Ann-Helén Laestadius facts for kids
Ann-Helén Laestadius (born in 1971) is a popular Swedish writer and journalist. She is part of the Sámi community, who are the Indigenous people of northern Europe. In 2016, her book for young people, Tio över ett (which means Ten Past One), won the important Swedish August Prize. This award is given to the best books for children and young adults. Her first novel for adults, Stolen, came out in 2021. It became a number one bestseller. Netflix also made a movie based on Stolen in 2024.
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About Ann-Helén Laestadius
Ann-Helén Laestadius was born on December 3, 1971. Her birthplace was Jukkasjärvi, a town in the far north of Sweden. Her father, Ivar Jan-Erik Laestadius, worked for the local government. Her mother, Ellen Sara Kristina Marainen, was a shop assistant.
Ann-Helén has been working as a journalist since 1990. She now lives in Solna, which is a town close to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. She is proud of her heritage. She is both Sámi and Tornedalian. These are two of Sweden's national minority groups.
Ann-Helén's Books for Young People
Ann-Helén Laestadius started writing books for children and young adults in 2007. Her first book was called Sms från Soppero (Sms from Soppero). After that, she wrote five more books in this series.
Winning the August Prize
In 2016, her book Tio över ett (Ten Past One) won the prestigious August Prize. This is one of Sweden's most important literary awards. The judges praised the book for its story. They said it was about how a community deals with big changes. It also explored themes of friendship and love. The book showed how local politics and community spirit can make a difference.
Other Awards and Recognition
For Tio över ett, Ann-Helén Laestadius also received another award. In 2017, she won the Norrland Literature Prize. This award celebrates writers from the northern part of Sweden.
Ann-Helén's Adult Novels
In 2021, Ann-Helén Laestadius published her first novel for adult readers. It was titled Stolen. This book became very popular. It was translated into English in 2023. The English version quickly became a number one paperback bestseller.
Stolen Becomes a Movie
The success of Stolen led to it being made into a film. Netflix released the movie adaptation of Stolen in 2024. This brought her story to an even wider audience around the world.
