sentence. But the virgin, sweet Nellie who has just helped police investigation is called off. Then an addict who was lying bleeding on Lassemiss is run over and killed by a an underground platform, and invis- driver as he tries to repair his post box ible Joanna who has discovered that after it has been raided. The funeral is someone as written ‘I love you’ on her painful for Tom and he is tormented by locker door. And we follow Stella who the post box raids that led to Lassemiss’s is having a relationship with John – death: the gang have to be the guilty but John only has Stella as a bit on the party. Perhaps even his own brother did side... In the little unplanned space that it? Eventually he goes to talk to the po- emerges because of Els-Mari’s lateness lice officer Söderlund who interviewed the students’ thoughts and destinies are him concerning the ‘arson attack’. plaited together like a garland. Finally Söderlund reassures him that there have the classroom door opens and Els-Mari never been any post box raids. It was steps back into their lives. just a lot of gang talk. Lassemiss’s death was purely accidental. Naumann’s writ- ing style is fluent and lively and authen- tically replicates the colloquial language

26 27 P hoto: O pal P hoto: T P hoto: omas K ihlman Authors and eter J önsson illustrators

Ingelin Angerborn Sara Bergmark Elfgren Anette Eggert Title: Rum 213 Title: Cirkeln Title: Kan vi inte bara låtsas som om ingen- Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren ting har hänt? Publisher: Opal P hoto: J F P hoto: B onnier C arlsen P hoto: G unilla C ederlund alk

Katarina Genar Pernilla Glaser Lin Hallberg Title: Pensionat Vidablicks gåta Title: Under trottoaren Title: Vem är du Johanna? Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren P hoto: N iklas E ngvall P hoto: P hoto: S tefan T rivate ell P hoto: O la K jelbye

Åsa Anderberg Strollo Maja Hjertzell Bo R Holmberg Anna Höglund Title: Hoppas Title: I love you Viktoria Andersson Title: Teresa och jag Title: Pojken, flickan och muren Publisher: Gilla Böcker Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren Publisher: Argasso Publisher: Berghs Förlag

28 29 P hoto: U lrica Z wenger P hoto: A lvinia förlag P hoto: A nnika G oldhammer P hoto: A ndreas R asmusson P hoto: U lla M ontan P hoto: L eif H ansen

Martin Jern Eva Lindström Sara Lundberg Sara Ohlsson Lotta Olsson Ingrid Olsson Title: Affektion Title: Apan och jag Title: Vita streck och Öjvind | Emblas Universum Title: Jag är tyvärr död och kan inte komma Title: Konstiga djur Title: Jag vill bara att du gillar mig Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren Publisher: Alfabeta Publisher: Alfabeta | Alvinia förlag till skolan idag Publisher: Gilla böcker Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren P hoto: L indskog förlag P hoto: L inda F P hoto: S ara G ynnemo P hoto: O pal P hoto: A lvinia P hoto: H enrik J ohansson orsell

Erik Magntorn Cilla Naumann Isabella Nilsson Peter Pohl Majken Pollack Ester Roxberg Title: Hitta barnen! Title: 62 dagar Title: Verklighetsprojektet Title: En vän som heter Mia Title: Emblas universum Title: Antiloper Publisher: Lindskog förlag Publisher: Alfabeta Publisher: X Publishing Publisher: Opal Publisher: Alvina Publisher: X Publishing P hoto: M onika almberg P hoto: P hoto: F P hoto: S tefan T P hoto: L indskog förlag P hoto: elix B ridell ontus O rre aul S tröm ell

Per Nilsson Elin Nilsson Sanne Näsling Jessika Schiefauer Lisa Sjöblom Viveka Sjögren Title: Extra – En ängel har landat Title: Istället för att bara skrika Title: Kapitulera omedelbart eller dö Title: Pojkarna Title: Hitta barnen! Title: I den tysta minuten emellan Publisher: Alfabeta Publisher: Alfabeta Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen Publisher: Lindskog förlag Publisher: Kabusa Böcker

30 31 P hoto: S tefan T P hoto: C aroline A ndersson P hoto: eter J önsson ell

Ulf Stark Mats Strandberg Maria Nilsson Thore Title: Pojken, flickan och muren Title: Cirkeln Title: Konstiga djur, Sami somnar, Vira vaknar Publisher: Berghs Förlag Publisher: Rabén & Sjögren Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen P hoto: C aroline A ndersson P hoto: S nezana V P hoto: O pal ucetic B ohm

Annika Thore Emma Virke Monika Zak Title: Sami somnar, Vira vaknar Title: Memmo och Mysen söker efter färger Title: Säg Alex, bara Alex Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen Publisher: Alvina Publisher: Opal P hoto: O pal

