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Mela … l-istorja stramba, straordinarja (u sigrieta) tal-ilsien Malti kif ma jgħiduhilekx fil-klassi

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Mela … l-istorja stramba, straordinarja (u sigrieta) tal-ilsien Malti kif ma jgħiduhilekx fil-klassi

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Ilbes żarbun komdu u ejja miegħi għal mixja-vjaġġ fl-istorja tal-ilsien Malti.

Jekk taħseb li ktieb dwar l-istorja tal-Malti se jkun tedjanti u mimli studjużi serji, strambi u nnerdjati, għandek żball. Dan mhux ktieb tal-iskola. Dan iħares lejn l-istorja tal-lingwa tagħna minn nuċċali differenti (u divertenti), u fiha jara nies bħali u bħalek, li jgħixu, iħobbu, iqumu, jorqdu u jitkellmu bil-Malti.

Dan il-ktieb se jlaqqgħek ma’ nies ħżiena u nies tajbin, ġakbini u midinbin, kriminali u qaddisin, u anke celebs u fans, influencers u followers, fi stejjer imqanqlin ta’ mħabba, avventura u żvintura, tradiment, konfoffi u saħansitra qtil makabru u frame-up ta’ persuna innoċenti!

Trid tkun taf aktar?

Aqfel il-lazz.

TLAQNA!

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L-ewwel ktieb fis-sensiela ġdida Ta’ Taħt Fuq

Lestu ruħkom. Hemm mostru għandu missjoni xi jwettaq.

Għolliet l-għatu msaddad tal-bir u ttawlet fil-bokka. Dlam. Ħarġet il-mowbajl mill-but u xegħlet it-torċ. Minn ġol-bir taret id għaliha! Camilla ħasset ġisimha jiżbroffa. Leħħiet qawwija ta’ dwal ħodor sparaw minn ġon-nemex, għaddew minn ħwejjiġha u xegħlu kullimkien madwarha.

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Camilla taħseb li għandha ħajja stramba. Imma meta tiltaqa’ ma’ Mark, din issirilha ħafna iktar stramba. Tista’ tgħid, tinqalbilha ta’ taħt fuq.

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Meta l-ġurnalist Samwel Vella jintalab jikteb artiklu dwar il-Milied f’Malta, jiddeċiedi li jiktbu fuq il-presepju Malti. Imma meta jmur ikellem lil missieru u ommu dwar il-presepju li kien għamel nannuh Franġisk, jgħidulu nofs diskors, qishom qed iżommu milli jgħidulu xi ħaġa. U meta jibagħtuh għand ħabib ta’ nannuh, Karmenu, li kien jagħmel il-pasturi, il-mistoqsijiet flok jonqsu, jiżdiedu.

Għaliex in-nannu Franġisk kien għamel irdum fil-presepju tiegħu? X’kien qiegħed jiġri sewwasew mill-pasturi fil-presepju tan-nannu? X’sehem kellhom fil-presepju tan-nannu, ir-Rieqed, l-Għaġeb, ix-Xabbatur u l-Adoratur? U fuq kollow il-Gawgaw, x’kellu x’jaqsam ma’ dan kollu?

Ippreparaw ruħkom biex, flimkien ma’ Sam u Stefi, tiedħlu fi storja tal-Milied li teħodna fid-dinja msaħħra tal-pasturi tal-presepju Malti, imżewqa bi tradizzjoni, nostalġija u għożża għas-sengħa tal-pasturara.

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

Kultant lil Toby ma nifhmux.
Ilbieraħ qalli li kif inkunu t-Toskana bi ħsiebu jieħu ħafna ritratti tas-sema.
Għidtlu: "Mela s-sema ta' Malta u tat-Toskana mhux l-istess?!"
Qalli: "Le, mhux l-istess!"
U fetħilha.
Dam siegħa jredden dwar kif l-ilma jeffettwa s-sħab, u l-baħar jeffettwa s-sħab, u l-għoljiet u l-muntanji u l-pjanuri u r-riħ u x-xemx kollha jeffettwaw is-sħab.
Kemm kemm ma riedx jgħid li anki tazza 7-Up fuq il-bejt teffettwa s-sħab.
Għidtlu: "Daqt jibdew jgħidulek li moħħok fis-sħab."
Qalli: "Dak ikun kumpliment!"

