Jägerfeld nominated for Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
We are very happy and proud to announce that Jenny Jägerfeld has been nominated for The Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis. She is nominated for her novel Best Bro Ever! (Brorsan är Kung).
The Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis is the most prestigious award for children’s and young adult’s literature in Germany and is awarded annually. It is endowed with a total of 72,000 Euros and is intended to encourage the development of children’s and young adult literature, to arouse and maintain public interest in those works, and to stimulate discussions in this field of literature. The prizewinners will be announced on October 19, 2024 during the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Qute from the jury:
“With warmth and wit, Jenny Jägerfeld unfolds the story of a special friendship. The eleven-year-old first-person narrator, Måns, describes his experiences during a summer in Malmö, Sweden, with pace, irony, and sensitivity. In the skatepark, he meets Mikkel, his age, whom he admires for his coolness. A skateboarding accident makes them ‘blood brothers’, and they spend an intimate and eventful time together. When Mikkel discovers that Måns was born a girl, their friendship is jeopardized. The sensitive transgender boy, Måns, must – not for the first time – experience how the uniqueness of his identity becomes a major issue for others. Nothing is taken for granted anymore. Everything is questioned. A deep insight into the value of friendship empowers Måns to vigorously seek understanding and affection from Mikkel. With success.
This children’s novel calmly and clearly illustrates practical aspects of gender diversity. Honest and straightforwardly, it asks: What is truth, what is a lie? Is silence a lie? Or is the real lie the gender designation in the passport? The characters in this empathetic narrative are lovingly authentic. The translator, Susanne Dahmann, skillfully renders their specific tone without any attempt to pander to youth language.”
Quote from the author:
“It’s absolutely incredible! This book means so much to me, and I’m insanely happy that it’s being recognized. Especially now, as transgender rights are being discussed and questioned in so many countries. What some people don’t understand is that it’s about human rights. I hope that Best Bro Ever! can reach a lot of German readers now! Thank you, thank you, thank you to the jury at Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for nominating me. Ich liebe Sie! <3”