(ANS - Barcelona) - The winners of the 23^rd EDEBÉ Prize for Literature for Children and Young People are Rodrigo Muñoz Avia (born in Madrid in 1967), with the novel El signo Prohibido (The Forbidden Sign), and Care Santos (born in Mataró, Barcelona, in 1970), with the original novel in Catalan, Mentira (The Lie).  The competition is sponsored by the Salesian publisher EDEBÉ, with a cash prize of €55,000. This year’s competition, held in honour of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco, attracted 205 entries in the children’s category and 140 in the youth category.

The award ceremony was attended by various civil and cultural authorities of Catalonia, as well as Fr Cristobal Lopez, Provincial of the Spain-Mary Help of Christians Province (SMX), and the Councillor for Social Communication, Fr Filiberto González.

To fight and rebel for a cause, through words, is the effective means used by Jorge, the main character of El signo Prohibido. His best friend, Aleksandra, has mysteriously disappeared, so he decided to omit the letter "A" until she returned or was discovered.  The challenge proved difficult. The result is an intriguing novel, well thought out, about friendship, love and absence, and with a very powerful protagonist: language.

Mentirais the story of Xenia, a young university student who falls in love, not with a boy she knows, but with a ghost, a voice that comes from the internet. With this voice she shares her passion for reading. She tries to meet him but the identity of the young man is false – he does not exist. It's a lie! The arrival of an unexpected parcel reveals his identity. The parcel comes from the juvenile detention centre and contains the story of a murder. Mentira is an engaging story that fascinates its readers, breaking down fixed notions and prejudices.

These are two stories that are very relevant to the sometimes difficult facing children and young people.

Published 03/02/2015