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and reading promoters whose works are sent out in January each year. The (ALMA) celebrates its 10th anniversary are in the spirit of Astrid Lindgren. nominations must have reached the this year. A decade has passed since She renewed children’s literature and award office in May and the names of the death of Astrid Lindgren, Sweden’s combined artistic integrity with com- the nominated candidates are an- best-known and most translated author. mitment to the rights of children and nounced at Frankfurt Book Fair in To honour her memory, the Swedish young people. October every year. It is not possible to government established an annual prize An expert jury of 12 members apply for the award. of sek 5 million to promote interest decides the winners. They are authors, The jury announces the recipient in in children’s and young adult litera- literary critics, illustrators and librar- connection with its meeting in March ture around the world. The aim is to ians. One member represents Astrid and the award ceremony takes place in improve and strengthen interest in Lindgren’s family. The jury chooses Stockholm in May. children’s literature all over the world institutions and organisations from all The Astrid Lindgren Memorial and to increase reading among young over the world, who may then nominate Award is administered by the Swedish people globally. candidates, based on their knowledge Arts Council. Gull Åkerblom For the past 10 years, the world’s of children’s literature in the respective Title: Lånehunden largest prize for young readers has countries or linguistic areas. www.alma.se Publisher: Opal been awarded to authors, illustrators Invitations to nominate candidates [email protected]

32 33 © The Swedish Arts Council 2012 Text: Mats Kempe Translations: Susan Beard Graphic design: Studio Mats Hedman Editor: Zoi Santikos Printed by Tabergs Tryckeri, Sweden

The Swedish Arts Council The Swedish Arts Council is a government authority with the principal task to implement national cultural policy determined by the Parliament.

The Council is responsible for: • The allocation of state cultural funding to theatre, dance, music, literature, arts periodicals and public libraries, and to the fine arts, museums and exhibitions. • Providing the Swedish government with the basic data it needs to make cultural policy decisions, by evaluating state spending in the cultural sphere, etc. • Providing information about culture and cultural policy.

Visions and Guiding Principles: • To promote art and culture with the aim of ensuring everyone’s right to a broad spectrum of high-quality arts and culture. • To be a dynamic authority in the development of Swedish cultural policies. • To be noted for high degree of competence, respect of legal rights and excellent civic services. • To be efficient and flexible in order to enable its operations to be quickly and easy adopted to changing conditions in the outside world.

The Swedish Arts Council supports, develops and initiates co-operations between the state, the regions, municipalities and representatives for cultural life in Sweden, e.g. libraries, museums and performing arts centres. The aim is to safeguard and develop Swedish national cultural policy, and to promote cultural diversity and an even geographical spread in cultural provision.

The Swedish Authors’ Fund The Swedish Authors’ Fund distributes grants covering travel costs for translators of Swedish literature. More information on www.svff.se, contact [email protected]

The Swedish Arts Council PO Box 27215, SE-102 53 Stockholm Phone +46-8-519 264 00 Fax +46-8-519 264 99 [email protected] www.artscouncil.se

34 35 Alfabeta bokförlag Bonnier Carlsen Opal The Swedish Institute Box 4284 Box 3159 Box 20113 for children’s books 102 66 Stockholm 103 63 Stockholm 161 02 Bromma Odengatan 91 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 113 22 Stockholm www.alfabeta.se www.bonniercarlsen.se www.opal.se [email protected] www.sbi.kb.se Alvina förlag & Bonnier Group Agency Rabén & Sjögren Produktion Box 3159 Box 2052 The Swedish Publishers’ Gustavslundsv. 143 103 63 Stockholm 103 12 Stockholm Association 167 51 Bromma [email protected] www.rabensjogren.se Drottninggatan 97 [email protected] www.bonniergroupagency.se 113 60 Stockholm www.alvinaforlag.se Rabén & Sjögren [email protected] Gilla böcker Agency www.forlaggare.se Argasso bokförlag Lövholmsgränd 12 Box 2052 Strandgatan 21 117 43 Stockholm 103 12 Stockholm NOFF Box 835 [email protected] http://agency.rabensjogren.se c/o Fredrikssons förlag 891 18 Örnsköldsvik www.gillabocker.se Lövbacken 19 [email protected] X Publishing 187 33 Täby www.argasso.se Kabusa böcker Johan Skyttes väg 203 www.noff.se Heurlinsplats 1, 3 trappor 125 34 Älvsjö Berghs förlag AB [email protected] [email protected] Box 45084 www.kabusabocker.se www.publishing.se 104 30 Stockholm [email protected] Lindskog förlag Göteborg Book Fair www.berghsforlag.se Spolegatan 3 c 412 94 Göteborg 222 20 Lund [email protected] [email protected] www.bok-bibliotek.se/en/ www.lindskogforlag.se

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