New Swedish Books, Spring 2020 1
New Swedish Books 24 Catfish Blues Sara Lövestam
Selected works Som eld, Y/A novel, 2015 Skarven, chapter book, 2016 Under mattan, picture book, 2018 Awards De gouden vleermuis 2017, Grand Prix de Littérature Policière 2017 Fifteen-year-old Texas hasn’t got it easy. Apart from being madly in love with his classmate Andre, he’s also created a false account on Instagram in his search for love. It’s kind of easier to pretend to be a blond girl called Amy than being your nerdy and unpopular self. Especially if what you want is to hook up with another guy in your class. Hidden within the anonymity of the internet Texas and Andre begin talking to each other about their secrets, families, feelings and about their innermost thoughts. But complications develop as reality comes knocking and it turns out that Texas isn’t the only one who is pretending to be someone else. In Sara Lövestam’s Catfish Blues new friendships are formed, shady characters are exposed, and who you really are, deep down, is questioned. With a storyline about young people’s daily existence that’s very true-to-life Sara Lövestam describes teenage tangles and vulnerabilities in a clever and engaging way. It is a humorous novel and the result of extensive research that shows a talent for the craft. The story takes many unexpected turns, but never leaves the reader feeling lost. Instead Lövestam succeeds, despite all the complications, to keep the reader with her throughout the book. Chapter book, 12-15 years, 208 p. Sara Lövestam (b. 1980) Publisher Gilla Böcker /Lilla Piratförlaget www.gillabocker.se Rights Pontas Literary & Film Agency Anna Soler-Pontas anna@pontas-agency.com Photo: Peter Knutson