Hanne Dagmar Raaberg

Brain Crash

Hjernestyrt

Hjernestyrt is an independent sequel to Papirhjerter. Same style, same universe, new main character.

Hanne Dagmar Raaberg (b. 1969) has an MA in Rhetoric and is a graduate from the Author School of Children’s Literature in Copenhagen. She has won the Cultural Ministry’s Children’s and YA Author Prize.

Brain Crash

Hjernestyrt

Hjernestyrt is an independent sequel to Papirhjerter. Same style, same universe, new main character.

Hanne Dagmar Raaberg

Synopsis

It is autumn, and everything is withering for Alfred. Normally, he is always on top of things. He has: 1 sweet girlfriend, 1 strong OK-chopped body, 1 smart brain, 1 fun year as a scout leader. But he also has 1 hour by train to Alva, and he is afraid of falling through. It is difficult to stay on top when missing becomes a rhythm, and doubt falls into beat.

Brain Crash is a warm and hopeful story about pressure and expectations and about setting a finishing line that is so far away that you can no longer see it yourself. How do you ask for help when you are lying down?

For the independent prequel, Papirhjerter, Hanne Dagmar Raaberg received the Ministry of Culture's Author's Prize for Children's and YA Books 2023 and the School Libraries' Author's Prize 2024. It was part of two Danish books selected for the IBBY Honours 2025.

Reviews

"A strong and sensitive story about being a boy on the way to manhood and the expectations that many feel they have to live up to. It is also about having your first girlfriend and the wild emotions that are part of it." – (Library Review )