The Frisian writer Tialda Hoogeveen, currently successful with “De geur van hooi” (The smell of hay), has published her first fiction book “Wurden fan Timo” (Words from Timo) at the publisher Afûk. “Wurden fan Timo” is also her debut in Frisian and her first book in the “young adult” category. Her idea for a book about a family drama in which the adolescent son dies in a traffic accident turned out to fit seamlessly with the reading promotion project LêsNo by Afûk, Cedin, Fers and Stichting Lezen.
In the aptly written novel, suitable for 12+, the girl Nanne is central. She loses her older brother Timo in a traffic accident; through his cell phone he overlooks a truck while cycling. In addition to mourning, music plays an important role in the book. Nanne withdraws into music because she thinks her parents are too sad to deal with issues such as choosing further education. And also because while playing the piano it sometimes feels like Timo – with whom she always made music – is still with her. The book “Wurden fan Timo” is now available at Afûk.
Book centrally at LêsNo
In the first months of 2021, more than thirty secondary schools with more than 4,000 first grade students will start working with “Wurden fan Timo” during Frysk lessons. They could order the books in the autumn of 2020, including extensive teaching materials. Lesno.nl has an audio read-along version that makes it easier to read Frisian.
Song “Yn dyn ljocht”
For the project, Jon Allen’s song “In your light” was also translated into Frisian by Jelle Bangma. It was performed, sung and recorded by Sytse Broersma (De Kast) and his daughter Lotte. Lotte Broersma releases the song as a single. The song can be found on YouTube and Spotify.
“Wurden fan Timo” is the seventh LêsNo book. LêsNo is the Frysk reading promotion project in which Afûk, Cedin, Fers and Stichting Lezen, with the support of the province of Fryslân, annually develop a new Frisian book with educational material for first-time classes.
