Hanne-Sofie Suongir and Nina Marie Andersen
Emma Dilemma (not translated into English) is a Northern Sámi young adult novel in diary format. The book invites the reader into the everyday life of a teenage Sámi girl through handwritten diary entries. The protagonist is 14-year-old Emma, who experiences love, grief, and both loyal and untrustworthy friends.
The book’s themes capture the challenges and situations young people face, while also addressing heavy and important issues such as eating disorders, gender identity, grief, and loss.
With this diary-format novel, author Hanne-Sofie Suongir introduces a new genre to Sámi-language literature. It’s written in accessible, youthful language that draws young readers into Emma’s inner world. Adults, too, may recognise aspects of their own youth in Emma’s experiences – and gain insight into the lives of young people today.
Hanne-Sofie Suongir skilfully keeps the reader engaged, sharing Emma’s thoughts in a masterful way. The reader wants to keep turning every page of Emma’s diary, to follow her love life, find out what happens with her friends, and see how she processes the grief of losing her little sister. The book is easy to read, which helps it reach a wider audience, making it accessible to more young readers.
The illustrations in the book reflect both Emma’s feelings and thoughts. From the flutter of first love – shown through the classic daisy-petal game of “loves me, loves me not” – to black-and-white depictions of Emma in mourning, contrasted with her lively, colourful, and playful little sister who passed away far too soon. The illustrations show how friendships shape everyday life, through lies and betrayal, but also through joy and connection. They also give us a sense of the Sámi region where the characters live. Traditional Sámi dress indicate that the story is set in the Northern Sámi area. The illustrations add a rich layer to the diary entries, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in Emma’s world through both text and image.
Hanne-Sofie Suongir (born in 1990), from Tana in Norway, made her debut in 2020 with the children’s book Elle, guohcamanit poastakantuvvras. She has also written children’s books Buorre idja, Sunnáš in 2022 and Pelle mu gigastuorra superskihpár in 2024 (none of the above translated into English). Hanne-Sofie Suongir was awarded the Saami Council Literature Prize in 2024 for the young adult novel Emma Dilemma (2023).
Nina Marie Andersen is a visual artist and illustrator. She has illustrated numerous children’s books and educational materials for children and young people.