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Nothing* Le Prix Libbylit 2008 for best children's novel of the year published in French.
Also sold for publication to: USA, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Croatia, Slovenia and South Corea. Summary"Pierre Anthon left school the day he found out that it was not worth doing anything as nothing mattered anyhow. The rest of us stayed behind. And even though the teachers carefully cleared up after Pierre Anthon in the class room as well as in our heads, a bit of Pierre Anthon remained within us. Perhaps this is why things later happened the way they did ..." Thus begins the story of Pierre Anthon, a thirteen year old boy, who leaves school to sit in a plum tree and train for becoming part of nothing. "Everything begins just in order to end. The moment you were born you began to die, and that goes for everything else as well." Pierre Anthon shouts and continues: "The whole thing is just one immense play which is about pretending and about being best at exactly that." Scared at the prospects that Pierre Anthon throws at them together with the ripening plums, his seventh grade class mates set out on a desperate quest for the meaning of life. This involves a closed saw mill, green sandals, a yellow bicycle, a pair of boxing gloves, the Danish flag, the hamster Oscarlille, a Jesus statue stolen from the church, little Ingrid’s crutches, six blue ponytails, a prayer rug, the coffin with Elise’s little brother, the head of the dog Cindarella, fame and a meaning found and lost and ... Reviews"Janne Teller has written a novel about nothing less than the meaning of life. This book makes a deep impression on the reader and incites continued reflection." The Danish Cultural Minister. ”NOTHING is a fairy tale set in every day life about the very essence of life. It is written for and can be read by everyone – the way it is with the very best of children’s books.” Politiken, Denmark ”You’re fascinated and can hardly let go of the book. ... Teller writes with a bold ease and an amazing amplitude of language. ... Unusually well written. Not only a novel for youngsters from the age of twelve, also grown-ups should grant themselves the joy of reading this book.” Berlingske Tidende, Denmark“The Danish Janne Teller dissects the existential agonies of a group of adolescents to the very bearable limits. Breathtaking. … In just 136 pages, Janne Teller engages her characters in a true search for the meaning of life. … Janne Teller excells at upholding the dramatic suspense right until the very last page in a novel that is at one and the same time resilient, merciless and yet very moving. Great art.” Le Matricule des Anges, France ”The most important youth novel of the year.” Sandefjords Blad, Norway “NOTHING is a book which marks the spirit forever. It deserves to be read and reread many times to fully perceive the numerous reflections that it offers, and which are all interesting. The hat off for Janne Teller for the theme of her story and for her style of writing. They are both remarkable!" Lirado, France ”It’s impossible not to be moved.” NRK, Kultur, Norway ”The novel asks the immense existential questions of the meaning of life. With its unusual rhythmic and tightly composed language it is an amazing piece of work. Teasingly, grippingly and thrillingly, it describes a group of children’s desperate endeavor to prove to themselves and others that something really matters.” Information, Denmark ”Janne Teller has written a gruesome, stinging contemporary saga, unveiling how the lack of role models and hopes for the future create egoists and carreerists, a new human race with hearts of stone.” Svenske Dagbladet, Sweden "It is very rare that this prize is awarded a first children's book. ... An unusually remarkable literary piece of work for children. Intet is a disturbing and thought provoking novel. It is written in a tight language full of necessary statements and reflections. It has a dark touch, but is still light in spirit. It is told with a great energy of language and is driven by its own internal dynamics. ... A great talent!" Speech by the Prize Committee ”The book has a shocking nerve. The story brings to life a myriad of emotions and inspires both afterthought and debate.” VG, Norway "It’s long since I read a novel making such deep an impression on me. … It’s a gruesome, yes, inescapable book. It asks the large existential questions: what matters in life? Does anything matter at all? … Nothing is well written and pervasive. Nothing remains within my body, there’s no way I can shake it off, in fact I doubt if I really read what I did. But I did!" Bent Rasmussen, Skolebiblioteket ......................... "I think it is a great book because I can see myself in it. It has made a deeper impression on me than any other book I ever read." Ole H. 13 years old, Børkop, Reviews of cildren books, www.balbib.balk.dk/kidnet
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