Gunnar Helgason and Rán Flygenring
In Bannað að drepa (ADHD #3) (in English: “No killing allowed”), Gunnar Helgason addresses questions that weigh on us all in the current climate – questions of war, trauma and loss. It would be easy to assume that such weighty themes might become overwhelming, but thanks to the author’s narrative zest and ability to meet the reader on their level, he is able to approach the subject in a way that ensures joy and sincerity are never far away – creating a strong connection with the reader.
A new pupil has joined Alexander’s class. His name is Vola, and he’s from Ukraine. He’s quiet and keeps to himself – a really dull guy, if Alex is being honest. The last straw comes when Vola faints in the swimming pool’s shower room at the sight of a man with a tattoo. It’s just a letter. Z. Honestly, how sensitive can you be? The world’s conflict zones seem to reach all the way into the shower room where Alex and his friends found themselves. Deeply serious and complex themes are opened up and explored from the perspective of a child with ADHD, whose head is full of a thousand thoughts – some appropriate, others not at all – in a way that draws the reader in as an active participant in the story.
With great skill, the book weaves together the European conflict and the profound fear and physical suffering experienced by children in war zones. At the same time, we see how such events can affect children in other countries – in this case, a schoolchild in Iceland. For a rich and vibrant children’s book landscape, it is vital to have ambitious writers who can take on serious subjects in a way that teaches children something new, while also offering a sense of safety, warmth and humanity. Despite its heavy themes, the book is energetic and engaging – a quality enhanced by Rán Flygenring’s powerful illustrations. As in the author’s earlier books in the “ADHD” series, the cast of characters is diverse and colourful, and the narrative is full of suspense.
Bannað að drepa is a book that shows deep understanding of how children think and genuine respect for the diversity of life. It offers no quick or easy answers to the questions children may ask in today’s political climate – instead, it opens a door to conversation between adults and children.
Gunnar Helgason (born in 1965) is an actor, director, TV producer and author. He has written many popular children’s books and received numerous awards. He was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) in 2022. Rán Flygenring (born in 1987) is an illustrator and author, artist and designer. She has published over ten books, several of which have been translated into different languages. Rán has received numerous accolades for her work, and was awarded the 2023 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize for the book Eldgos (“Volcano”, Angústúra 2022, trans. Jonas Moody).