21
Youth Literature
The State Prize for
Youth
Literature
published in 2014 was
unanimously awarded
to Panayiota Plisi, for
her book
Ma, mpapa,
ine halia!
(But, dad, it’s
terrible!).
The book takes up the
impact of a divorce,
and the children’s co-existence with their
parents’ new partners, and how rebuilding their
family life is one of their toughest experiences
to date; a remarkable topic that resonates deep
with older children and teenagers. Without
employing didacticism, and instead embracing
the topic with humour, the author convincingly
presents a series of events through the juvenile
eyes of the intractable and clever heroine,
messages exchanged between her father and
his friend, and discourse between mother and
children. The difference between the way
rebellious Lena and her calmer younger brother
tackle this issue shows how diverse the ways
in which children react to divorce can be. The
directness, casual language, unpretentious
expression and variety of characters – both
adult (the parents and their new partners) as
well as children – make the test more realistic,
while the medias res introduction to the story,
which creates narrative gaps for the reader,
comes to add elements of surprise and further
peak the interest.
Youth Literature Shortlist
Kodikos P.A.R.E.A: To mystirio tis paraxenis
vrochis
(Code P.A.R.E.A: The mystery of the
strange rain), by Fytoula Vakana and Anthi
Pirea (Pataki Publications)
Me ta matia enos skyllou: H epistrofi
(Through
the eyes of a dog: The return), by Elena
Perikleous (Parga Publications)
Ma, mpapa, ine halia!, by
Panayiota Plisi
(Kedros Publications)
Ben7: Se mystiki apostoli
(Ben7: On a secret
mission), by Demetra Charalambous (Parga
Publications)
Illustration in Children’s/Youth Book
The State Prize for
Illustration in Chil-
dren’s/Youth Book
for books published
in 2014 went by
unanimous decision
to Philippos Theo-
dorides for his work
on
I mathitevomeni
psychoula ke o ka-
kos lykos
(The ap-
prentice soul and
the bad wolf), by Costas Petrides (Mikrokyklos
publications).
The illustration was created with sensitivity,
expressionism and innovation. The illustrator
creates abstract pictures with clarity, and uses
simple shapes that are characterised by their
intense colours. The pictures appear to be
digital, with a strong element of collage. The
artist combines techniques but they do not
clash. The illustrator manages to achieve depth
by playing with different fields. It is a generally
well designed publication that sufficiently
showcases its illustration. The Committee is
optimistic that the illustrator has a promising
future ahead.
Illustration in Children’s/Youth Book Shortlist
Sandra Eleftheriou for her work on the book
Elitsa mavromata
(Black-eyed Olive) by Zoi
Theochari (A.A. Livani Publications)
Philippos Theodorides for his work on Costas
Petrides’ book
I mathitevomeni psychoula ke o
kakos lykos
Louiza Kaimaki for her work on Melissa
Hekkers’ book
Poupa
(Pantheon Cultural
Association Publications)
Zoe Pinches Kyriacou for her illustrations in
Neophyta Polydorou’s book
Enas stroumpoulos
ippopotamos
(Cyprus Youth Organisation
Publications)
The Judging Committee comprised: Genethlis
Genethliou (President), Constantinos Georgiou,
Costas Mantzalos, Efklides Papadopoulos and
George Tsangaris.
