The jury selects last year’s best book with a clear Norrland connection in two categories. Kerstins Ekman receives the award in the adult category for her book “Running a wolf”, according to a press release.
“In a seemingly simple and unassuming novel, there is a great existential depth. Here, the human influence on nature is not an abstract analysis or slogan, but an experience acquired in everyday life,” reads parts of the motivation.
Moa Backe Åstot was awarded the prize in the children and youth category for the book “Himlabrand”. In the novel, she talks about Sami identity and inherited trauma. Here are some of the jury’s motivations:
“She does not give in to the difficult questions and creates in the young, homosexual Ánte a painful and credible depiction of the difficulty of being herself in a complex web of oppression and prejudice.”
Last year, Elin Anna Labba was awarded the prize in the adult category for the book “The gentlemen put us here”. Alma Thörn received the award in the children and youth category for the comic book novel “Always goodbye”.
Norrland’s Literature Prize is awarded by Norrländska litteratursällskapet and Författarcentrum Norr. The prize money is SEK 10,000 in each category.