Spain
(Catalan)
149
Canal, Eulàlia (text)
Ruano, Sara (illus.)
Un petó de mandarina (A tangerine kiss)
Barcelona : Ed. Barcanova, 2006. – 126 p.
(Sopa de llibres; 131)
ISBN 84-489-1960-2
First love – Friendship – War refugee – nterculturality
Tavi, the first-person narrator of this narrative, falls in love with his new classmate Vanina. The girl had to leave her home in a distant country because of a war raging there. One day, when she is able to return home, she simply disappears from the boy’s life. In between, a delicate friendship develops as they slowly get to know each other better. Both children learn what being in love feels like, but they also experience the negative emotions of insecurity, loss, and grief when saying goodbye. Imbedded in a school and friendship story that also touches upon intercultural topics, this book, written in an unobtrusive, poetical language, captures the children’s feelings and the magic of love in a natural way. (10+) <> (Premi Barcanova de Literatura Infantil i Juvenil; 2006)
150
Farré, Lluís (text)
Gusti (illus.)
»El nen gris« (»The grey boy«)
Barcelona : La Galera [et al. ], 2006. – [44] p.
ISBN 978-84-672-2204-3
Insensitivity – Outsider – Parents – Child
When Martí is born, he is neither prawn-pink like his father, nor grass-green like his mother, but simply grey – and not only on the outside. Imperturbable, as if under an impenetrable bell jar, the boy doesn’t take part in but rather watches his own life from the outside, showing neither joy, nor fear, nor any other emotion. One day, however, his shell starts to crack and the long-subdued feelings suddenly break free. Magnificent pictures illustrate this profound, slightly mysterious story. Astonishingly enough, they are brimming with power and energy. With an ingenious mixture of materials and techniques full of original ideas and forceful brush strokes, the illustrations serve as a tempestuous counterpoint to the initial monotony of the child’s emotion-free life. (6+)
151
Sierra i Fabra, Jordi (text)
Solà, Raquel (transl.)
Trucant a les portes del cel
Barcelona : Edebé, 2006. – 286 p.
(Periscopi; 60)
ISBN 84-236-8149-1
(Spanish ed.: Llamando a las puertas del cielo)
India – NGO – Poverty – Wealth – Love
Against the will of her boyfriend and her parents, Silvia, a young medical
student, travels to India to work in a hospital as volunteer during her
holidays. Con-fronted with the social reality in a country so utterly foreign
to her, the young woman soon becomes aware of the responsibility of every
human being in a world that is growing closer and closer together. In a
realistic style, the novel describes the personal tensions that Silvia
experiences »between the two worlds«. At the same time, it offers a thorough
insight into the work of non-governmental organisations and their cross-border
commitment. In this book, the multi-award-winning author again proves his
talent for tackling topical issues and creating a skilfully written literary
text that is inter-esting for young readers. (14+)
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