Kit na plaži
(Whale on a Beach) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Nika, a lively teenager, moves house with her parents. She goes to a new school now, in a new place with new classmates. All seems lovely and just as it should be. Nika is popular, she makes friends easily; she is outgoing and witty. But it turns out that she keeps a secret; a secret that quickly gets out of the bag and will now change the lives of everyone around her. This heart-warming story about accepting difference is bound to appeal to adults, too. (source: publisher)
Edited by: Mestna knjižnica Ljubljana
Comment:
A novel about not fitting in, it explores what it means to be “different” and the challenges of accepting otherness in a society with very high expectations and a drive for perfection — mostly in terms of outward appearance. At the centre of the story is Igor’s difference: his Down syndrome, which his family tries to keep hidden from neighbours and the public. The family’s inability to embrace it affects every member. In place of Igor, his sister Nika becomes the focus of their parents’ high expectations, and in her eagerness to meet them, she discovers that she, too, doesn’t quite fit in. Meanwhile, other characters also grapple with their own forms of otherness: there’s Barbka, a girl constantly sending messages on her phone, and Aleks, whose future has already been mapped out for him in his father’s car wash … The overarching message of the novel — that we are all different in one way or another — resonates with children and adults alike, and this is what makes life richer and more meaningful. While the ending may feel a bit too neatly resolved, the book offers a thoughtful read for both adolescents and adults, encouraging reflection and conversation. The afterword adds further insight. The book has received the Golden Pear Quality Badge and has won the Desetnica Award.