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Overview:
Moa Backe Åstot, born in 1998, is a Sámi fiction writer and reindeer owner. She is best known for her debut award-winning, critically acclaimed young adult novel Fire From the Sky in 2021. She is Sámi, raised in a reindeer herding community in Malmberget, Sweden, and both of her novels, Himlabrand and Fjärilshjärta follow young protagonists exploring their Sámi heritage while discovering more about themselves and their culture. Backe Åstot currently lives in Jokkmokk, Sweden.
Backe Åstot studied creative writing at Umeå University and Jakobsberg Folk High School, graduating from Umeå University in 2020. [1] At 26, she is a “rising star in their literary works” (Vogue Scandinavia 2022), with two published young adult novels, and a handful of published short stories, including Daughters, written exclusively for Vogue Scandinavia in 2022 and A Small Red Drop, which gained recognition from Sveriges Radio in 2018.
She attended the American Library Association (ALA) Conference in June of 2024, sponsored by the Swedish Arts Council. Acclaimed in the United states as well as Scandinavia, she recently became the first Sami author to receive a Printz Honor, which recognizes the best young adult literature in the U.S. In addition, her win marks only the second time a translated (original language not english) and the third time an indigenous author has been awarded this honor.
In line with her books’ protagonist, Backe Åstot has a strong relationship with her Sámi cultural identity, and wears a traditional gábbde or Gákti from her family in Malmberget. When asked about the inspiration for her two novels, she says she writes about what she wishes she was able to read growing up Sámi, and wears traditional clothes to accept awards and meet readers.
Works:
Daughters, a short story written exclusively for Vogue Scandinavia on the important and complexity family, Sámi religion and mythology, and the secrets that bind us, illustrated by embroidery artist Britta Marakatt-Labba. (2022)[2]
Himlabrand (Fire From the Sky) From Levine Querido: Fire From the Sky “was born from Åstot's desire to see stories reflecting the experiences of Sami teenagers. She noted the lack of young adult fiction by Sami authors and decided to write the book she craved as a teenager. “I wanted to read fiction about other Sámi teenagers. But there aren't a lot of Sámi young adult writers...so I just found a few books. I started writing what I wanted to read.” The novel focuses on the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth within traditional indigenous communities. The protagonist, Ánte, wrestles with his feelings for his best friend while fearing rejection from his family and community if he comes out as gay. It is heavily inspired by her childhood, growing up in a family that raised reindeer in a Sámi community similar to Ánte’s.” [3]
Fjärilshjärta (Flutters of the Heart) From the Salomonsson Agency: “No one at school believes Vilda when she tells them she is Sámi. There are always a million questions: Do you speak Sámi? Do you own reindeer? Is your dad Sámi? But no matter what answers Vilda gives, it’s like she’s not Sámi enough for them. She’s decided to change that. She’s going to start wearing gábdde, the traditional Sámi clothing, and ask her grandfather, the only one in her family who speaks Sámi, to teach her the language. But when Vilda’s grandfather suddenly passes away, everything is turned upside down, Vilda has to navigate her Sámi heritage all on her own. At the funeral she meets Samuel. He is a few years older and has everything Vilda wants for herself: the gábdde, the reindeer, the language. Everything her grandfather never got the chance to give her. Perhaps Samuel can show her how to be Sámi instead?”[4]
Awards:
Shortlisted for Norrland’s Literature Prize (Best children’s and YA) Sweden – Fjärilshjärta Flutters of the Heart (2024)
Recognition from Sveriges Radio - A Small Red Drop (Short Story) (2018)
The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature (Honor Book) US – Himlabrand Fire From the Sky (2024)
Shortlisted for Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan’s Easy-to-Read Award Sweden – Himlabrand Fire From the Sky (2023)
Shortlisted for the QX Gala’s Novel of the Year Award Sweden – Himlabrand Fire From the Sky (2022)
Norrland’s Literature Prize (Best children’s and YA) Sweden – Himlabrand Fire From the Sky (2022)
Shortlisted for the Nils Holgersson Plaque Sweden – Himlabrand Fire From the Sky (2022)
Shortlisted for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize The Nordic Countries – Himlabrand Fire From the Sky (2022)
Slangbellan (Best children’s and YA debut) Sweden – Himlabrand Fire From the Sky (2021) Shortlisted for the August Prize (Best children’s and YA) Sweden – Himlabrand Fire From the Sky (2021)
Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan’s Author Prize Sweden – Himlabrand Fire From the Sky (2021)
References
edithttps://www.salomonssonagency.se/moa-backe-astot/
https://www.salomonssonagency.se/books/fjarilshjarta/
https://www.norden.org/en/nominee/moa-backe-astot
https://www.voguescandinavia.com/articles/daughters
https://muckrack.com/moa-backe-astot/articles
https://wordswithoutborders.org/contributors/view/moa-backe-astot/