HET LEKKERE VAN PESTEN

HET LEKKERE VAN PESTEN
jaar:

2011

genre:

non-fictie, met Julian van Dalen, 144 p.

uitgever:

Athenaeum

leeftijd:

volwassenen

I started writing this non-fiction book about bullying as a book for young adults, but gradually it became a book for adults, and so publishing house Athenaeum was so kind to issue it. For the book I met male model Julian van Dalen. He has a huge career in international fashion-modelling, but was bullied in school for as long as he can remember. The first part of the book is a collection of his memories. In the second part he was so generous to let me speak to all of those who had something to do with these episodes: his brother, his teachers, his friends and... the bullies themselves. Their interviews give a deeper insight on how these problems could come about and how they were dealt with. The book closes with an essay that Julian and I wrote together.

DE GELUKVINDER

DE GELUKVINDER

jaar:
2008

genre:

young adultroman, jeugdboek, samen met Anoush Elman, 336 p.

uitgever:

Querido

leeftijd:

15+, volwassenen
prijzen:
Glazen Globe 2009 (Beste aardrijkskundige jeugdboek)
Jenny Smelik IBBYprijs 2010 (Beste kinder-/jeugdboek over culturele diversiteit)
Esel des Monats September 2012 (Duitsland)
Genomineerd voor de Gouden Lijst 2009
Genomineerd voor de Buxtehuder Bulle 2012 (Duitsland, 2de plek)
Genomineerd voor de Premi de Literatura Protagoniste Jove 2012/2013 (Spanje, Catalonië)
Genomineerd voor de Vlaamse Kinder- en Jeugdjury (België, 3de plek) 
Kulturdepartementets Oversettelseprisen 2014 (Noorwegen, voor de vertaling)
buitenland:
Duits (Carlsen)
Noors (Cappelen Damm)
Spaans (SM)
Catalaans (Cruïlla)
Spaans (Mexico) (SM)

This novel, which is very dear to me, is based on the true life-story of Anoush Elman (17). It was the first book in the Slash-series, a concept I initiated and that was kindly adopted by my publishing house Querido. In this series well-known authors team up with a younger person - to use their stories as the basic idea for their novel (so the books are 'based on a true story'). Because of this procedure these books try to reflect important tendencies or issues from modern society. THE BOY WHO FOUND HAPPINESS is about the young Hamayun, who has to flee with his family out of Afghanistan, after extreme threats by the Taliban. It's also about the difficult and amazing secret travel they made from Kabul to Western Europa ánd it's about being in a refugee shelter for many, many years, waiting til Immigration Offices make their decision - or not. The subject of this book sounds highly political, but Anoush wanted to tell me not just the bad things, but the good parts as well. 'For me it's actually a book about friendship,' he said, 'friendship and being at home.' I'm still in close contact with Anoush and his family, and this has enriched not only my profession, but also my life.


- The Dutch Translation Fund made a special on this book, to be found here.
- The book was also published as a novel for adults.
- The Slash-series consists of 13 more books, by other authors and other young storytellers.

EEN GRIEZELMEISJE

EEN GRIEZELMEISJE
jaar:

2006

genre:

prentenboek, 36 p.

uitgever:

De Eenhoorn

illustrator:
Isabelle Vandenabeele
leeftijd:

8+, volwassenen
buitenland:
Frans (Éditions du Rouergue)
Spaans (Barbara Fiore)

 

Spaanse cover

Another text that I wrote to already-existing images by Isabelle Vandenabeele. It's her variation of the classical tale about Bluebeard, more suited for grown-ups maybe, or for kids that like to shiver: one day Louise realises that her life has become boring. She used to be a horror-loving girl, who dared anything and who adored bad boys, like Rotten Boy. Louise wants to do something exciting and goes to Shiver Forest. When she is attacked by a wolf, Rotten Boy rescues her. He takes her to his castle and then leaves her alone. He forbids her to open some of the doors, but of course a horror girl never obeys. This way, Louise discovers that Rotten Boy collects women heads. She can leave the castle just in time and sets a trap for Rotten Boy.

LIED VOOR EEN GIRAFJE

LIED VOOR EEN GIRAFJE
jaar:

2004

genre:

poëzie, cadeauboek, 32 p.

uitgever:

De Eenhoorn

illustrator:
Sebastiaan Van Doninck
leeftijd:

volwassenen
prijzen:
Boekenpluim (voor de tekeningen)