2019 MEDIA24 BOOKS LITERARY PRIZES │ MEDIA24 BOEKE LITERêRE PRYSE 2019
MER Prize for Youth Novels │ M.E.R.-prys vir Jeugromans
Judges │ Keurders: Nanette van Rooyen, Jaco Jacobs, Henriëtte Linde-Loubser
WINNER │ WENNER
Sally-Ann Partridge: Mine (Human & Rousseau)
This bold, contemporary young adult novel steps into the world of teens so effortlessly and convincingly that the reader never doubts the authenticity of the story and characters – a rare feat for any author in this genre. Whether the author is writing about the world of skateboarders or inviting you along into loud, dodgy nightclubs, it never feels like you, the reader, are in the hands of an adult author who is trying to sound cool or trendy. In a certain sense, angry young muso Fin and blue-haired Kayla’s love story isn’t really big or spectacular – but it feels authentic, and that’s the wonderful appeal of this story. It is a tale of two broken teenagers – broken in different ways – who become each other’s refuge, each other’s escape and promise of healing, but who also hurt and scar and ultimately wreck each other. The depiction of two troubled young people exposing themselves by falling in love, is deeply moving. By presenting the story alternatively from the perspective of Kayla and Fin, the author succeeds in creating two unique, contrasting characters, with their own convincing background, voice and motivation. Mine is a captivating novel that can compete with some of the best voices in international teenage fiction.
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SHORTLIST | KORTLYS
Edyth Bulbring: The Reject (Tafelberg)
It is the year 264 PC. Juliet Seven accepts a mission she cannot shy away from. She has a destination that drives and directs her.
Waiting on a sea craft, accompanied by the blind past trader, Reader, she is hoping that her beloved Nicolas will join her, but the boat is swept away in a storm and gets pirated by a Reject boy, reeking of rot and oil. Juliet despises him and calls him Gollum. Eventually they found a new land, a seemingly perfect place of refuge, only to walk into a horrible reality of secrets and lies.
The Reject maps a society of extremes: The Posh, the Rejects, the Locusts, Telling Birds, Market Nags and Drainers; all absorbed in the conflict of either destroying or preserving The Machine, the god of Mangeria. Empathy, indulgence, indignation, pent-up anger, pain and humor all form part of a tightly woven tapestry.
An imaginary world is created convincingly. The description of characters is vivid and the dialogue is extremely credible. The surprising neologisms are fresh and consistent. Sentences are well constructed, functional, and economical. Tension is maintained relentlessly. Works of well-known literature are effortlessly applied with great effect throughout this original, captivating and highly filmic book.
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Rouxnette Meiring: Kraak (Tafelberg)
Kraak en die daaropvolgende Snak is toekomsfantasie vir jong volwassenes – ’n genre wat tans nog redelik onderontgin in Afrikaans is. Rouxnette Meiring skryf slim en met groot sukses.
Dit is die jaar 2315 en aan die suidpunt van die kontinent Chinafrika (eens Afrika), onder ’n beskermende maar brose koepel, gaan die lewe in ||Hui !Gaeb (Kaapstad) voort ná verwoestende en ingrypende ekologiese katastrofes. Hierdie verhaal (en sy opvolg, Snak) is wetenskapfiksie soos nog nooit voorheen in Afrikaans aangedurf nie.
Spanning word deurgaans onderhou deur die skep van vreemde verhaalgebeure, unieke karakters en gevaarlike nuwe spesies. Die leser word bekendgestel aan ‘n fantastiese, herverbeelde wêreld van oorlewing en volharding, van diversiteit en van transformasie. Die leser word egter ook gekonfronteer met die skrikwekkende gevolge van ‘n onverantwoordelike ingesteldheid jeens die natuurlike omgewing en teenoor ander bestaansvorme.
Wat ’n mens veral opgewonde maak van hierdie twee boeke is die feit dat dit bo en behalwe toekomsverbeelding en reisbeskrywing, ook ekofiksie is. Daar is geweldig min verhale in Afrikaans wat omgewingsbewustheid en ’n ekokritiese gedagtegang by jong lesers aanmoedig. Verder is ook die aanwending van die metafoor van die San-volk, die Eerste Mense, in die verhaal verfrissend.