„Wonderful, tender and attentive about the time between childhood and youth… Original and beautiful“ Hamar Arbeiderblad

Hanna spends every summer at her uncle with the cousin Siv, who is her age, and older Metter. But Siv has changed compared to last year. She is no longer interested in counting crabs and bugs they catch; she is instead interested in her older sister Mette’s adventures: boys, going out and parties. Hanna still retains her childhood playfulness and is not used to the subtle art of keeping adolescent secrets. This summer will change everything…

“Shhh” is a graphic novel by award-winning Norwegian illustrator Magnhild Winsnes which has won almost every important Norwegian YA book prize. Winsnes illustrates Hanna’s various experiences and summer adventures and, with equal parts humour and seriousness, she depicts Hanna’s growing up as a fragile and uncertain time between childhood and puberty and all of the turbulent emotions associated with it. The text is minimal and the book is told through illustrations. That enables young readers to focus on the visual aspect and beautiful illustrations allow them room for interpretation. Young readers can discover details, the shift of characters’ emotions, come to conclusions on their own and make their own storylines. Soft, pastel illustrations almost bring us the smell of summer and invite young people to enjoy the nature and all that surrounds us, and makes the older readers nostalgic about childhood summers and first loves.

Winner of the Ministry of Culture’s First Book Prize 2017

the Critics’ Prize for Best Children’s and YA Book 2017

the Norwegian Writers for Children First Book Prize (“Trollkrittet”) 2017

“Best of Show” 2018 – The GRAFILL’s Visual Prize and “GOLD – Best Children’s Book” 2018 – The GRAFILL’s Visual Prize.