Original title: Sisarla
Author: Salla Simukka
Illustrator: Saku Heinänen
Published: 2016
Publisher: Tammi
Genre: Middle Grade (8-12 Years)
Pages: 200
Reading material:
English edition
A middle-grade fantasy story with echoes of Frozen and The Snow Queen
That winter it starts snowing and it never seems to end. Eleven-year-old Alice falls through the snow and lands in the summery world of Sisterland – in a much awaited adventure!
In the heart of Sisterland lies a wonderful garden full of all kinds of peculiar creatures: wind fairies, dream weavers and asking flowers. And in one tree, on a swing, is Marissa. All Alice has ever wanted is a best friend and now her dream has come true! But the girls have not ended up in Sisterland by coincidence. They must find the queen who rules Sisterland to end the endless snowfall in their own world. However, Alice faces the hardest task when Marissa seems to have forgotten about their friendship.
Sisterland is a story about soul sisters. It’s also a story about the Garden of Secrets, the Sea of Eyes, wolvenflies, about breaking mirrors and freezing splinters.
Praise:
"A humorous, delightfully sweet tale of magic and sisterhood." —Booklist Review 11/15
“It is so wonderful that now Salla Simukka brings her richly evocative voice to middle grade readers. Sisterland is magical writing at its best. [...] Simukka continues to prove that she is one of today’s most talented children’s writers.” – Phoebe Yeh, VP, Publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers
“The story moves with a strong pace and is brimming with imaginative language,” LukuVarkaus Award jury
"Sisterland utilises intertextuality and skilfully re-writes classical fairy tale and fantasy story elements, which serves the purpose of addressing the dual-audience of children’s literature: both children and adults will enjoy the reading." - IBBY Finland Award Jury
“This book is gorgeous, lush, and dreamy with the atmosphere of fairy tales we all know and love. It’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, but for this generation. It’s a beautiful exploration of friendship and the way children forget, of bravery and the beauty of remembering.” –ND
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
BELGIUM and NETHERLANDS: Clavis
CHINA: Hunan Juvenile and Children's Publishing House
ESTONIA: Pegasus
FRANCE: Hachette Black Moon
JAPAN: Nishimura Co., Ltd.
LATVIA: Zvaigzne ABC Publishers
UNITED STATES: Crown Books for Young Readers
WORLD ARABIC: Arab Scientific Publishers, Inc.