New Swedish Books. Autumn 2016 1
AUTUMN 2016 Marie-Chantal Long I’M THE ONLY ONE B
EING THIS FUCKING BAD Opal Sara Ohlsson Rights: Opal NORMAL PEOPLE DON’T STAND IN THE RAIN SINGING Gilla Böcker Rights: Gilla Böcker I’m the Only One Being This Fucking Bad Vladi is unhappy with his body and begins working out at a gym and is increasingly thinking about what he eats. Soon everything’s about calories, protein and to max out his workouts. At the same time his father, who’s a freelance journalist working in Syria, is kidnapped. Vladi’s mother breaks down and needs support. Vladi feels he’s not strong enough for his mother. The anxiety tears him down. Everything fucking sucks. How can he fix it all? Marie-Chantal Long’s previous young adult book Now’s the Time for Blossoming won the Swedish children’s radio book prize in 2015. In I’m the Only One Being This Fucking Bad we’re given an interesting and insightful look into the mind of a young man on his way to adulthood. It’s about the feeling of not being enough, the fixation with one’s own body and impossible body ideals, as well as about being vulnerable in a difficult situation. Normal People Don’t Stand in the Rain Singing How can love feel like an electric fence? What happens when you fall in love with the same guy as your best friend? How can you survive the impossible choice between best friend and a great love? Ella wonders about her life, injustices, friendship, norms and relationships. She delivers a refreshing, razor-sharp depiction of life as a young person. Sara Ohlsson made her debut in 2012 with the praised young adult novel Sorry I’m Dead and Can’t Come to School Today. With Normal People Don’t Stand in the Rain Singing she emerges as one of Sweden’s most interesting new writers, with her challenging, transgressive and fresh depictions of young life. October is the Coldest Month Christoffer Carlsson OCTOBER IS THE COLDEST MONTH Gilla böcker Rights: Ahlander Agency 65 Vega is sixteen when everything crumbles. It’s when lies, loyalties and betrayal catch her in a nightmarish hunt for her lost brother. Having to lie to the police. Worrying about not knowing where he is, about what’s happened. Is she protecting a criminal? Who’s lying? How did it all happen? All these complicated questions and reminders of disloyalty. The criminologist and researcher Christoffer Carlsson was awarded the Swedish Crime Fiction Academy’s prize for best crime fiction in 2013. Now he makes his debut as a young adult writer with October is the Coldest Month. A story dripping with strong emotions and deceit.