SANG wins the Topelius Award!

We are thrilled to share the news that SANG by Elina Pitkäkangas won the Topelius Award!

The Topelius Award is an annual award that celebrates outstanding YA books. The jury was very impressed by SANG:

“The dystopian novel upholds a beautiful and dark atmosphere in the state of Fusang. Sang is an epic story about a youngster trying to fight against the impossible circumstances of a totalitarian state. Kong Dawei joins the rebels, and breathtaking events follow one another. Pitkäkangas’ skill to conjure with believable details a whole world is enchanting. Our choices create a chain which not only joins us together, but also in the end defines who and what we are. Sang is a story about love, but above all it is a story about morale: all the things we are ready to do for one another.”   – the Topelius Award jury

SANG, part one in a YA fantasy duology, has already been sold to Denmark and Turkey. Rights for all other languages are still available – be quick to read this captivating title!

Since its publication in Finland last September, SANG has been an instant hit with young readers in Finland, who gave it glowing reviews and made Elina Pitkäkangas the most popular author for book signing at Helsinki bookfair!

Here is some of the praise SANG received:

“In the dystopian world recovering from a brutal war the different societal classes are miles apart, and the distance grows with a citizenship debt to be paid yearly. [–] Pitkäkangas describes the inequality and abuse of power skillfully. Warmth and balance is brought by the love between the brothers, but also romantic love and sexual desire. The object of the feelings is a friend, another boy, and the queer theme fits Sang without a fault.”
– Arla Kanerva in Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

“Elina Pitkäkangas is an incredibly skilled storyteller. The story of Sang sucks me in before I can blink. With all my senses, I’m deep in the story, thanks to the detailed descriptions. I love it when I can feel so many emotions when reading a book – sadness, joy, anger, relief, happiness… [–] I also want to applaud the representation and using sensitivity readers. This is how a good book is made!”
– Paperimato bookstagram

“An indescribably magnificent and tear-inducing work that deals with really tough topics in such a deep and realistic way. Great reading trip with Dawei, and doesn’t leave a moment for breaks. Such wonderful work from Elina”
– Ella on goodreads

The sequel Naraka is coming out in Finland autumn 2023, continuing Dawei’s story!

Download the materials for SANG here!