Books in translation shortlisted

The shortlist for the In Other Words award, which recognises outstanding books for children in translation, has been announced and includes eight stories with settings ranging from Iceland to Switzerland.

The eight books were chosen from nearly 200 submissions from around the world. The authors of the books are internationally-acclaimed as well as less well known authors and stories range from an adventure with a badly-behaved gang of thieves set in Finland to a laugh-out-loud tale of dinosaurs running amok in Iceland. The books chosen for the shortlist are aimed at children aged 6-12 years and are chosen for their literary merit as well as commercial potential. All the shortlisted titles have been partially translated (available to read by viewing the titles below) and World English Language Rights are available to buy. BookTrust, which manages the award, will help to market each title. Three Honour Titles books that are highly recommended for English translation and publication will be announced on 11th April at London Book Fair with Children's Laureate Lauren Child and former Children's Laureate Chris Riddell. The judges included advisors and translators Sarah Ardizzone and Daniel Hahn; Florentyna Martin from Waterstones; Gary Powell from Foyles; Simon Key from The Big Green Bookshop; David Cross from Arts Council England; Elaine McQuade, children's books consultant; author Candy Gourlay; and Jill Coleman, Director Children's Books at BookTrust, chaired by literary critic Nicolette Jones The In Other Words Shortlist includes: Dinosaurs In Reykjavik by Aevar Por Benediktsson (translated by Meg Matich) Original Language: Icelandic - Publisher: Forlagid "A romp of a story which will appeal to anyone - geeky or not - with an interest in dinosaurs and a love of adventure who is looking for a good yarn with plenty of action." - Jill Coleman The Film Of Our Life by Maite Carranza (translated by Laura McGloughlin) Original Language: Catalan - Publisher: Editorial Cruilla "Big topics - European recession, precarious employment, faceless banks - are handled deftly with many comic touches. While not shying away from the troubles children experience when overwhelmed parents lose control, this story celebrates the resilience and ingenuity of young people, the care siblings take of one another, and the transformative power of the imagination." David Cross The Immortal by Ricard Ruiz Garzn (translated by Rahul Bery) Original Language: Spanish - Publisher: Edebe - Ediciones Don Bosco "A stubborn girl. An absent father. A chess master who happens to be a refugee. These are the pieces at play as Judit doggedly battles the mysterious Mister Aliyat at chess. Every move, every game, every loss, changes Judit and binds her story to her opponent's. I am desperate to know how their story will play out." - Candy Gourlay Wolf, Edda and the Stolen Relic by Kristin Ragna Gunnarsdottir (translated by Larissa Kyzer) Original Language: Icelandic - Publisher: Bokabeitan ehf "There's everything to relish in this Icelandic treat for younger readers. The story blends Norse mythology and a Scooby Doo-style adventure with three generations of a less than perfect modern stepfamily who are learning to live and let live." - Sarah Ardizzone The Robbersons by Siri Kolu (translated by Owen Witesman) Original Language: Finnish - Publisher: Otavan Kirjapaino Oy "The Robbersons are a gang of thieves - delightful, badly-behaved, hilarious thieves, with a particular weakness for sweets. In this book, the first in a series, we encounter the gang when they snatch ten-year-old Vilja out of her family car and carry her off on wildly entertaining adventures. With a deliciously anarchic Dahl-ish energy to it and a lovely message to end, The Robbersons is already a hit all over the world - it's about time we got a chance to read it here." Daniel Hahn Red Stars by Davide Morosinotto (translated by Denise Muir) Original Language: Italian - Publisher: Mondadori Libri "The epic historical backdrop never upstages the beating heart of this story, which is the love between a brother and a sister. Many layered, emotional, and yet told with a light touch that has you turning every page with your heart in your mouth. Outstanding." - Candy Gourlay The All Mine Academy by Fabrizio Silei (translated by Denise Muir) Original Language: Italian - Publisher: Editrice Il Castoro "The set-up is diabolical, and First's parents are truly grotesque in their intention, but this is all balanced by his sunny and genuine nature. Crammed with quirky details and hilarious situations as the parents go to extreme lengths to mould him into their likenesses, the words spring off the page and really bring First to life, illustrating that humour is universal and translates so well from the pen of a talented author." - Gary Powell Alaska by Anna Woltz (translated by Laura Watkinson) Original Language: Dutch - Publisher: Em. Querido Kinderboeken Uitgeverij "Themes of friendship, loneliness, damage and privacy are woven into a tense story with characters that jump of the page, this will be an unmissable debut in the UK." - Jill Coleman

External Link

www.booktrust.org.uk/books/awards-and-prizes/current-prizes/in-other-words/