It is December 13th on Tøyen. Lucia Day. Ten-year-old Ronja has longed for this day; she has practiced the songs for the school performance for days on end. She even had the courage to ask the grumpy neighbour Aronsen for help ironing her Lucia dress. They’ll perform Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Ronja’s favourite. But will anyone come to hear her sing? No one sees a note and just stops drinking. Yet Ronja can’t stop hoping. Won’t stop. Perhaps, somehow, a bright star will appear, a saving grace in the dark.
December Thirteenth is a beautiful adaptation of the heart-wrenching, yet hopeful, Lucia scene from Ingvild H. Rishøi’s international bestseller Brightly Shining. Through luminous and evocative illustrations by acclaimed artist Lisa Aisato, the story takes on a new dimension. Brief in form yet profound in feeling, December Thirteenth is a delicate portrayal of hope, resilience and the small lights we cling to in the darkest of times. Here, Rishøi and Aisato have crafted a story for children and adults alike – a tender and unforgettable rendition with all the markings of a modern classic.
Extra Materials
Norway, Gyldendal
