\New Swedish Books, spring 2019 1
29 Spring 2019 The Girl in the Pink Woods It isn’
t easy writing about difficult subjects for those who struggle to read or for anyone else either. The language has to be simple, but not simplistic, clear but not one-sided. The publisher Nypon deliberately work with easy to read titles for children, young people and adults who require fiction created specifically under these conditions, yet who want texts that are still rich in content. Even established authors often publish books through Nypon. The Girl in the Pink Woods portrays a theme, not unusual in Swedish literature, of ‘parents passing away’ and of how the child manages to continue after such an event. A pair of twins is the focus. To the narrator (one of the twins) it is through writing, through poetry more specifically, that an exit out of the grief and into meaning is created. Other people’s poems as well as the narrator’s own poetic attempts are highlighted in the text, which mixes genres by using both poetry and prose. This poetic approach, even in the prose episodes, gives the story its simple yet at the same time beautifully composed tone. The book is presented as being for readers from thirteen years old and up, with an upper limit that is – as in all good literature – undecided. The Girl in the Pink Woods gives all its readers, young or old, energy and strength. Helena Dahlgren (b. 1980) The Girl in the Pink Woods Simplified language YA novel, 84 p. Publisher Nypon förlag www.nyponforlag.se Rights Maria Enberg Agency Maria Enberg Maria@enbergagency.se Works Hundra hemskaste, short stories, 2016 Orkidépojken, YA novel 2017 Ödesryttarna: Jorvik kallar, YA novel, 2018 Photo: Marcus Stenberg