Synopsis
Four years have passed since Jonathan's older brother, Liam, jumped into the fjord with his girlfriend and committed suicide. Now Jonathan is alone with his father. They live together, but don't talk to each other - and certainly not about Liam's death. Jonathan is just surviving. Until he meets Isa and the world opens up - suddenly there's more to live for than ever.
Your Life in My Hands is the story of fighting for life and for those you love, even if you carry a heavy and dark legacy.
Sanne Munk Jensen and Glenn Ringtved are a power couple in Danish children's and young adult literature. In 2013, they published Dig og mig ved daggrygry (You and Me at Dawn) together, which with its harsh and gripping story got under the skin of both critics and readers and became a huge hit. It won Sanne Munk Jensen and Glenn Ringtved the Ministry of Culture's Author Prize for children's and young adult books and was highly praised by critics. 12 years later, they are publishing the independent sequel Your life in my hands with Forlaget Carlsen.
Extensive teaching material, aimed at schools, exists.
Reviews
"...a story about many things, but first and foremost about negative social inheritance, ‘something-for-something culture’ and love. This focal point is typical of young adult fiction, but the work is characterised by a sharp authenticity and solid, beautiful literary craftsmanship." – (iBBY Denmark)
"A STRONG novel about social inheritance (...) we are in dire need of books like Your Life in My Hands." – (Kristeligt Dagblad)
"Your Life in My Hands belongs to the ultimate top, for being tough, moving and relevant. For wanting something and for completely enveloping the reader." – (Bogfeber (Danish book blog, Book fever)
Personal note from the author
What specifically sparked your curiosity and desire to embark on this story one more time?
Basically, we wanted to contribute to the conversation about social heritage and the environment. We want to dispel the illusion that we are all equal in Denmark and have equal conditions. We just don't have that at all. In the novel, Isa and Jonathan dream of doing better than where they come from. They fight hard for it, but don't really have any role models to lean on.
What do you think about the possibility of breaking the social inheritance after writing the novel and the thoughts you have had along the way?
It all depends on what kind of help you get. In a way, Isa and Jonathan are two versions of how a person can fall out. The crucial difference between the two is that he has had a good and loving mum, she has not. And the thing is, you do what you've seen. You don't have all the options, you are very prone to repeat what you have seen and what you have encountered throughout your life.
