In this video the Norwegian author Line Baugstø reveals who inspired the writing of the children’s novel “Dobbiamo essere leoni”.
Line expresses all the emotions that ran through her when she came to discover that what she had always thought was a boy was actually a girl. At first very surprised, then moved, the author quickly realised the remarkable courage and strength this person had in coming out in a society where you can never predict how ‘others will react’. We thus discover that Leona’s character was born out of a true story, to teach all boys and girls that to be themselves in this world we have to be lions.

THE BOOK

There’s a new girl in class! Malin is excited: Leona could become her new best friend and help her stand up to Sarah and her wicked classmates. But the new girl is extremely shy and reserved: she speaks little about herself, doesn’t post pictures on social media, keeps to herself, doesn’t explain why her family moved away. The more Malin tries to get to know her, the more obvious it becomes that Leona has a secret to hide. And the secret is unveiled in the most brutal way: in the gym locker room Sarah rips the strange sheet she uses to change out of her. With this lightning-fast gesture, an inconvenient truth is revealed to everyone and the balance of the class is upset. But thanks to the courage of a few, things will begin to change and diversity will no longer be something to hide.

The theme of gender identity told by the teens, FOR the teens

Click here to buy the book. Don’t forget that there is also a digital edition!