Krasshoppers
Krasshüpfer (original title: Spinder ) is a book for children and young people by the Dutch writer Simon van der Geest and the Dutch illustrator Karst-Janneke Rogaar. The book tells the story of two brothers who grow apart due to the mourning for their third brother, who has already died, and get into a dramatic conflict with each other, which they ultimately overcome.
Krasshüpfer was published in 2012 by the Dutch publisher Querido in Dutch and comprises 240 pages. The German translation was published by Thienemann on January 18, 2016 and also comprises 240 pages. Mirjam Pressler translated the text. Krasshüpfer is the third book by van der Geest.
Krasshüpfer was awarded the Gouden Griffel in 2013 and the Jan Wolkers Prijs in the same year. The feature section praises the book as follows: "Simon van der Geest tells with a keen sense of the perspective of an eleven-year-old." ( Norbert Zähringer , March 21, 2016)
content
The events are described in the form of a kind of diary, the “notebook”, from Hiddes' perspective.
11-year-old Hidde has set up an insect laboratory in the secret cellar that only he and his brother Jeppe know about. They associate the basement with a secret that has to do with their late brother Ward - but the two have vowed to keep it to themselves. One day Jeppe decides to use the basement immediately because he wants to set up the rehearsal room for his new drums there. A "war" breaks out between the two brothers, which slowly begins to escalate. Hidde tries to defend the cellar with the help of his classmate Lieke, but she seems to be more interested in Jeppe's music than in Hidde's insects. Hidde forges all sorts of defense plans in order not to have to give up his basement, but is finally locked in the basement by his brother. Since the mother of the two is not at home, Hidde is helplessly at the mercy of his brother. But then the neighbor boy Bor comes to his aid. The rescue attempt fails, however, and Jeppe also locks Bor in the basement. While trying to outsmart Jeppe, he falls and seriously injures his head. Hidde, who thinks Jeppe is now also dead, now regrets the argument and the fighting over the cellar very much and is relieved when Jeppe wakes up and only has a slight concussion from the accident. Hidde asks Jeppe to finally uncover the secret of the cellar and the death of the older brother. He himself takes this step by entrusting the long-kept secret to his "notebook".
characters
main characters
Hidde
Hidde is an 11 year old boy whose main hobby is insects. That is why he has a laboratory in the secret cellar in which he collects various living and dead insects. He often retreats there, draws (especially his insects) and writes a kind of diary. He has no friends and he also drifted apart with his brother Jeppe after the death of their third brother Ward. He is in love with Lieke, a girl from his class. To impress her, he gives her a present, a 'homemade' cross between a spider and a butterfly, to which he owes his nickname: Spinnerling.
Jeppe
Jeppe is Hidde's older brother. Since Ward's death he has been very closed and withdrawn. Bor says he has a "sullen look". He plays guitar and drums in a band and is therefore a crush. All in all, he is always very cool and treats Hidde and his environment coolly - only Bor's sister unsettles him.
Minor characters
Jeppes and Hiddes mother
The mother of the two brothers is described by Hidde as "invisible". Since the death of her third brother, she seems absent, works a lot and walks through life like a shadow.
Lieke
Lieke is a girl from Hiddes class that he is in love with. She likes butterflies and the color pink. Hidde tries to impress her with his insect collection and especially with his own breeding of pink butterflies. However, at first she seems to be more interested in his brother Jeppe and his music. Thanks to her beautiful voice, she almost becomes a singer in his band - but ultimately decides against it.
boron
Bor has just moved to Hiddes' neighborhood. First of all, its curly mane is striking. At first, Hidde attests that he looks stupid, but in the end he realizes that Bor is not an idiot, but at most "a little different" and the two become friends. He's very interested in Hidde's collection of insects, enjoys roller skating, and is a big fan of bones and skeletons.
Literary criticism
Krasshüpfer received an overall positive response from the press. Die Welt pointed out that "van der Geest's great novel [offers] something that you won't find in many 'adult books': catharsis and redemption." (Norbert Zähringer, March 21, 2016). The Badische Zeitung praised: "Krasshüpfer" is in a certain way really crazy. But in a way that lets you read breathlessly and describes the emotional world of an eleven-year-old in an almost frighteningly good way. «(Jürgen Reuss, April 12, 2016). The FAZ wrote: "Simon van der Geest tells with a keen sense for the perspective of an eleven-year-old" (Fridtjof Küchemann, May 4, 2016).
Nominations and Awards
All awards as an overview:
| 2013 | Gouden stylus |
| 2013 | Jan Wolkers Prijs |
| 2017 | Nominated for the German Youth Literature Prize |
Audio book
In 2016 Igel Records published an audio book version of the German version of the book, which was read in by Martin Baltscheit . In May 2016 it was number 1 on the monthly hr2 audio book best list for children's and young people's audio books. The jury justified its decision by stating that Krasshüpfer was a "wonderfully sensitive, multi-faceted, profound and at the same time exciting novel" and "Martin Baltscheit will read it with excellent nuance and truth".
Public book presentations
The book was presented as an international premiere in the presence of the writer at the children's and youth program at the 16th Berlin International Literature Festival in September 2016.
Web links
- Reading sample of the original and German versions of the book
- Original language and German language publisher website for the book
- Website of the author , illustrator and translator of the book
Individual evidence
- ↑ - ( Memento of the original from May 24, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ http://www.thienemann-esslinger.de/thienemann/
- ↑ a b Griffels, Penselen en Paletten web.cpnb.nl, accessed on May 27, 2016.
- ↑ a b 'Spinder' wint Jan Wolkers Prijs 2013. In: VARA . October 27, 2013, accessed May 27, 2016.
- ↑ a b Norbert Zähringer: Unknown land of the Hummelreiter and Krasshüpfer In: Die Welt . March 31, 2016, accessed May 27, 2016.
- ↑ Jürgen Reuss: Bitter dispute among brothers. Simon van der Geests psychological thriller for children. In: Badische Zeitung . April 16, 2016, accessed May 27, 2016.
- ↑ Fridtjof Küchemann: The children's novel "Krasshüpfer". The parasitic wasp sting. In: FAZ . May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ↑ Krasshüpfer igel-records.de, accessed on May 27, 2016.
- ↑ hr2 audio book best list May 2016 hr-online.de, accessed on May 27, 2016.
- ↑ http://www.literaturfestival.com/kjl
