Äkkimakea
(Sugar-coated) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Mio is a famous pop-star who has achieved a lot despite their young age. International success has its downsides: Mio is tired from the constant attention of their fans and moving around from country and hotel to another. They are spending most of their time alone and sleeping only with the help of medication. The situation does not get any easier when a pr-relationship is formed with an upcoming artist they hate, Adam. Fans are excited about the pair dating, but the two parties of the fake relationship are reluctant to spend time together. Gradually, Mio and Adam begin to get closer, but can the relationship that started as a pretense develop into a real one?
Edited by: Lastenkirjainstituutti
Comment:
The novel addresses the downsides of being famous, loneliness, anxiety, addiction and finding a connection and love. Mio’s gender is not defined in the novel. There is only one third-person pronoun in the Finnish language: hän. Gender is not defined through the pronoun, so sometimes gender can be faded or left unstated. Mio is more commonly known as a male name in Finland, but it is also recorded as the name of some women. The writing does not refer to Mio as a man or a woman, but it also does not say that Mio is, for example, nonbinary. The character is not depicted through binaries or stereotypes.