This year, the book prize “Espreso. Readers’ Choice 2020” expanded its horizons.
165 applications for participation in the literary competition were received from 38 publishing houses of Ukraine. The organizing committee carefully checked all publications sent by publishing houses for compliance with the requirements. After that, Long lists of books for the competition were formed in three nominations: “Literature for adults”, “Literature for teenagers” and “Literature for children”. We wish success to the literary works on the next rung of the Espreso book award. Readers’ Choice 2020″
By the second stage, 14 editions from 8 publishing houses were included in the Long List of books in the “Literature for teenagers” category.
“With Einstein in a Backpack”, Andrii Bachynskyi (“Stary Lev Publishing House”)
The schoolchildren’s trip to the mountains, which was supposed to be a wonderful vacation, turned into an unexpected adventure for three classmates – the handsome football player Oleg, the beautiful Sol and Yurk, who is quiet and secretly in love with Sol. How knowledge of the laws of physics and the ability to apply them in practice helped teenagers in life-threatening conditions – read in Andrii Bachynskyi’s fascinating adventure novel “With Einstein in a Backpack”.
“And I had my native land. Textbook of Ukrainian Diaspora Literature”, Compiler: Maryna Vardanyan (“ASSA” Publishing House)
“Where At Home” is 112 poems by volunteers and soldiers about love and war. The project was implemented with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
Fighting has been going on in the east of Ukraine for five years now. Among us there are people who received a traumatic experience in this war, but were able to sublimate it into creativity. Eight modern young poets and poets participate in the collection “There at Home”: four male soldiers who performed (or are currently performing) combat tasks in the ATO/OSS zone, and four women who in 2014-2018 volunteered and helped the army, waited for men from the war, supported and cared for those who devoted themselves to serving others.”
The anthology contains works of various genres by more than 50 writers of the Ukrainian diaspora, intended for children and youth. They cover the most important topics for personality formation: patriotism, preservation of national memory and traditions, faith, gaining experience and knowledge, getting to know one’s homeland and discovering a foreign, hitherto unknown world.
Among the authors whose works were included in the anthology are Ivan Bodnarchuk, Ivan Bagryany, Volodymyr Vynnychenko, Petro Volynyak, Bohdan Goshovskyi, Vasyl Dubyna, Roman Zavadovych, Bohdan Lepkyi, Olga Mak, Yuriy Tyshchenko-Siry, Lesya Khraplyva-Shchur, Dmytro Chub, etc.
The publication is intended for secondary school students, teachers, parents, as well as for everyone who is interested in the literature of the Ukrainian diaspora and the education of the younger generation by means of the artistic word.
“The Crow and the Black Butterfly. The voice of ancient dreams”, Olga Miguel (“ASSA” Publishing House)
Alice is used to hiding and running away from monsters that have been on her heels for a year. But she definitely did not expect to find herself in a world where magic is something everyday, and an endless prison wall stands on the border of sleep and death. The main secret of this whimsical place is known only to a hundred raven magicians, for whom the source of magical power is the last breath before death. But what to do when the way home is closed, and danger looms over the new home? After all, nightmares that have been waiting for their time for thousands of years challenge her to death…
“Dan. Varvara and barbarians”, Olena Cherninka (Kartush Publishing House)
Urban fantasy adventure novel.
Stories from life are not necessarily stories from the life of an adult. So sometimes it happens that a small person comes into this world, but he does not rush to open his arms to her, does not smile gently and does not say amiably: “Hey! Congratulations, baby! You are welcome! I am your happy life.” And it doesn’t matter when exactly the sun dims for these little ones: from the day of their birth or suddenly deprives them of parental care, protection, and love. But that’s when the child dives into the unknown, where she has to learn to swim on her own. And around are adults who seem to profess family values…
In the picturesque town of Leopolis, which belongs to the mysterious Minerva monarchy, several lonely desperadoes (fatherless children and their friends) met to forever paint the gray world around them with colorful rainbow stripes. But will the adult world, which has long since replaced real human values with a surrogate, hear them?
