We are thrilled to share that Arndís Thórarinsdóttir has been awarded the Icelandic Literature Prize in the Children’s book category for her latest novel Somersault (Kollhnís, Mál og menning 2022)!
This award nomination was Arndís’ fifth in only four years, and this is the second time the author has won the esteemed prize which she was also awared in 2020. Our most heartfelt congratulations to the author for this wonderful achievement!
The jury’s motivation for selecting the winner:
“The story is written with great stylistic confidence and deals with difficult issues with appropriate playfulness, which makes it both bearable and fun to watch how the vision of adults reveals the image that the boy makes of those he admires and connects with through friendships and emotional bonds – by virtue of his sincerity. Conversations are persuasive and well-supported in turning around the false notions of perfection and success of others—the so-called efforts to follow the straight path of life to defined goals through a staged identity on social media.”
Somersault follows twelve-year-old Álfur, an ambitious gymnast whose family life turns upside down as his parents become increasingly worried about his little brother Eiki who is diagnosed with autism. Álfur, however, tries to be the best brother he can be, and to show his accepting nature, he decides to secretly start visiting his aunt Harpa, a famous but disgraced athlete who is ignored by Álfur’s family. Somersault is a moving story about growing up and realizing how complicated life can be. It is also about complex emotions and the strong bond between two brothers, written with the warmth and humor that characterizes the works of Arndís Thórarinsdóttir.
The prestigious Icelandic Literary Prize is an award given annually by the Icelandic Publisher’s Association to authors of fiction or poetry, children’s fiction, and academic and non-fiction works. The honored recipients were given the award by the president of Iceland on 24th of January.
Are you interested in a publishing deal with Somersault? Email us at publishing@rightsandbrands.com