Estonian rights sold for Päivi Lukkarila’s Finlandia Prize-winning DEEP IN THE WOODS!

We’re happy to announce that the Estonian rights for Päivi Lukkarila‘s Finlandia Prize-winning and bestselling YA novel Deep in the Woods were acquired by Ühinenud Ajakirjad! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Päivi Lukkarila’s novel about four teenagers who embark on a smartphone-free weekend wilderness trek was an immediate success with the Finnish critics and readers, with many praising its use of language, its depictions of the challenges young adults face in their lives, and its ominous atmosphere. Deep in the Woods was awarded the 2024 Finlandia Prize for Children’s an YA Literature and it has sold more than 10,000 copies to date!

This is the first foreign rights sale for Deep in the Woods!
Rights are available in all other territories!

Download materials for DEEP IN THE WOODS here!

Deep in the Woods

Päivi Lukkarila

Four very different teens sent on a smartphone-free wilderness expedition… Finlandia Prize Winning and bestselling mystery story for 13+!

Luka feels like he’s in high school only to satisfy his parents. Why bother with something you’re not interested in?

Sabina’s relationship with Nella has ended. Nella liked her when she was just “conveniently” queer, girly and long-haired. Now that Sabina has decided to be who she always wanted to be, Nella has left her. How do the other three participants in the hike feel about her?

Nasim, from Nokia, dreams of studying literature and becoming a writer, but is constantly confronted with prejudice.

Joel is convinced that one day he’ll be a world-famous stand-up comedian. Comedy’s tough, and it’s easy to overdo it when you’re trying to make people laugh. Joel tells a very different story about his background. What’s real, and what is he making up?

The expedition is only supposed to last three days, but a fateful event changes everything and the teens have to survive in the wild without their guide. They try to entertain each other with ghost stories, and as they tell them, their own frightening childhood experiences come back to haunt them. There seems to be something creepy about their surroundings. What was it in there that spooked all the tourists and will the four be left to wander the wilds until their final days?

DEEP IN THE WOODS
SKUTSI
Nokkahiiri, 2024, 200 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample and synopsis
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Nokkahiiri (orig.)
ESTONIA: Ühinenud Ajakirjad

About author


Päivi Lukkarila

Päivi Lukkarila, born in 1967, is a Tampere-based author known for her sensitive yet realistic portrayal of young people's lives and emotions in her novels. In addition to the Finlandia Prize, she was awarded the Klara Prize in 2024, which is granted for an outstanding easy-to-read book for children or YA in Finnish or Swedish. She has also won the Tampere City Literature Prize twice. Furthermore, her books have been nominated for both the Arvid Lydecken and Anni Polva literary awards. In addition to her work as an author, Lukkarila teaches Finnish language and literature.

Bibliography


2024, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Deep in the Woods

Päivi Lukkarila