An original story about friends, parents, and school that, without moralizing, explores topics such as migration, multilingualism, and the ability to communicate across cultures in general.

Children’s and Young Adult

The unusual title of this novel by the respected author Iva Procházková refers to the hero. His name is Joyo, which means joy in Esperanto. Knowledge of this constructed international language brought Džojo’s parents together, and the occasional Esperanto word is uttered in their day-to-day family communication. Primarily, however, the name reflects Joyo’s happy nature: the boy is good at both art and sports, he is self-confident, independent and a great friend. Eleven and a quarter is Joyo’s age when he falls in love for the first time and starts to see himself through new eyes. A contemporary story, told in authentic, colloquial language for modern adolescents, with a broad range of themes, it aptly depicts the school environment and both peer and intergenerational relationships. The book raises the issues of migration and multilingualism, ageing and death, but also gives an insight into various professions, such as painting or acting. The focal point of this meaty story, however, is the daily lives of adolescents, an intrinsic part of which is discovering new, intensive experiences and challenges in the form of ever-increasing responsibility for your own life.

Age 11+