"F'dan il-ktieb, il-ġrajjiet ta' kuljum u dawk meraviljużi jingħaqdu flimkien biex joħolqu storja unika, fejn dawk tal-ewwel isiru straordinarji u tat-tieni jitqiesu bħala fatti komuni … dan huwa ktieb li għandu jkun fil-librerija ta' kull tifel u tifla." - Tanja Cilia, The Sunday Times of Malta

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X’naqbad ngħidlek fuq dal-ktieb?

Jinten. Riħa ta’ żwiemel, ta’ ħrieqi, ta’ demel u ta’ ilma maħmuġ.

Imma jfuħ ukoll. Riħa tal-kampanja: fjuri, siġar, arja friska. Dħaħen xejn. Għax issa qegħdin l-Imġarr.

Tad-daħq. Għax dawn tal-familja Bonnici fihom tip. (U l-kittieba wkoll, trid iddaħħaq!)

Tal-biki. Għax dik ix-xena xokkanti li sabu ma’ wiċċhom Thomas u Chloe ma tistax tiddeskriviha mod ieħor.

Tal-biża’. Għax ma tistax ma tibżax, quddiem raġel ixejjer is-senter lejk … lest biex jispara!

Din hi l-istorja ta’ familja li minn belt tbaqbaq bin-nies tmur tgħix f’razzett taż-żwiemel fil-baħħ tal-kampanja. Però meta jaħrab żiemel, u l-aħwa Bonnici jsibu ruħhom f’razzett ta’ ħaddieħor, dak li jaraw ikexkixhom, u jindunaw li l-ħajja qalb l-għelieqi mhix trankwilla daqskemm immaġinaw …

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Mitt Elf Isem Ieħor: HappyVeganGirlJules

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Mitt Elf Isem Ieħor: HappyVeganGirlJules

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Rebbieħ tal-Konkors ta’ Kitba — Letteratura għaż-Żgħażagħ (Aġenzija Żgħażagħ u Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb)

Iva, f’Jules għoġobni dak kollu li jien m’għandix. F’Jules għoġobni kollox għax jien m’għandi xejn.

Lil Manda, id-dinja reali ħaditilha kollox filwaqt li d-dinja diġitali tatha lil Julia, Jules.

Manda u Julia, żewġ tfajliet ta’ tlettax-il sena li jgħixu fuq naħat differenti tal-iscreen. Waħda quddiemu taqsam il-ħajja perfetta li għandha mad-dinja kollha, u l-oħra warajh tikkonsma l-istess dinja li hi m’għandhiex.

Kulħadd jaħsibha li qed tipprova tkun bħal Jules …

Imma mhux vera, jien ma nixtieqx inkun bħal Jules. Jien nixtieq inkun Jules. Nixtieq li kulħadd flok isejjaħli Manda, jibda jsejjaħli Julia, Jules jew b’mitt elf isem ieħor.

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It-tieni ktieb fit-triloġija ġdida Ruxxmata Kreaturi

Imsieken Nadja u Antonin u l-bqija tal-familja; bilkemm għad kellhom ħin jieħdu nifs wara l-attakk tal-Imħalla li ma tasalx l-invażjoni tal-Imniefaħ f’dan it-tieni ktieb tar-Ruxxmata Kreaturi.

Avventura mostruża ġdida għall-familja Borg u din id-darba għar-raħal kollu tagħhom. Misterjuż il-fatt li l-mostru taħt is-sodda jrid ikaxkar miegħu lil Nadja u mhux lil ħaddieħor! Storja mimlija b’affarijiet strambi bħall-boċċa tal-ħġieġ li tixgħel, il-fjura maġika t’għajn il-jum li tbiddel il-kuluri, is-siġar li jafu jsiru aggressivi, iċ-ċiklun ġo barmil, l-Ulied tal-Ħamrija, il-gawwi tal-mewt, is-sala tal-inspjegabbli … u l-ewwel lemħa vera tar-ruxxmata kreaturi li hemm ħerqana biex joħorġu mid-dinja tan-naħa l-oħra.

