The Blue Book of Nebo WINNER OF THE YOTO CARNEGIE 2023 MEDAL FOR WRITING

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I Must Betray You tells the story of Cristian, a 17-year-old who has lived his entire life in a country governed by fear. Ruled by a despotic dictator, Cristian and his fellow citizens live every day with ever-present suspicion, hardship and repression. One day he is faced with the toughest choice of all; will he betray his family or will he risk everything – even the lives of people he loves – to resist? Gripping, intoxicating and uniquely involving, Cristian’s story will have readers asking themselves just what they would have done under the constant watchful eyes of the secret police, what they would have sacrificed to be free. Set in a knife-edge moment of modern history, the courage, hope, and violence of the Romanian Revolution powerfully frame this evocative thriller.

Mam says that it’s best to write like this now. Because she can’t be bothered to teach me, I think. Can’t be bothered or can’t find the energy. I’m not sure which it is. Or if there’s any difference. It is a multi-award-winning publication, trusted by parents, endorsed by teachers, and loved by children. Yeah, but I think something needs to be written about The End. It doesn’t make sense otherwise. And I don’t know enough about it.’” That sounded lovely, and I knew it was a lie. Everyone wants something. “Anything in the world, Mam. Even from the olden days.”Simply wonderful. Beautifully conceived, written and observed. A story infused with warning and sober hope.’– Nicola Davies Is that what you’d choose as a birthday present? If you could have anything you wanted?” Mam stared out over Anglesey and thought about it. She smelled like outside. She looked at me for a long time, up in the trees. I thought for a bit that she was going to tell me to break into Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe’s house, but in the end she just turned away. Dwynwen chatted to herself under Mam’s coat—I could hear her voice although I couldn’t see her, a disembodied chatter of nonsense words. She’s getting too big to be carried now. Read our Get to Know the Author flyer for further information about Manon Steffan Ros and The Blue Book of Nebo. See also our Authors of the Month writing in Welsh.

Except if something happens to one of us,” Mam said with a gentle little sigh, and I didn’t reply because I didn’t need to. I get it. We were quiet for a while. It was a rainy day in February, and some snow was clinging to the sheltered corners of the fields. Around two years had gone by since The End, and almost that long since Dylan and I had seen another human being. Mr and Mrs Thorpe felt like a long-ago dream. Everything before that—work and school and Gaynor— felt like they belonged to someone else’s life. I always use my writing to process something significant in my own mind, and I remember finding it difficult to face the part of the story where the teenage son grows away from his mother- those steps towards independence are so natural and important but I’m a mam and it’s hard! The other part that’s always hard is when terrible things happen to the characters. I always grow to love them, and I create stories that put them through hell. I feel guilty!Rowenna is resourceful and has protected and nurtured her family since The End began. Dylan was only six when it happened and now aged 14, we find him a responsible, capable young adult. However, despite relying on, and only having each other, the relationship between mother and son subtly changes as Dylan must take on more adult responsibilities. First written and published in Welsh, Llyfr Glas Nebo won the Prose Medal at the 2018 Eisteddfod and the triple crown of prizes at the 2019 Wales Book of the Year Award: the Aberystwyth University Fiction Award, the People’s Choice Award and the Welsh-language Overall Winner. It has since been translated into a number of languages including French, Arabic, Catalan, Spanish, Polish and English, where it has also been published in the US.