Huppu seiskalla
(Huppu in Seventh Grade) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Summer vacation is coming to an end and middle school is about to begin. 13-year-old Huppu wants to leave childhood behind: he no longer wants to build with Legos or walk with his father to the ice rink to watch his confident older brother practice hockey. He doesn’t want to dress warmly, and walks around with bare ankles even in winter, like other teenagers. Above all, Huppu doesn’t want to be called Timo. The other young people around him seem to be changing even more: everyone is drinking energy drinks and using snuff and vaping. Helping Huppu in his search for identity are his cheerful grandmother and new friends Aamu and Matti, who dare to be their own kind.
Edited by: Lastenkirjainstituutti
Comment:
The novel describes the life of a young boy in the transition from childhood to adolescence. He wants to become like other young people, but others seem to be changing even faster. The novel deals with the growing pains associated with youth, the feeling of being an outsider, and the search for one’s own identity. This book is the first part of a trilogy. The book is also accompanied by the non-fiction book Ihan hupusta – ajatuksia lukemisesta ja kirjoittamisesta (”From the hoodie – thoughts on reading and writing”, 2023), which contains interviews of influencers, writing exercises, and stories about the lives of middle school students.