New Swedish Books, Spring 2020 1
21 Spring 2020 That’s right, I hate parties! ‘The
re are children who have lots of friends. Some people never want to be alone. When they’re alone they cry or become super-bored. Others have no friends at all. And then there’s me’. Freja in That’s right, I hate parties! has her dad as one of her best friends, and tries to avoid everything that spells children’s parties or hustle and bustle. She would much rather sit by herself doing drawings or craft whilst thinking about big, difficult questions. It makes Freja angry when her classmates choose not to follow the teacher’s instructions during their woodland walk and instead think of something else to do. Annoyed, she decides to walk off by herself. Ellen Greider is a comic book artist whose 2018 debut graphic novel Lunchbox told an emotional story about finding yourself and growing up. In her first book for children she continues on this theme; not being like everyone else, and finding your feet outside of social demands and societal norms and rules. Just like her narrator, Ellen Greider is equally unconventional when it comes to her imagery and approach. With an assured tone she describes this unusual child’s inner life, demonstrating how choosing to be alone is not the same as being involuntarily left out. Ellen Greider Works Lunchbox, graphic novel, 2018 Chapter book, 6-9 years, 80 p Publisher Alfabeta www.alfabeta.se Ellen Greider (b. 1995) Rights Alfabeta Annakaisa Danielsson annakaisa.danielsson@alfabeta.se Photo: private