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Original title: Laske salaa kymmeneen
Author: Laura Lähteenmäki
Published: 2023
Publisher: WSOY
Genre: Middle Grade (8-12 Years)
Pages: 206
Reading material:
English sample & synopsis, Full Swedish translation, Finnish edition
A novel about friendship, growing up, and the importance of childhood play: a summer on the border between childhood and adolescence.
Myy, Viivi, Heta, Aada, and Camilla are a close-knit group of five girls who call themselves Pätkikset. But as the fourth grade draws to a close, Myy finds that something has changed. She feels that she’s no longer part of the gang. She notices that lively conversations fall silent when she approaches her friends. When the girls hug each other in a tight circle, there’s no room for Myy.
COUNT SILENTLY TO TEN is a story about friendship between girls and the changes that come about as you grow up, but which are difficult to accept. Myy is left out and feels that there may be something wrong with her, since she still wants to play and isn’t interested in make-up and growing up. As things become difficult with the girls, a new boy appears in the area provides a wonderful opportunity for Myy to throw herself into the world of play. Myy and Lassi run to a nearby forest and immerse themselves in a joint game where time and space disappear.
The novel describes a summer on the border between childhood and adolescence. Although the book depicts childhood in our time, the portrayal of play captures the timeless charm and power of childhood games.
"Count Silently to Ten" is a fluently written, linguistically beautiful children’s novel that describes a summer on the border between childhood and adolescence. Although the book depicts childhood in our time, the portrayal of play captures the timeless charm and power of childhood games.
- The Jury of 2024 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.