Will children’s dreams come true? Will they save the city of Leopolis from the flood? Will the Minerva Monarchies help get rid of the invaders from a neighboring enemy country? Will the young heroes find parents and true friends?
There are many adventures and many questions in the novel. But each of these questions will find its correct answer. After all, goodness and justice always win.
“Don’t tell anyone”, Sasha Kaminska (Ranok Publishing House)
Every girl or woman has many secrets. However, sometimes these are special secrets – ancient, terrible, so deeply hidden in the cells of the memory and subconscious that even the closest relatives do not know about them. The 14-year-old heroine of Sasha Kaminska’s novel “Don’t tell anyone” rebels against her parents, does ridiculous things, gets into dangerous situations and tries to understand and accept herself.
“Spies from the shelter of Artemis”, Nataliya Dovgopol (“Vivat” Publishing House)
This book is a ticket to the world of action-packed adventures, espionage missions and dangerous journeys, where every day is a test of courage and strength of spirit, and the ability to work in a team is almost the only chance for salvation.
1907 year. A fight breaks out in one of the Kyiv theaters. A respectable Austrian gentleman publicly accuses a messenger boy of theft. Without a shadow of fear, the teenager rejects the accusation, not yet suspecting that this is his first exam, an invitation to a new life. Under the green hood, the elderly Austrian Herr Friedrich saw not only a disguised girl, but also a potential pupil for his orphanage – the secret school “Artemis”, where professional spies are trained.
“Amaterasu Academy”, Natalia Matolinets (“Vivat” Publishing House)
Randall is frankly unlucky: her life is in shambles, and she herself finds herself in the bizarre Amaterasu Academy, where the souls of proud gods come, reborn in the endless movement of the Wheel of Fate. Here, powerful forces slumber until the time when they answer the call of Words, and new acquaintances hide secrets that are dangerous to touch. But there is no going back for Ren, because she must find the answer to the question that rings in her head: “Who are you, Randall Savitri?”
This is a story about the fact that the fiercest battles are always with oneself, the most important journeys are in the depths of one’s own soul, and love and friendship are worth going beyond one’s capabilities, the walls of laws, and even beyond the edge of life and death. After all, you don’t have to be a mighty god to be a man.
“Tales of Grandma Havryshikha”, Oleg Havrysh (Time of Masters Publishing House)
I offer you a journey to the ancient spirit of Ukrainians.
…and this is not a “pink” trip, it’s scary.
Leave all your “rushes”, take the children by the hand: Ukrainian green tourism with emotional roller coasters awaits you.
Together, we will dive into the depths of the subconscious to the level of connection with our roots, we will restore this path so that we are better nourished by the power of our foundation and we cling to the ground more tenaciously, and we will touch a variety of emotions from horror to happiness.
I will take you to the usual Ukrainian village of Nekreminne, which is lost among meadows, forests and cool streams. The smell of freshly baked bread at dawn, cherries, apricots straight from the trees, young potatoes, fishing, climbing on the pond… During the day – labor therapy, and when the sun sets, we all gather at Grandma Havryshikha, who lives in a small tidy house with a reed roof on Kozachka, on the edge of the village. She tells fictional-not-fictional stories that once happened in Nekreminny. The main characters of her stories are fellow villagers and creatures that scientists attribute to Ukrainian mythology and about whom the grandmother tells stories, as if they were very real neighbors. No matter what happens in those fairy tales, human dignity, mutual help, and kindness always win. And even though it’s scary to even listen to those stories, you still can’t tear yourself away, because you feel that Bereginya – Baba Havryshikha – is covering you with her invisible, love-woven wings.
