The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative announced the winner of its Translated YA Book Prize, given annually to “the most outstanding translated work that was originally written and published (or simultaneously published) in a language other than English.”
This Is Our Place, written by Brazilian author Vitor Martins and translated by Larissa Helena, is the winner of this year’s award.
The book, published last November by PUSH/Scholastic, follows three queer teenagers living in three different decades in the same house. A critic for Kirkus called the novel “sweet” and “introspective,” writing, “The reflective stories offer different perspectives on the lives and struggles of the protagonists, with heartfelt moments that readers who appreciate quiet books will enjoy.”
Martins won the award in 2021 for Here the Whole Time, while Helena has won twice before, for Here the Whole Time and its 2021 co-winner, Where We Go From Here, written by Lucas Rocha.
The GLLI also named two honor books: Alice on the Run: One Child’s Journey Through the Rwandan Civil War, written by Gaspard Talmasse and translated by Nanette McGuinness, and The Cat Who Saved Books, written by Sosuke Natsukawa and translated by Louise Heal Kawai.
The GLLI Translated YA Book Prize was first awarded in 2019. Previous winners have included My Brother’s Husband: Vol. 1 & 2, written and illustrated by Gengoroh Tagame and translated by Anne Ishii, and Oksi, written and illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu and translated by Silja-Maaria Aronpuro.
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
