It’s the summer holidays and 15-year-old Mahmoud pictures long days outside his block of flats. Norwegian Norwegians go off on their summer holidays, but what do penniless foreigners do? All the same, though, this summer will be different because the family has a visit from Uncle Ji from Pakistan, and Mahmoud is given the job of showing his uncle around Oslo.

Uncle Ji is amazed by Norway, but then he starts to wonder what’s wrong with Ali, Mahmoud’s little brother – the one who plays with Elsa dolls and doesn’t behave the way Pakistani boys are supposed to.

Listen up! is a firework of a novel. It renders a community of minorities in a truly original and distinctive voice.

WINNER OF LUCHS OF THE YEAR 2022 (Germany)

WINNER OF LO’S LITERATURE PRIZE 2021

WINNER OF THE CULTURAL DEPARTMENT’S DEBUTANT PRIZE LITERATURE PRIZE 2021

NOMINATED FOR THE BRAGE PRIZE 2021

NOMINATED FOR THE BOOKSELLER’S AWARD 2021

NOMINATED FOR THE YOUTH PRIZE 2021

NOMINATED FOR THE BOOK BLOGGER PRIZE 2021

REVIEWS

Cheeky novel about trans child in Norwegian-Pakistani setting
Something as rare as a hilarious, Norwegian-Pakistani coming-of-age novel about poverty and a trans child, full of distinction and linguistic punch.
He will remain one of this fall’s foremost, sassiest and most entertaining new voices.
AFTENPOSTEN (Norway)

Very, very good book! *****
A powerful and noisy book debut that forces both its protagonist and its readers to confront their own prejudices head on.
This is a truly good and important YA novel, almost impossible to put down.
VG (Norway)

Charms the readers off their feet
Gulraiz Sharif’s book must be the freshest breath of air among this fall’s titles.
This is YA literature with an effect – also after the last page has been turned.
NRK (Norway)

Hilarious YA novel about a Norwegian-Pakistani family, as seen through 15-year old Mahmoud’s attentive eyes *****
... this debut should be purchased in class sets for junior high students.
... a fresh style that is both hilarious and serious!
ADRESSEAVISA (Norway)

Mahmoud's got a big mouth. And he's funny, clever, cynical, confused, overwhelmed - but always straight forward and honest. Political correctness? Screw that! With the result that "Ey hör mal" takes a refreshingly relaxed look at concepts like gender, identity, racism and social justice. Precisely because the book also risks playing with role models, stereotypes and prejudices in order to ultimately debunk them as totally absurd.
SÜDDEUTSCHE (Germany)