Take a closer look at ourselves, dream and not give up

STOCKHOLM. The winner of the new season of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Prize is Jacqueline Woodson.

“To all people, whoever they are,” said Astrid Lindgren, “there is always a lack of love.” A good book can compensate for this deficit. She is also able to become a source of confidence and vitality, to teach a lesson in tolerance. Good literature should be available, the interest in it of those to whom it is addressed, in this case will only increase.

It is these criteria that meet the spirit of Lindgren, and become decisive when choosing the next winner of the memorial award. In 2018, she became an American Jacqueline Woodson (Jacqueline Woodson), author of more than 30 books and illustrated publications for children, adolescents and adults. Her stories, novels, poems, illustrated publications - this is an honest conversation about the problems of growing up, self-identification, social problems, racism. Stories about those who do not give up, dream, learn to overcome circumstances and their own weaknesses. About segregation and prejudice. The fact that people can be different, as well as their views, sexual preferences, approach to creating a family and choosing a profession.

This is the autobiographical Brown Girl Dreaming, written in verse - memories of childhood, mother, the first literary experiments. Beneath a Meth Moon - the desire to understand why people start taking drugs and ruining their lives. Maizon At Blue Hill is Woodson’s first book on racism. Feathers is a story about a boy who feels like a black sheep, and about hope. Hush is a story about two sisters forced to change their name and place of residence as part of a witness protection program. If You Come Softly - about the joys and sorrows of first love, the story of modern Romeo and Juliet. None of these books, like the three dozen others, have been translated into Russian.

To the question of. why she likes to write books so much, Jacqueline Woodson invariably replies: "Because it makes me happy." Like Lindgren, she is sure that you can learn to fly, even if there is a danger of plopping down to the ground. Her books are an occasion to think about the causes of continuous wars, disunity, cruelty and look more closely at ourselves. As the great Swedish storyteller once advised.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru