Letters From Alain

LoveReading4Kids Says

Shortlisted for the Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation.   

This is a moving tale by a Cuban writer of a child coming to terms with the realities of life in Cuba – a unique society tht despite the world around it just doesn’t modernise, whilst coping with some very strange letters from his best friend who has gone away with his family to find a better life in America.  Contemporary and cross-cultural it covers the morality of conflict – that of Cuba and America – and friendships forged both near and far. Brilliant storytelling it will encourage the reader to explore and challenge their own perceptions.

Very few titles read in the UK (a mere 3%) are books read in translation and even fewer are aimed at children. In France that figure is nearer 50%.  It is vital that young people have the opportunity to read books fromas wide a range of countries and cultures as possible.  The publisher of Letters from Alain is one such publisher and the Marsh Award in Translation selects the best of the books in translation and this is one.

Simon Breden, who translated this novel from Spanish, is a theatre director and visiting university lecturer.

The other titles shortlisted for the Marsh Award were Tina's Web, My Brother Johnny, When the Snow Fell, Message in a Bottle, and Toby Alone.

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