Sisterland

Salla Simukka

Original title: Sisarla

Author: Salla Simukka

Illustrator: Saku Heinänen

Published: 2016

Publisher: Tammi

Genre: Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Pages: 200

Reading material:

English edition

A middle-grade fantasy story with echoes of Frozen and The Snow Queen

That winter it starts snowing and it never seems to end. Eleven-year-old Alice falls through the snow and lands in the summery world of Sisterland – in a much awaited adventure!

In the heart of Sisterland lies a wonderful garden full of all kinds of peculiar creatures: wind fairies, dream weavers and asking flowers. And in one tree, on a swing, is Marissa. All Alice has ever wanted is a best friend and now her dream has come true! But the girls have not ended up in Sisterland by coincidence. They must find the queen who rules  Sisterland to end the endless snowfall in their own world. However, Alice faces the hardest task when Marissa seems to have forgotten about their friendship.

Sisterland is a story about soul sisters. It’s also a story about the Garden of Secrets, the Sea of Eyes, wolvenflies, about breaking mirrors and freezing splinters.


Praise:


"A humorous, delightfully sweet tale of magic and sisterhood." —Booklist Review 11/15

“It is so wonderful that now Salla Simukka brings her richly evocative voice to middle grade readers. Sisterland is magical writing at its best. [...] Simukka continues to prove that she is one of today’s most talented children’s writers.” – Phoebe Yeh, VP, Publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers


“The story moves with a strong pace and is brimming with imaginative language,” LukuVarkaus Award jury


"Sisterland utilises intertextuality and skilfully re-writes classical fairy tale and fantasy story elements, which serves the purpose of addressing the dual-audience of children’s literature: both children and adults will enjoy the reading." - IBBY Finland Award Jury


“This book is gorgeous, lush, and dreamy with the atmosphere of fairy tales we all know and love. It’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, but for this generation. It’s a beautiful exploration of friendship and the way children forget, of bravery and the beauty of remembering.” –ND

Download reading materials

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
BELGIUM and NETHERLANDS: Clavis
CHINA: Hunan Juvenile and Children's Publishing House
ESTONIA: Pegasus
FRANCE: Hachette Black Moon
JAPAN: Nishimura Co., Ltd.
LATVIA: Zvaigzne ABC Publishers
UNITED STATES: Crown Books for Young Readers
WORLD ARABIC: Arab Scientific Publishers, Inc.

About author

Salla Simukka

Salla Simukka is the author of the international success story The Snow White Trilogy: rights are sold in 53 territories and in Hollywood. She has written several novels for young readers and her accolades include the Topelius Prize 2013 and the Finland Prize 2013. Simukka has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award  every year 2021–2024. Where It All Begins, published in 2022, is her first novel for adults and in 2024 she started a collaboration with JP Ahonen on a middle grade novel.

Previously Simukka has written book reviews for the newspapers, translated all kinds of texts into Finnish, worked as an editor at a literary magazine and as a screenwriter for a popular TV show for young audiences.  She has also been working on the programme of Turku Book Fair in 2017–2020.

Bibliography


2024, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Salla Simukka

The Secret Staircase


2022, Literary Fiction

Salla Simukka

Where It All Begins


2021, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

In the Dark I Can Be Yours


2020, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Detained


2018, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Turn off the Lights! Turn on the Lights!


2016, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Salla Simukka

Sisterland


2014, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

As Black as Ebony


2013, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

As Red as Blood


2013, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

As White as Snow


2012, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Elsewhere


2012, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Without a Trace