“Tomorrow is a new day, or On the branch of an old apple tree”, Tetyana Novatska-Titarenko (“Time of Masters” Publishing House)
Margarita dreams of having what is the norm for many of her peers: branded fashion items, expensive gadgets, wealthy parents. And he doesn’t want to spend weekends and holidays in the village, but to hang out with his friends in the city. And, of course, she stares at the most handsome boy in school — Igor. She is sad that instead of discos or meetings with her friend Neleya, she is forced to go to the village with her grandfather Stepan. Vitko’s friend is faithfully waiting for her there. But is he just a friend? Is there something more, say, love between them? Because that’s exactly how classmates decide and make fun of Rytka. And all would be fine, but Nelya also joins the band, makes fun of Rita. And it’s really cruel. It’s not fair.
At the most unexpected moment, when the world seems to be against her, Rytka receives both the gadget of her dreams and a new friend. And also valuable life experience and the knowledge that all school troubles, quarrels with girlfriends or misunderstandings with parents are trifles, because tomorrow will be a new day…
Margarita discovered the basic things to live by, now it’s your turn to grow up…
“Sulphur on Gunpowder”, Ivan Andrusiak (“Fountain of Tales” Publishing House)
May 1637, the town of Berezan near Pereyaslav. A girl with a strange nickname Sulfur watches over a saltpeter mine at night. But robbers burst into the mine to interrogate two abducted strangers by the light of a bonfire – a Cossack and a Jew. Hiding in a grave, Sulfur becomes a witness to an interrogation and learns something very secret and dangerous… The chemical industry “from the graves”, the secrets of making gunpowder, a chase in the swamps, a saber duel, “long-distance runners” of the 17th century and many other curiosities and surprises await you in the new story of one of the most popular modern Ukrainian children’s writers, Ivan Andrusyak. A story about friendship and betrayal, about meanness and honor, about the birth of the first feelings and the eternal Ukrainian problem of self-awareness.
“A termite explosion. With the eyes of a hawk”, Anatoliy Marushchak (“CONDOR” Publishing House)
1788–1789 years. Right-bank Ukraine — Poland — Germany — Paris — the Turkish fortress of Hajibey. Such an unexpected route fell to the fate of fifteen-year-old Hnat Doroshenko, a descendant of the famous Ukrainian hetman. And it all started with the swamp, in which the noble Mr. Andrzej, the owner of the village of Olshanky, where the Hnatov family lived, almost drowned. A boy rides a Cossack to the tycoon’s palace. And there he is unfairly accused of stealing jewelry. The executioner had already brought the ax over the unfortunate man’s right hand. Will the boy’s hand be cut off, and he will never paint a portrait of his idol – Ataman Anton Holovaty? The white crow knows well how the case will end. And the wedding cortege of the Polish tycoon is speeding towards Paris,
where a duel awaits you. Gnat rushes to the rescue. But how not to lose track? There is a hawk for such a case. A characteristic Cossack taught the boy to catch a bird’s eye and see 30 kilometers around. So go ahead. But will the young rescuer make it? Events on the eve of the Great French Revolution force Mr. Andrzej to leave Paris, and Hnat to return to his homeland. New journeys with the Chumaks to the south, fierce battles in the steppe of the Cossacks with the Horde and, finally, the young man takes part in the storming of the Turkish fortress of Hadzhibeya, where the glorious Odesa will later emerge. What awaits Gnat: a victorious victory or an insidious bullet? Or maybe first love? All the secrets will be revealed when you read this exciting adventure story.
“A termite explosion. The winged lion”, Anatoly Marushchak (KONDOR Publishing House)
1789–1790 years. The main character of the story, sixteen-year-old Hnat Doroshenko, after successfully storming the Khadzhibeya fortress, is preparing for a new battle under the strong walls of Akerman. Every day is filled with adventures and friendship with the young Venetian Ornella, whom the boy saved from death in Turkish captivity. A pirate ship raises its sail above the waves of the Black Sea. The captain is not interested in fortresses, he is
wants to kidnap a young Italian woman in order to receive a large ransom for her. A young Cossack appeared on time on a horse, but will he have time to rush to the gate with the girl? Bullets are already flying towards us.
