The youth novel “Het beest met de kracht van tien paarden” (The beast with the power of ten horses) by the Frisian writer Lida Dijkstra has been nominated for the Children’s and Youth Jury Flanders (KJV), in the category for 12 to 14-year-olds. Voting is possible until April 2021.
The KJV (which has existed for 40 years in 2021) is the largest young reader jury in Flanders, for children and young people between 4 and 16 years old. Every year about 9,000 young jury members read and discuss the eight books (selected by ‘nomination readers’) for their age. In most cases, they gather in reading groups, accompanied by volunteers, to discuss the books. When they have read all eight books, they cast their votes. Children who do not have a reading group in their area can read along and vote as an internet judge.
Lida Dijkstra (Heerenveen, 1961) has been writing children’s books in Frisian and Dutch since 1992 and translates her own books from one language to another. In addition to picture books and books for novice readers, she writes for older youth. With those books she likes to be inspired by (art) history, her former field. Her frequently awarded work is characterized by a lot of imagination and humor. Lida has also been active as a school writer since 2015 and children’s books ambassador sinds 2020.
The book “Het beest met de kracht van tien paarden” (2020) is a retelling of a story from Greek mythology about Theseus and the Minotaur (a human bull). It’s a dazzling tale of Greek heroes and anti-heroes, and a love story stronger than fate. The book is illustrated by Djenné Fila (her debut as an illustrator of youth books) and was published by Luitingh-Sijthoff. Vanessa Joosen in De Standaard, January 17. 2020 (*****): “Dijkstra and Fila bring an all-time story in a way that matches the best that youth literature has to offer today.”
All nominated books in the five age categories
