Daughters of the World
by Siiri Enoranta
Maailmantyttäret, WSOY 2022, 391pp
Winner of the Anni Swan Medal 2024 for ‘the most original and artistically high quality Finnish children’s and young adult books published in three years’.
Winner of the Young Aleksis Prize.
In the 22nd Century, five very different young women meet at a Harmony Camp for the lonely, and each has their own reason for being there; Lise-Lotte is there with her friend Joselina but although they do have each, they’ve both lost loved ones; Lise-Lotte her parents, and Joselina her brother. Along with the quiet Kaia, who seems to be harboring secrets within herself, the three are from the Earth Home, while Zerinda and Ritva have arrived to the camp from the Island State. Zerinda is absent-minded and has visions and seizures, due to an implant on her brain that contains the memories of her ancestress from the edge of the apocalypse in 2028. Rebellious Ritva, the youngest of the five, is used to the much harsher life in the Island State that holds onto the old world order, and openly questions the Utopian benevolence of the Earth Home.
In the Earth Home, everything is indeed perfect—except for the one remaining illness that took Lise-Lotte’s parents, and the strange attacks by mechanical feizhong killer insects; which is how Joselina's brother died. No one knows where the feizhongs come from, despite the otherwise transparent order in the Earth Home. This mystery becomes so intriguing that the girls band together and leave the camp to uncover their secret.
Daughters of the World is a brave utopia brimming with hope and love.
RIGHTS SOLD: Finland WSOY (orig.)
Materials available: Finnish edition, English text coming soon!
Awards, nominations: Winner of Swan Medal 2024, Winner of Young Aleksis Prize 2023, Topelius Prize 2023 nominee
Praise:
“An impressive utopian novel that resonates with readers on multiple levels, Daughters of the World is a masterful and richly immersive work by Enoranta. It takes readers on an immersive journey into the near future, addressing not only the climate crisis, pandemics, and technological upheaval but also timeless themes like courage and the bonds of friendship between girls. The novel’s shifting cast of narrators is one of its greatest strengths, offering diverse yet believable perspectives. Additionally, the story has strong cinematic potential.”
“An empowering novel about finding hope, making friends, and respecting others, and the world. Five girls from different backgrounds embark on a journey to solve a mystery but end up discovering themselves and each other.The work inspires action by presenting different visions of the future and challenges the current consumer lifestyle. The book skillfully blends utopia and dystopia. We believe every young person, or even adults, should read this book to best understand its important message.”
“Enoranta’s use of multiple perspectives constructs a utopia set a hundred years into the future. Nature has begun to heal, though the scars of past devastation are still being mended. The Earth Home is a place where anyone would want to live; violence is nearly nonexistent, and people find meaning in enduring values rather than performance-driven goals. Daughters of the World is framed by loss—both the historical catastrophe and the personal tragedies of each protagonist. Enoranta’s compelling narrative sparks curiosity in her worldbuilding, making the result both challenging and fascinating.”
“The idealism in this novel charms with its openness and shamelessness… To all daughters of the world, a triumphant utopia that one would hope to end up in the hands of the decision-makers around the world.”
“The novel shows us a future, where the problems of climate crisis and polluted environment have been solved. This kind of optimism is truly called for in speculative fiction right now.”
“Enoranta is currently one of the finest domestic genre authors, and Daughters of the World upholds her exceptional standards. Although the book is ostensibly a YA novel, it is highly recommendable to readers of all ages, especially since such well-crafted utopian portrayals are rarely published.”
“A book that brims with life and love, offering hope for a better future.”
(b.1987) is an award-winning Finnish-Colombian writer regarded as one of Finland’s contemporary literary torchbearers. She studied French and Spanish at the University of Tampere and has published over ten works, predominantly in YA and crossover, to date. She won the Finlandia Junior Prize in 2018 for The Burning Dark. Her writing has garnered praise for its strong worldbuilding, bold and complex female protagonists, relationships, and coming of age. siirienoranta.com
Photo: Veikko Somerpuro/Courtesy of WSOY. All rights reserved.
