Can you tell us about "Noah," the book that just won the 11-13 year old prize?
It's about a child waiting for his mother at school after class. His mother won't be coming because she died in a car accident. He doesn't know his father, whom his mother has always presented as someone best left unknown. He's taken in by his paternal grandparents, who plot to introduce him to his father without telling him, so he won't reject him immediately. He'll grieve for his mother, but also for the loss of a perfect mother. He'll come to understand that she made mistakes, that she should never have prevented him from knowing his father. All of this takes place in the world of bargees, which I love. I live on a barge myself!
What are the reactions of all the young people you met in the middle schools of the Hautes-Pyrénées?
They react to this story. Yesterday, a child told me, "Noah really moved me; it's the best book I've ever read. It's even better than Asterix!" That praise made me laugh! They're very interested in the world of the bargees, with navigation and everything else. But above all, it's a novel that touches them. The theme of death, of course. Generally, we avoid confronting them with that; we keep them away from it. Or they see death on TV, but it's outside the context of a story. I think it's part of a writer's duty to talk about tragedy, about problems of this kind, to help them anticipate life's challenges, like death, but also separation, fathers or mothers who aren't perfect, and abuse. Anticipating, seeing, recognizing, and becoming intelligent about things like this.
Is it a pleasure to meet these young readers?
Writing is a solitary activity. There comes a point when you question yourself. Many writers rarely meet their readers. "Older" writers only see them at book fairs. We, children's authors, spend hours with our readers! These encounters are important to me. I'm moved every time. And it's stimulating! We need our readers' feedback. There's the press, but it's our young readers we meet who make the result of our story more concrete; it's truly touching. Children are spontaneous; they dare to tell us things as they feel them!