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

“l-aqwa fost il-kotba epiċi ta’ fantasija f’pajjiżna” - Ġorġ Mallia

Vira u Toninu kienu jogħxew jisimgħu lil Ċensina tirrakkontalhom il-ħrafa tas-Seba’ Tronġiet Mewwija. U Barbanġ il-qattus, għalkemm il-ħin kollu jikkritika u jiżżuffjetta, kien iħobb jismagħha wkoll. Imma ħadd minnhom qatt ma basar li fi żmien qasir kienu se jsiru parti minn din il-ħrafa. Qatt m’għaddielhom minn rashom li t-Tronġiet kienu jeżistu tassew u li dawn kienu qed jistennewhom.

Vjaġġ twil mimli perikli u taqtigħ il-qalb; logħba qalila bejn ħajja u mewt.

Iżda t-Tronġiet ma setgħux jibqgħu aktar moħbijin fid-dalma tal-istorja.

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Sherlock, Lupin u Jien: Il-Misteru tal-Warda Ħamra (3)

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Sherlock, Lupin u Jien: Il-Misteru tal-Warda Ħamra (3)

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

Tlett itfal straordinarji li saru ħbieb inseparabbli. Tliet imħuħ li se jibqgħu magħrufa fl-istorja tal-kriminalità.

It-tielet ktieb f’sensiela eċitanti ta’ misteru u investigazzjoni …

Londra xxukkjata: delitt misterjuż fis-subborg trankwill ta’ Twickenham

Irene Adler, Sherlock Holmes u Arsène Lupin jerġgħu jiltaqgħu Londra u huma u jqallbu fit-Times jinnutaw problema taċ-ċess, iffirmata mill-“Patri l-Iswed”, li tidhrilhom kemxejn stramba. Il-kodiċi li nkitbet bih mhuwiex magħruf fid-dinja taċ-ċess, u leħħa ħafifa tilma f’għajnejn Sherlock …

L-għada, il-belt Ingliża tqum maħsuda bl-aħbar tal-qtil ta’ negozjant sinjur. Fuq l-iskrivanija tiegħu tinstab warda ħamra: l-istess fjura li għoxrin sena qabel kien iħalli warajh grupp ta’ kriminali gwappi wara kull reat li kien iwettaq. Tgħid dan hu r-ritorn taċ-Ċorma tal-Warda Ħamra?

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

Talent kbir ġdid fix-xena letterarja Maltija

"Meta ġie f'idejja l-manuskritt ta' Antoinette Borg, ħassejtni qisni qed niġbed nifs ta' arja safja minn fuq il-quċċata ta' muntanja" - Trevor Żahra

Ottubru 1937: F'nofs ta' lejl qalil, Jessica Manderley qed tiġġieled mal-mewġ kiesaħ u feroċi ftit ’il bogħod minn Malta, iggranfata ma' kaxxa li fiha hemm bintha tarbija.

Lulju 2014: Fil-bidu ta' sajf ieħor minn dawk li fihom qisu ma jiġri xejn, fid-dar ta' nanntu Jack Micallef isib ritratt antik tal-familja .F'nofshom, hemm tifla żgħira bjonda li qatt ma ra qabel. Min hi? U x'qed tagħmel fir-ritratt, qisha parti mill-familja?

Bl-għajnuna ta' sħabu, Jack jirnexxilu jiskopri l-istorja inkredibbli ta' Jessica Manderley u bintha, u jikxef sigriet li kien ilu midfun sebgħin sena.
Biss hemm ħaġa waħda li Jack għadu ma jafx: li dak kollu li qed jiġri mhux kumbinazzjoni, imma parti minn pjan maħdum bir-reqqa …

Fittixni jirrakkonta storja ta' determinazzjoni, passjoni u kuraġġ, fejn il-passat jirkeb fuq il-preżent, il-limitazzjonijiet jingħelbu, u nies ordinarji jsibu ruħhom jagħmlu affarijiet straordinarji.

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Kieku setgħet, Amber kienet terġa’ tistħajjel triq kollha fjuri tal-lellux. Kienet logħba bejnha u bejn il-mamà biex jaħarbu ftit mill-ħamba tal-fletts fejn kienu joqogħdu. Dakinhar li l-mamà qatgħet l-aħħar petala, Amber fehmet li żmien il-logħob kien spiċċa u li issa kienet għalkollox waħedha.

