Once Upon a BOOK: Young Adult Literature in Translation

forthcoming

“Once Upon a BOOK: Young Adult Literature in Translation” is a project aimed at translating 10 books by EU authors into Armenian and 1 book by an Armenian writer into 4 EU languages. The project goal is to bring to Armenian YA readers European stories, thus stirring curiosity in reading among young people, laying basis for forthcoming literature-oriented generation, facilitating exchange of narratives across the boundaries. The second important goal is to continue presenting Armenian literature, that remains widely unknown/underrepresented in Europe. Regrettably, Armenian literary market lacks a substantial presence of books/literature for/about teenagers, dedicated to coming-of-age universal topic. Existing offerings are limited to classics, once originally translated from Russian (Soviet times) and repeatedly republished over the years. Unfortunately, modern literature has not received proper exposure among Armenian readers. It is a generally accepted fact that attitude towards literature is nurtured from a young age; love towards literature/reading is borne from the opportunities to immerse in exciting stories that inspire or make you think. Armenian children/YA lack immensely literature that resonates with their experiences, touching upon modern topics and telling stories about YA – just like them. In addition, there is a lack of YA genre literature - detective stories, sci-fi, or fantasy that through genre specificities still reflect/present coming-of-age stories. Translating literature that explores identity, belonging, self-discovery, personal growth topics will provide young readers with resources for navigating these critical life stages. We continue to bring to the limelight women translators, ensuring their names on covers, biographies in books, visibility through promo activities. Project demonstrates strong alignment with call objectives/priorities, contributing significantly to cultural diversity, linguistic exchange, and literary enrichment within Europe.