Guðrún Helgadóttir Children's Book Award 2025
Nanna Rögnvaldardóttir, an author and translator, received the Guðrún Helgadóttir Children's Book Award today. Mayor Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir presented her with the award at a ceremony held at Höfði.
A total of 71 manuscripts were submitted under pseudonyms this year, with Nanna's manuscript taking first place. Her work is titled "Flóttinn á norðurhjarann" ("Flight to the Northern Realm").
The award is presented annually for an unpublished children's or young adult book manuscript and aims to encourage ambitious writing for children and young people while honoring the legacy of one of our most beloved children's book authors. The award-winning manuscript will be published by Forlagið next month.
During the ceremony, the mayor remembered Guðrún Helgadóttir, who passed away in 2022, and her important contributions to children's literature.
First children's book
Nanna Rögnvaldardóttir has written numerous books about cooking and culinary history, including the major work "Matarást," which was nominated for the Icelandic Literary Awards. She has also written books about Icelandic cuisine in English. In 2023, Nanna's first novel, "Valskan," was published. She bases the story on her great-grandmother's life and weaves together historical sources and fiction to create a gripping tale of a harsh struggle for survival, perseverance, and love. In 2024, Nanna published the historical crime novel Þegar sannleikurinn sefur" ("When Truth Sleeps"). She loosely bases the plot on a well-known murder case from 1704 but creates an entirely new story. An independent sequel is expected this fall. Nanna is also a prolific translator and worked for many years in book publishing at Iðunn and Forlagið.
Nanna was extremely pleased to receive this recognition for her first children's book.
"This recognition is very precious to me, not only because I knew Guðrún, worked on some of her books during production and always held her in high regard, but also because the story gave me an opportunity to explore a period that deeply interests me from a fresh perspective – seen through the eyes of a child who must deal with incredibly difficult circumstances but also experiences joy, excitement and love. The main character, Solla, was my great-grandmother, and that made the story even more meaningful to me."
"Flóttinn á norðurhjarann"
"Flóttinn á norðurhjarann" ("Flight to the Northern Realm") tells the story of a mother and daughter who must flee difficult circumstances and face many obstacles in their search for a better life. The protagonist is a girl who is 12 years old at the beginning of the story, and the tale is told entirely from her perspective, making it easier for readers to put themselves in her shoes. What makes the story special is that it takes place in the late 18th century following the Mist Hardships and the widespread hardship that followed.
The selection committee consisted of: Þorgeir Ólafsson, Ragnheiður Gestsdóttir and Jónella Sigurjónsdóttir
From the selection committee's official statement:
Around 70 manuscripts were submitted to Reykjavík City's competition for the Guðrún Helgadóttir Children's Book Award this time. Many of them were very good, and the selection committee faced a difficult choice, especially given the large number of manuscripts. After repeated readings of the manuscripts that stood out, the selection committee unanimously agreed that "Flight to the Northern Realm" was the best and therefore recommends that this work and its author receive the Guðrún Helgadóttir Children's Book Award this time.
The story is well-written in clear, accessible language that is neither archaic nor stiff, despite the story taking place more than 200 years ago. The characters are well-developed and believable, and we get to know them as the story unfolds and they must respond to various hardships. The story is also exciting because the protagonists constantly find themselves in new situations that test them.
Although "Flight to the Northern Realm" takes place long ago, the story has powerful contemporary relevance. The girl and her mother are fleeing, there have been terrible natural disasters and famine in their wake, and it challenges how society welcomes refugees. The story is nevertheless beautiful and touching at times and portrays both good and bad qualities in human nature.
The selection committee believes that "Flight to the Northern Realm" will appeal to children from age 10 and provide them with reading pleasure while giving them insight into life in Iceland in earlier times. No method is as effective for putting oneself in others' shoes as immersing oneself in a good story, and there have been few historical novels written for children and teenagers, stories that bring the past to life.
Congratulations on the Guðrún Helgadóttir Children's Book Award 2025, Nanna Rögnvaldardóttir!