Woutertje Pieterse Prize for Harm de Jonge
The writer of children’s book Harm de Jonge has won the Woutertje Pieterse Prize for his novel Josja Pruis. The jury called the book ‘A pure narrative in which the qualities that we are so eager to find in children’s books converge in a marvellous way. It is a book which takes the young reader seriously and which will never be forgotten.’
Josja Pruis is the name of a boy who is new in the class of Homme Prins. Josja claims that he consists of Siamese twins. You cannot see on the outside that there are two sets of brains in his head. Homme also had a younger brother, but he died immediately after birth. If he asks his mother, she doesn’t want to say anything about the matter. After Josja’s arrival, terrible things start to happen. Homme and his friend Ada delve into Josja’s past. In doing so, Homme also learns more about his own past.
Harm de Jonge’s book is one of the titles that have been included in the new edition of Children’s Books from Holland.