Count Silently To Ten

A novel about friendship, growing up, and the importance of childhood play

✓ Nominated for the Nordic Council’s Literature Prize 2024!

✓ Rights sold to Estonia, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Czechia and Poland!

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 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.

PRAISE:

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.

– Nordic Council Literary Prize jury’s motivation

“Spending this summer with Myy is like revisiting your childhood with its mixture of carefree simplicity and insidious complexity, when the first adolescent issues appear. A truly relatable and touching reading experience.”
– Lisette Agerbo Holm, editor, Straarup & Co, Denmark

“A wonderful story about friendship and belonging, and about play as both a source of power and a refuge when you’re not quite ready to grow up yet.”
– Olivia ,Editor, Lilla Piratförlaget, Sweden