All About Sahara

Vilja-Tuulia Huotarinen

Original title: Kaikki Saharasta

Author: Vilja-Tuulia Huotarinen

Published: 2026

Publisher: Tammi

Genre: Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Pages: 188

Reading material:

English sample and synopsis, Finnish PDF

Life is suffering, but only if you face it alone

All About Sahara is an intense, atmospheric story about fifteen-year-old Sahara, whose world has fallen silent after the sudden departure of her friend Tio. Sahara decides to resolve the unfinished matters. On her journey north, Sahara is joined by a strange acquaintance, an invisible being named Xei. But what must be discussed before the stones open and the train can fly?

This small, compelling novel explores the painful relationships of youth, transformations, and the possibility of confronting life’s and death’s greatest questions. Vilja-Tuulia Huotarinen’s writing is delightfully straightforward and thought-provoking at the same time.

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Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

About author

Vilja-Tuulia Huotarinen

Vilja-Tuulia Huotarinen is an author who has published both poetry and prose. She has received several awards, including the Anni Swan Medal, the Kalevi Jäntti Prize, and the Finlandia Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. The main themes of her books are universal: friendships, time, body, love, and death. Her unique style embraces action but the approach is lyrical and mesmerising. Her main characters are often strong but puzzled girls on the edge of the changes during their rebel teenager years. Her novel Light, Light, Light was selected for the international IBBY Honour List, and a film adaptation written by Juuli Niemi was released in 2023. The film became widely popular and it got several prizes in the film festivals in Europe. In addition to writing books Huotarinen translates literature from Icelandic and teaches creative writing. During last four years she has been also working as a program director of Turku Book Fair, the oldest book fair in Finland.

Photo credit: Mikko Palonkorpi

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Bibliography


2026, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Vilja-Tuulia Huotarinen

All About Sahara


2013, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Vilja-Tuulia Huotarinen

Light, Light, Light


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