Ann-Helén Laestadius facts for kids
Ann-Helén Laestadius (born in 1971) is a famous Swedish writer and journalist. She is from the Sámi community. Ann-Helén writes popular books for both young people and adults. In 2016, her book Tio över ett (which means Ten Past One) won the important Swedish August Prize. This award is for the best children's and young adult book. Later, her adult novel Stolen became a bestseller. Netflix even made it into a movie 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 northern Sweden. She is the daughter of Ivar Jan-Erik Laestadius and Ellen Sara Kristina Marainen. Today, she lives in Solna, which is close to Stockholm.
Her Background
Ann-Helén has a special background. She is part of the Sámi community. The Sámi are an Indigenous group living in northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. She also has Tornedalian roots. The Tornedalians are another national minority in Sweden.
Her Career as a Journalist
Ann-Helén Laestadius started working as a journalist in 1990. Journalists gather news and write stories for newspapers or other media. This work helped her tell stories and understand people.
Ann-Helén's Books
Ann-Helén Laestadius is well-known for her writing. She has written many books, especially for young readers.
Early Books for Kids
In 2007, she published her first children's book. It was called Sms från Soppero (Sms from Soppero). After that, she wrote five more books for children.
Winning the August Prize
One of her most famous books is Tio över ett (Ten Past One). In 2016, this book won the prestigious August Prize. This is one of Sweden's most important literary awards. The jury praised the book for its strong story. They said it showed how a community deals with big changes. It also explored themes of friendship and love.
Other Awards
For Tio över ett, Ann-Helén also received another award. She won the Norrland Literature Prize in 2017. This award celebrates authors from the northern part of Sweden.
Her Adult Novels
In 2021, Ann-Helén wrote her first novel for adults. It was titled Stolen. This book became very popular. It was even translated into English in 2023. Stolen became a number one bestseller. In 2024, Netflix turned the book into a movie.
