Zoopojken Zoo Boy
Adam Vieri is a disillusioned young man who works as a zookeeper in Stockholm. His love for the animals is strong, but he has doubts about the ethics behind keeping them confined from their natural habitat. When the new boss Camilla tells him that they are going to replace the boring Nordic animals with exciting, new species in order to attract more visitors, his worries grow stronger. Beaming with enthusiasm, Camilla reveals that lions, gorillas and elephants are to be purchased from a bankrupt circus. But both Adam and the animal’s previous caretaker Natalie are afraid that the zoo is not the right place for the new animals. Their friendship develops into something more and together they hash out a plan to rescue the animals from the circus and release them into freedom in Kenya.
Zoo Boy is a thought-provoking and entertaining novel about freedom and captivity, animals, and love. It is about the difference a person can makes when they finally make a choice.
“Wonderful characters, I read [Zoo Boy] with a smile on my face from first to last page. Sweden has got their own Nick Hornby!”
– Johan Anderblad, TV 4
“An extraordinarily entertaining reading experience.”
– Jonas Eklöf, Vi Läser
“This is like nothing else I’ve read. Zoo Boy makes me both laugh and cry.”
– Mattias Edvardsson
Awards
| Shortlisted for the Feelgood of the Year Award Sweden | 2023 |
Reviews
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“/…/ a truly special debut, a heartwarming tall tale about love and courage, about drastic ways to truly make a difference. A perfect summer read for those who want to start off the holidays with being in a genuinely good mood, who want to exchange work frowns for a wide and warm smile. /…/ I finished the book on the sun-warmed rocks on the West Coast a couple of weeks ago (…) looking out over the ocean that glittered in tune with the smile on my face, a splendidly perfect moment in existence. Make sure you read Zoo Boy!”
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“The novel is a humorous blend of adventure and a wild tale. A brilliant debut.”
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“I really enjoyed Zoo Boy, it’s about humans’ relationship with animals, her often complete ruthlessness and lack of common sense, mixed with humor and warmth. It’s a book that suits everyone.”
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“Zoo Boy is so much in a single book. Love, dreams, life /…/ Read – and then pass it on to everyone. Because Zoo Boy is a book you can’t let go of.”
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“This novel has charm and feels like an unreal tale, a fantasy /…/ fun and invigorating /…/ that’s why I, of course, want to recommend Zoo Boy.”
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“It is so well-crafted… what begins as delightful satire… later turns into an adventure book and even a bit of feel-good in the end. This book has it all, but above all, it is extremely entertaining from start to finish.”
- Author
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Peter Hammarbäck
- Published
- 2023
- Genre
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- Fiction
- Pages
- 383
- Reading material
Swedish edition
English translation
- Rights sold
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Arab World, Jadal Publishing
Denmark, Modtryk
Hungary, Animus
Netherlands, Mozaïek
Sweden, Bazar