Jukka Behm’s WONDERBOY nominated for the Children’s and YA Finlandia Prize!

WONDERBOY by Jukka Behm is a nominee for the 2023 Children’s and Young Adult Literature Finlandia Prize! The book is a fast-paced story about a boy who becomes the brightest star in the world of football.

Jukka Behm’s young adult novel offers an intriguing glimpse behind the scenes of the soccer world. The skillfully written story, interesting characters, and subtle humour between the lines captivate readers from the first pages. Behind the intricacies of the football world, important themes of youth unfold, such as independence, competition, friendship, fear of failure, and the desire to prove oneself.

WONDERBOY marks the beginning of a trilogy, with the second part, Angel’s Fist, to be published in the summer of 2024.

“A remarkable success! More of this!” – Helsingin Sanomat

The Finlandia jury describes the work as follows:
“The book takes its reader to the big world football pitches of England. It portrays friendship and rootlessness, as well as the ruthlessness of competitive and elite sports. ‘Wonderboy’ is filled with masterful plot twists, wonderful characters, and thrilling scenes of football matches. The reality in the book has a perfect topping of magic dust and hope. ‘Wonderboy’ grips its readers, even those who might have struggled to engage with literature and reading.”