Elin á Rógvi nominated for 2025 Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize

The Nordic Council has just announced the nominees for its Children and Young People's Literature Prize, and among them is Elin á Rógvi for her children’s novel Fornt (en. Ancient). This is Elin á Rógvi’s second nomination for the prize, having previously been nominated for the 2015 prize for Og mamma! Artist Silja Eystberg is the illustrator for the book.

The story follows 11-year old Eiri and his friend Sólja, as they explore the fascinating world of the popular video game Fornt. It is a virtual fantasy world interconnected with real-life conditions in the Faroe Islands. Players can choose whether to observe or pursue wonderful creatures from folk legends. One day, Eiri and Sólja observe a strange creature in the game that no one has ever laid eyes on before. And suddenly, they are among the best players of Fornt in the entire world. However, all is not as it seems …

The Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize has been awarded since 2013 to outstanding contributions to children’s and young people’s literature written in one of the Nordic languages. The award is given to new fiction written for children and young people that demonstrates good quality fiction and illustrations.

In the Nordic Council’s rationale for Elin á Rógvi’s nomination, they state:

Fornt stands out for its ability to convey the fascination of the digital age with gaming while weaving in Faroese cultural heritage. The book offers readers a unique introduction to the mythical world of beings like huldrefolk, nykar, and marmennill, while also exploring themes of friendship, identity, and the technology that surrounds children and young people today.

The council also describes Elin’s writing style with the following:

Elin á Rógvi manages to vividly and fluidly write her way into the world of youth, and her dialogues feel authentic and believable to the modern reader.

Click here to read the full statement.

FarLit congratulates Elin á Rógvi and Silja Eystberg on their nomination!