Amber ma setgħetx tibqa’ toqgħod ma’ Rose tal-flett ta’ taħthom. Meta bdiet tgħix mal-familja taz-ziju Patrick xtaqet terġa’ taħrab lejn dik l-għalqa tal-lellux. Minflok, l-istħajjil ilaqqagħha ma’ Elizabeth li tkun għaddejja minn esperjenza simili…  iżda xi snin qabel!

Il-Kulur tal-Lellux qiegħed jiġi ppubblikat bl-għajnuna mogħtija mill-Aġenzija Żgħażagħ u l-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb, wara li rebaħ il-Konkors ta’ Kitba Letteratura għaż-Żgħażagħ 2015.

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

Rebbieħ: l-Aqwa Disinn ta' Ktieb bil-Malti fil-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

It-tielet volum fit-triloġija Il-Logħba tal-Allat

L-Imxajtan fl-aħħar ħareġ minn fejn eluf ta' snin ilu safa msakkar minn ħutu stess. L-għan tiegħu li jkun mill-ġdid setgħan fuq kollox u fuq kulħadd. Iżda jonqsu xi ħaġa li mingħajrha ma jista' qatt ikun sħiħ. U qed ifittixha.
Taħt il-kmand ta' Baàl, Sultan tad-Dlamijiet u alla tal-ħin, Ulied il-Lejl bdew jinġabru fuq id-dinjiet kollha sabiex iwieġbu għas-sejħa tal-imgħallem tagħhom. Minn fejn jgħaddu, iħallu biss ħerba u mwiet.
U l-logħba, kif se tintemm?
U Baàl, li kien għadda magħhom f'Siì, issa fl-aħħar ħieles minn jasar t'eluf ta' snin, żamm bi tbatija kbira bilwieqfa u qagħad iħares lejn il-ġlieda mill-bogħod, minn wara s-siġra li kien staħba warajha kif waslu, u tbissem għax kollox kien mar kif xtaq.

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

It-tieni volum fit-triloġija Il-Logħba tal-Allat

Sittin sena qabel il-ġrajjiet li seħħew f'It-Tielet Qamar …

Il-Qamar u l-Anġlu, Salvu u Mikiel. Niżlu jqattgħu lejl f'Ħaġar Qim bħalma dejjem jagħmlu fi tmiem il-ġimgħa. Iżda din id-darba xejn mhuwa bħas-soltu … għax f'salt wieħed, bi żball jew b'kumbinazzjoni, sfaw katapultati f'univers ieħor. U sabu ruħhom f'nofs logħba li ilha tintlagħab eluf kbar ta' snin, sa minn dakinhar li sitt aħwa b'setgħat tal-għaġeb ħolquha biex jgħaddu ftit taż-żmien.
Iżda issa r-regoli tal-logħba nbidlu …

Brinku baqa' għal ħin twil iċċassat, b'ħalqu miftuħ, imbellah b'dak li kien għadu kif ra b'għajnejh. Maġenbu, Ru kienet għadha bħalu mwaħħla mal-art, ma tistax temmen.

"Ru, rajt int dak li rajt jiena?" staqsieha meta l-għoqla fi griżmejh inħallet.

"Xi ħaġa rajt li qatt qabel ma kont rajt bħalha f'ħajti," wieġbet Ru. "Taf tfehemni x'ġara hawn sultan sidi?"

"Il-ħrejjef tal-imgħoddi, l-għanjiet ta' missirijietna, mhuma ħrejjef xejn mix-xeħta tagħhom. Iżjed ma nafx ngħidlek."

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L-ewwel volum fit-triloġija Il-Logħba tal-Allat

Hemm xi mkien fejn iż-żmien ma jgħaddix kif nafuh aħna.

Hemm post fejn jgħammar ġens bi ġrajja mhux tas-soltu, post li ilu eluf ta' snin mistur u minsi. Iżda issa wasal iż-żmien li tissokta l-logħba tal-allat, u dak li kien moħbi, jibda jinkixef.

