Strašilka
(The Scarecrow Girl) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Alba is on her last mission before becoming the youngest ruler of the Underworld. She only needs to rescue nice, friendly and popular Oliver to succeed. Oliver lives in a town next to the emerald green Soča river, which Alba immediately finds enchanting. She successfully completes her tasks, but by rescuing Oliver’s weak heart, she inevitably loses the will to leave the Middleworld, Oliver and his family. Young love sparks between them, which seems completely impossible, and Alba, who finds herself caught between two worlds, is forced to take a difficult decision. (source: publisher). The books has a sequel, Edina (The Only).
Edited by: Mestna knjižnica Ljubljana
Comment:
The word for world is forest (Ursula Le Guin, Založniški atelje Blodnjak, 2002) aptly captures the axis of the fantastic worlds presented in this debut novel, in which the author spins the tale of young love and timeless ideals set against the idyllic Tolmin backdrop. The compelling romance between a young girl, the future ruler of the Underworld, and a local boy, a gymnasium student in the Middleworld, makes us root for them. The ideals of good, justice, and truth — the usual elements of fantasy — skillfully build the logic of the story, while details like the choice of certain names (with possible Basque, Corsican, or Gaelic origins) hint at minority, refugee, or some other sectarian background to the events. The stand-out feature of this novel primarily lies in the choice of setting: the region around the Tolminka and Soča rivers. The narrative’s mundane and fantastical episodes, including the character of the Tolmin Scarecrow girl, blend naturally and seamlessly with the chosen landscape. Thus, we can argue that Tolmin has been bestowed with another literary monument, this time celebrating its magical dimension. The book has received the Golden Pear Quality Badge.