Each year, four Norwegian books are nominated in four categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s Books and Open Category: Non-Fiction for children. The winners will be announced 20th of November.

Backwoods Fable by Sigbjørn Skåden | Nominated for Best Work of Fiction

When the old drunkard Nilsen dies in the Norwegianized sami village Planterhaug, once known as Láŋtdievvá, no one suspects anything criminal. Yet, the following autumn Inspector Huuva from the Oslo Criminal Police arrives in the village to investigate the death.

Huuva is determined to uncover the truth about the village and find out about his father's fractured family history. Through his investigation, Huuva discovers that something Evil is haunting in the village, and the case propels him deep into the soul of Planterhaug. But is he truly uncovering new truths, or is he merely treading water in a place where secrets have long been silenced?

Backwoods Fable is a novel about identity, about what it means to be Sami, and about the search to find home – whatever that may be. It is both a deeply serious and deeply humorous novel about nature, culture and belonging.

Jury's statement: «Sigbjørn Skåden deftly plays with cultural clashes, Sami myths, chess, and crime stereotypes in a narrative that is anything but typical. Here, language, people, nature, and animals blend in a boisterous and vibrant mix, a rare treat between the covers of a book. Backwood Fable is a wild novel that will leave no reader unmoved.»

Angry Youth by Aon Raza Naqvi | Nominated for Best Children's Book

Noh sells cigarettes in the school playground. He gets into fights. He skips class and mouths off.The older boys want nothing to do with him, no matter how hard he tries to impress them. Deep down, he’s just a teenage boy trying to find his place—between two cultures, in a town that doesn’t understand him, and in a school system that’s already labelled him a problem.

After one incident too many, Noh is forced into ART—Anger Regression Therapy—a program meant to “fix” his behaviour. His therapist, Erling, thinks a few group sessions will teach Noh to control his temper. But Noh’s not angry for no reason. He’s angry at the racism, the double standards, the impossible expectations at home. And he’s angry that no one seems to be listening.

Between joint-smoking sessions with his best friend Behzad, awkward crushes, run-ins with older boys, and constant power struggles with adults, Noh is stuck navigating a life where he never quite belongs. He’s smart. He’s funny. And he sees through the bullshit—all of it.

Angry Youth is a raw, darkly funny, and brutally honest coming-of-age novel about growing up between cultures, being seen as a threat before being understood, and trying to hold onto yourself in a world that keeps pushing you out. Set in a small Norwegian town in the early 2000s, this powerful, character-driven debut is packed with sharp dialogue, deep social insight, and a voice that refuses to be silenced.

Jury's Statement: «With Angry Youth, Aon Raza Naqvi has created a literary work that provokes, moves, and opens our eyes to a reality many don't see. This is a book that deserves to be championed.

[...]

The book's strength lies in its authenticity. Naqvi doesn't write about minority youth from the outside – he writes from within, with a credibility that makes every sentence resonate. His language is street poetry, everyday philosophy, and social critique all rolled into one.

Angry Youth is more than a book – it's a reckoning, a testimony, and a reminder that Norwegian youth is diverse. It challenges us to see, listen, and understand better.

For its courage, its relevance, and its literary power, this book deserves to be read.»

Autistic Diaries by Johanne Nordby Wernø | Nominated for Best Work of Non-Fiction

Autistic Diaries is a contribution to our understanding of autism’s many facets, and an appeal for new attitudes towards neurodiversity. Perhaps new stories about autism can serve an even broader purpose: allowing us all to be both strong and vulnerable – and, above all, different.

One July morning, the summer I turned 42, I woke up with a brand new thought.

Author Johanne Nordby Wernø discovered at the age of 42 that she is autistic – after living half her life, having children, and holding leadership positions. Autistic Diaries recounts the months that followed this realisation. With energetic and emotionally perceptive prose, the author tells the story of her late diagnosis.

What connects Agatha Christie's famous disappearance in 1926 with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in a particular neighbourhood in Oslo? What unites the philosophical insights of Emmanuel Levinas with Julian Assange's sense of justice and Lisa Simpson's lonely intellect? Why has there long been an interest group in Scotland for women diagnosed with autism later in life, while in Norway doctors still send people home without a referral to a specialist if they can make eye contact and hold a job? And is it a coincidence that the Scottish organisation has the same name as the hotel where Agatha Christie was found after her disappearance?

After four decades of feeling different, Wernø finally had an explanation. She soon realised that the stories of late-diagnosed autistics – especially women – were shockingly absent from public discourse.

Jury's Statement: «How does receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult affect one's self-image and relationships with others? Wernø received her autism diagnosis at the age of 42, and in the book, she combines her own experiences with professional insight, alternating between journal entries, essays, and literary techniques. The form is open and shifts between genres, yet the text maintains both coherence and direction. Wernø is an excellent storyteller, conveying knowledge in an engaging and original manner. [...] The result is a poignant and thought-provoking book with strong communicative power and significant literary qualities, which is also witty and entertaining.»