Xon, Marku u Riku sabu dan il-post …

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

It-tielet u l-aħħar volum fit-triloġija tal-Fiddien, li kisret kull rekord ta' bejgħ

Wasal iż-żmien li jitwieġbu l-mistoqsijiet kollha, iż-żmien fejn tintemm l-innoċenza u jibda l-ġlied.
Jista' jerġa' jkun hemm il-paċi u l-kuntentizza fid-dar il-Ħamra, wara t-traġedja fil-ġnien?
Tommy jitlaq biex isib lil sħabu u miegħu għandu lil Estella. Flimkien imorru fuq l-akbar avventura ta' ħajjithom, avventura li tħallina bla nifs, fejn dak kollu li sirna nafu s'issa jista' jinbidel jew jintemm.
Jista' l-Magħżul jeqred lill-Fiddien? Jistgħu l-Immarkati jerġgħu lura lejn djarhom? Hemm tama għal Jason u s-subien l-oħra?
Fost siġar u fjuri, wirdien u friefet, se ninġarru fl-akbar avventura li qatt rat Malta u naslu fil-qofol ta' storja tant kbira li se żżommna mtertqin sal-aħħar!

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

It-tieni ktieb fit-triloġija tal-Fiddien

X'inhu jiġri f'daqqa waħda? Maltemp u mewt u atmosfera skura. Malta qed tiġi assedjata minn wisq wirdien. U seba' subien tal-iskola jmorru fid-direzzjoni ta' Wied Wirdien u jgħibu. Ma jista' jsibhom ħadd.
Jista' jagħmel xi ħaġa l-Magħżul? Kulħadd qed jistenna xi ħaġa kbira mingħand Jason Baldacchino, għax suppost li hu speċjali. Imma hu aktar għandu mistoqsijiet milli tweġibiet f'rasu.
Biex nifhmu min hu jew x'inhu l-Fiddien u kif għażel l-Immarkati jkollna mmorru lura għall-1978 biex naraw kif bdew l-affarijiet. Le, aħjar nibqgħu sejrin aktar lura, millennju sħiħ, biex naraw x'ġara wara li Fennimore iżżewweġ lir-Reġina Verdra.
Fid-dar il-Ħamra qed iseħħu affarijiet strambi: jinxtorob te maġiku, jinstabu profeziji u żrieragħ, u jitkebbsu t-twieqi u l-bibien ...
X'inhu jiġri f'daqqa waħda?

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Rebbieħ: l-Aqwa Disinn ta' Ktieb bil-Malti fil-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

L-ewwel volum fit-triloġija tal-Fiddien

Id-dar il-Ħamra fiha riħa wisq qawwija ta' kotba antiki, xtieli tal-għeruqarja, sigrieti u mistoqsijiet bla tweġiba. U ġewwa wieħed minn dawn il-kotba, titfaċċa l-ġrajja ta' Fennimore. Li twassalna għall-kitba ta' Jason. U kollox donnu jgħaddi, b'mod jew ieħor, minn dar ċkejkna u żdingata fit-tarf ta' Sqaq l-Infern.
F'dan l-ewwel ktieb fit-Triloġija tal-Fiddien, dak li jibda bħala misteru fil-ħajja ta' kuljum jispiċċa jġorrna miegħu fi vjaġġ uniku: mid-drammatiku għall-avventuruż, mill-fantastiku għall-istoriku, bi ħjiel ta' seħer medjevali li jispiċċa f'periklu u jsib il-qofol tiegħu fiż-żewġ volumi li jmiss.
Fi Sqaq l-Infern se ssib ħafna aktar milli x'aktarx qed tistenna. Iżda jekk trid tkun taf dwar x'hemm moħbi, se jkollok taqra l-ktieb.

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Rebbieħ tal-Konkors Letterarju għal Rumanzi għaż-Żgħażagħ

Meta Josef iltaqa' ma' Thomas ma kienx jaf kif se jġib ruħu. Il-ġilda mkemmxa, ix-xagħar ħafif ħasduh xi ftit. Thomas kien protett wisq minħabba l-marda rari li kellu u li kienet qed tifnieh kull jum li jgħaddi.

Josef ħassha nġusta li lil Thomas ma kinux iħalluh joħroġ "għall-ġid tiegħu". Dik skuża, egoiżmu tal-kbar biex iserrħu moħħhom. Xtaq jgħin lil Thomas. Il-ħbieb l-oħra ta' Josef bdew jarawh iġib ruħu stramb. Riedu jsiru jafu b'xi mod x'kien qed jiġrilu, sakemm darba waħda Josef kien qalilhom bil-pjan li ħejja għal Thomas.

