New Swedish Books, Spring 2018 1
55 Spring 2018 Is That Really True, Ester? A frie
ndship with Ester, the new girl in school who doesn’t always keep to the truth, is challenging to the careful Signe. Is That Really True, Ester? is cleverly told from Signe’s perspective, at Ester’s side. The girls become involved in the student council and start a collection in aid of refugee children. But how should they collect money? By singing to their neighbours? By walking dogs? Ester constantly demands just a little bit more of Signe than she asks of herself. But Signe refuses to give away her ’Mecki-Trolls‘ and instead they sell a valuable vase without asking first. The novel’s story, focusing on the symmetry of Ester and Signe’s friendship and their moral compasses, has an everyday charm about it. Not least thanks to Emma Adbåge’s delicate imagery that conveys a powerful experience of presence, with much of the characters’ characteristics relying on her expressive drawings. Anton Bergman (text) Emma Adbåge (ill) b. 1982 Is That Really True, Ester? Publisher Hippo www.hippobokforlag.se Rights Koja Agency catharina.lantz@kojaagency.com Anton Bergman (pseudonym) Selected Works Jag har visst ett djur! (together with Mia Maria Güettler) Picture Book 2013 Hotell Skuggsidan Chapter Book 2014 Världens mesta Ester (together with Emma Adbåge, ill) Chapter Book 2016 Emma Adbåge Selected Works Jag var superhjälte Picture Book 2008 Leni är ett sockerhjärta Picture Book 2011 Räkna med naturen Picture Book 2013 ar till barn att sälja. de ska gå a i parken. örrar och en sant att å lågstadiet! Selected Literary Prizes Sven Rydén-priset 2011 Elsa Beskow-plaketten 2013 Lennart Hellsingpriset 2017 O BOKFÖRLAG HIPPO BOKFÖRLAG Photo: Richard Gustafsson Verkligen sant Ester? Bergman & AdBåge