Slovakia
213
Liptáková, Slavka (text)
Lipták, Fero (illus.)
Chlapec bez mena (The boy without a name)
[Bratislava]: Vyd. Slavka Liptáková, 2007. – [56] p.
ISBN 978-80-969794-7-9
Orphan – Name – Identity – Loneliness – Everyday life – Quest
In this fairytale-like story
about a melancholy outsider who in spite of all life’s pitfalls is happy, an
orphan boy looks for his name. After the death of his grandmother with whom
he lived alone, he first goes in search of his grandfather. When his
grandfather drowns, he decides to enter the world and to establish his name.
In this sophisticated picture book about the simple life of a solitary
person in the country, the reader is guided towards the philosophical
insight that there are never any truly satisfying answers to our questions;
what is important is rather asking the right questions. Composed in bold
colours and strong brushstrokes, the expressive, whole-page illustrations
are inspired by folk art.
(8+)
214
Palacková, Betka
Priatelia aragonitu (The aragonite friends)
Bratislava: Slovart, 2007. – 222 p.
ISBN 978-80-8085-432-4
Friendship – the Supernatural – Flying – Phaeton <Planetoid>
With this story about two boys who, with the help of the rare mineral aragonite, wish to realize the human dream of flying, the young author offers a novel that need not shy from comparisons to internationally known works of fantasy literature. The two fifteen-year-old protagonists discover they possess abilities that »normal« people lack. Together, they set off on the tracks of their ancestors, who came to earth from the extinct planet Phaeton. Betka Palacková convincingly portrays her protagonists and their feelings and reactions. She succeeds in presenting well-worn themes in her own way, understated yet at the same time exciting, appealing and without any trace of excessive theatricality. (12+)