Akerman’s fortress surrendered. But Hnat didn’t have to worry. Ornella persuades the boy and his older friend, the giant chumak Taras Two Backs, to accompany her to Venice. This is how the Italian adventures of our heroes begin. Gnatko quickly develops his talent as an artist, and Taras becomes a favorite of the local population. A terrible fire in 1790 of oil warehouses engulfed the entire ghetto island of Jewish settlers. Hnat, together with other honest citizens, hastened to help the victims. But the robbers with whom young Doroshenko crossed paths had completely different plans. Who came out victorious in the fierce duel, as well as about other adventures, the reader will find out quickly, because the events in the story fly by, as if the Winged Lion is a symbol of Venice.
“A termite explosion. In the shadow of a snake”, Anatoly Marushchak (“CONDOR” Publishing House)
1791 year. The famous Venetian Carnival. It is not a happy event for everyone. Here is a young woman walking on a tightrope. She is not a circus performer. The path over the abyss is her punishment. Our hero Hnat Doroshenko and his friend Taras Dvi Spiny are ready to catch her below. Taking advantage of their absence, the insidious pirate Good Antonio kidnaps young Ornella. The chase begins in the Adriatic Sea. Not the last. Seventeen-year-old Hnat receives the task of returning to Venice the ancient Jewish Torah, a precious scroll that was taken to Alexandria, Egypt. But the search for the torah leads to a trip along the Nile, where it is not known who is more dangerous: crocodiles, hippos or local rulers. The crew of the pirate Good Anthony also has its own insidious plans. After the adventures in the desert, they converge on the walls of the main Christian shrine of Egypt – the temple of St. Catherine. Who will get the ancient torus, who will be favored by Meretseger, the snake goddess? On the way to the house where the gentle waves of the Mediterranean Sea
caressing the shores of Crete, a test awaits Hnatus in the famous labyrinth, where, according to legend, a monster with the head of a bull, the Minotaur, lived. You will solve all the secrets of the island together with the heroes of the story.
“A termite explosion. Agate secrets”, Anatoly Marushchak (KONDOR Publishing House)
1791 year. Sicily – Sardinia – Valencia – Venice – Frankfurt am Main – Turkish fortress Izmail. The path that our hero seventeen-year-old Hnat Doroshenko and his friends will have to go through. The road to Venice first led them to Sicily, where the Etna volcano is erupting, and then to Sardinia and the treasures hidden there. The pursuit of the pirates ends in the Spanish city of Valencia, where the sacred agate Grail cup is kept in the temple. It is here that the last battle between Hnat and his fierce opponent, the pirate Good Antony, takes place. How it will end, the reader will find out when you get to the middle of the book. But this is not the end of the friends’ adventures. Unexpected meetings with contemporary geniuses await them: composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and writer Johann Wolfgang Goethe. And at the coronation of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in Frankfurt am Main, the young man performs another heroic act. Having vowed to return to his beloved Ornela, Hnat Doroshenko hurries to his brothers, where the Cossacks are preparing to storm the Turkish fortress of Izmail at the mouth of the Danube.
In the second stage, each expert will choose five candidate books from this list, which they will place in order of ranking.
Accordingly:
1st place (5 points) — winner and further
II place (4 points),
III place (3 points),
IV place (2 points),
V place (1 point).
The organizing committee, by counting points, will determine 3 books in each of the nominations, which will go to the third stage of voting. These finalist works will be presented at the discretion of readers in libraries almost throughout Ukraine. During this voting, the final winner will be determined.
Book prize “Espreso. Readers’ Choice” was founded by the “Espreso” TV channel and is supported by the NGO “Demforum”. Its presentation took place on May 18, 2017 in the framework of the “Book Arsenal” in Kyiv.
The award is designed to celebrate the best Ukrainian modern literary novelties of the year, to support the interest of Ukrainians in reading domestic authors. To help readers choose interesting books, and publishers to find a way to readers. The winners of the Award will be announced at the end of November 2020 on the air of the “Espreso” TV channel, on the “Espreso.TV” and “Demforum” websites.
