Photo by Vygandas Juozaitis

Ilona Ežerinytė (b. 1964) is one of the most striking and successful contemporary young adult writers whose works are valued by readers and critics alike. She studied Lithuanian language and literature and taught at public and private schools for many years. She started writing when she was fifty years old. The previously unknown writer won the first National Children’s Literature Competition, which gave her encouragement. She made her debut with short fairy tales and now mostly writes realist young adult novellas with a flavour of magical realism. The young adult world created by a teacher is evidently authentic and modern; for young adults, it’s easy to relate to and accessible. This is reflected in the results of the Book of the Year competition – Ilona’s books have twice been selected as the Book of the Year. She finds the transformation during teenage years very beautiful. “The 14-to-16-year-old phase is the most wonderful age. This person is totally transparent and seems to be walking on the edge. With my texts, I try to catch them if they fall. I still seem to be a teacher, even if I’m teaching in a different way now.” 

Sutikti Eidą (Meeting and Eid), Alma littera: Vilnius, 2017, 176 pp. 

The main character of this book, Algė, feels different from kids her own age. She is withdrawn and unsure of herself. Without a best friend, her life seems dull and boring. So Algė creates an alternative reality for her life: thinking what others might be thinking and imagining what might happen becomes the teenager’s way of entertaining herself. In her favourite café she notices a woman who orders two cups of coffee but always only drinks one… By the eighth cup of coffee, the secret of the Eids is revealed. Eids are creatures from intermediate worlds – ideal people who are always rushing to help those living in this world. Algė sends off a contract to a specific address and soon encounters a new friend… 

More about author and her other books you can find here – https://lithuanianculture.lt/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Best-Lithuanian-Childrens-Books_LCI_2016-2018.pdf