Spain
(Catalan)
151
Carrasco Inglés, Aitana (text/illus.)
Gran recull de mentides il·lustrades (Big book of illustrated lies)
València: Tàndem Ed., 2007. – [48] p.
ISBN 978-84-8131-749-7
Lie – Upbringing – Discipline
This book presents a wild smorgasbord of lies. It rehearses untrue
statements that adults use to intimidate and discipline children to make
them obedient. »Chewing gum is elephant snot«, is one of the more harmless
examples. But things get really nasty when parents and other adults make
false promises, play things down, or threaten children with absurd
consequences: »I will definitely not let go of you …«, during a swimming
lesson; »The needle doesn’t hurt«, at the doctor’s; or »If you aren’t good,
the bogeyman will come and get you.« The illustrations thwart the texts and
uncover the deceit and hypocrisy of the liars. This is a funny and at the
same time mischievous book guaranteed to provoke pleasant page-turning,
discussion, and reflection in both children and adults.
(6+)
152
Cela, Jaume (text)
Andrada, Javier (illus.)
El temps que ens toca viure (The time that is for us to live)
Barcelona: Cruïlla, 2007.
– 143 p.
(El vaixell de vapor. Sèrie vermella;
140)
ISBN 978-84-661-1768-5
Spain/1936-1939 – Civil war – Peace – Freedom
Realistic, sensitive, and with a feel for meaning between the lines, this
novel describes the life of a family during the Spanish Civil War. While the
father joins the troupes of the threatened republic, the rest of the family
remains in Barcelona. Through the eyes of twelve-year-old Pep, the reader
follows the horror of the war and the effort of the family to master an
everyday filled with destruction, fear, hunger, and cold. By means of a
sophisticated portrayal of the characters – whether it is the almost naive
attitude of the still unknowing child, the fragility of the mother, the
gumption of the grandmother, who holds the family together, the scruples of
the brave father, who stands before the dilemma of being forced to use
violence in order to defend freedom –, Jaume Cela succeeds in creating an
authentic picture of one of the darkest chapters of Spanish history.
(12+)
153
Hernàndez Sonali, Lluís
Certificat C99+ (Certificate C99+)
Barcelona: La Galera, 2008. – 158 p.
ISBN 978-84-246-2946-5
Lifespan – Human being – Science – Faith in technology – Self-determination
This science-fiction novel broaches a topic that is highly relevant against
the backdrop of current scientific
developments – particularly in the domain of the life sciences. The plot
unfolds in a not too distant future in which it is not only possible, but
altogether obligatory to pre-calculate the lifespan of every human being in
order to guarantee a frictionless functioning of society. In short chapters
that present the topic from the point of view of very different characters,
the question concerning the limits of technological progress is very clearly
raised. What is possible, and what is reasonable? At what point does the
priority of the technologically possible lead to a loss of humanity and of
the free self-determination of the individual? A gripping book, which
invites its readers to reflect and embark on lively discussions.
(13+) (Premi Josep M. Folch i
Torres; 2007)