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Bella ma kinitx għalkollox komda b’persunitha.  Kienet tinħeba ġo flokkijiet wesgħin u l-ġins kienet issibu komdu għal kull okkażjoni.  Kultant xtaqet tkun bħal ħabibitha, Jasmine, bl-għadam ta’ ġenbejha mqabbeż ‘l barra jew bħal oħtha Darlene, b’figura ta’ ballerina.  Marvin ta’ ħdejhom minn dejjem kien nitfa ta’ tifel.  Imma għaliex in-nies jiġġudikawk minn kif tidher aktar milli x’taf tagħmel?  U għalfejn dawk ta’ madwarek jibqgħu jinbidlu?  Jew jiddettawlek x’għandek tibdel biex tidher aħjar?  Sħabek ikollhom ġenn biex jikbru, jew iwarrbuk imbagħad jerġgħu jkellmuk xħin ikun komdu għalihom.  Dawk li tkun tħobb tibża’ li jitilqu… In-nanna Bianca se tibqa’ magħha, tirrakkontalha, tinkoraġġiha f’ħolmietha?  U Bella kienet lesta li tinbidel?  Kienet lesta li tikber?

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Rebbieħ tal-Konkors ta’ Kitba — Letteratura għaż-Żgħażagħ (Aġenzija Żgħażagħ u Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb)

X’tagħmel li kieku bħala rigal taqla’ kamera tar-ritratti vjola? Mhux tipprova tixgħelha, hux! Orrajt, tajjeb. Imma, tipprova kemm tipprova, l-iskrin jibqa’ ċappa waħda sewda. Wara li tixħitha qalb l-imbarazz biex tipprova tinsieha, titfaċċalek waħedha fil-basket tal-iskola. U wara ftit ġranet issib tliet stessi mixħutin fl-art ta’ kamartek li taħlef li ma tkunx ħadthom inti. Imma stessi isimhom magħhom — bilfors li inti tkun ħadthom. Imbagħad il-kamera tibda—

Żomm … s’hawnhekk biss qed iħalluni ngħid.

Il-ħajja ta’ Sven tibda tinbidel mal-kamera tal-istessi, sa ma ssir inkubu ta’ misteri oskuri minn ġenerazzjonijiet mgħoddija. Realtà waħda tibqa’ — li l-kamera ma tħalli xejn kif kien qabel.

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

Ir-rumanz li fetaħ beraħ il-bieb għat-twelid tal-letteratura YA għall-adolexxenti bil-Malti

F'raħal żgħir, fejn kważi qatt ma jiġri xejn, qed jibda sajf ieħor kollu riħ isfel u gdim tan-nemus. Imma did-darba qed jibda bil-kbir għax tifel ta' ħdax-il sena joħroġ mid-dar u ma jerġax jidħol.
Ommu qed tibkih.
Il-pulizija qed ifittxuh.
Il-qassisin qed jitolbu għalih.
U fil-każin qed jinġemgħu ħafna iżjed nies mis-soltu.
Fil-frattemp, Jason qed jipprova jgħabbi l-isbaħ tifla tar-raħal.

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Sherlock, Lupin u Jien - Is-sinjura s-sewda

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Sherlock, Lupin u Jien - Is-sinjura s-sewda

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Tlett itfal straordinarji li saru ħbieb inseparabbli. Tliet imħuħ li se jibqgħu magħrufa fl-istorja tal-kriminalità.

L-ewwel ktieb f’sensiela eċitanti ta’ misteru u investigazzjoni …

Il-belt trankwilla ta’ Saint-Malo maħsuda b’delitt tal-waħx!

Sherlock Holmes, Arsène Lupin u Irene Adler jiltaqgħu għall-ewwel darba fis-sajf tal-1870 f’Saint-Malo. It-tlieta li huma kienu hemm għall-vaganzi, imma d-destin ried mod ieħor.

It-tlett iħbieb isibu ruħhom f’kobba mħabbla riħa ta’ kriminalità: kullana tad-djamanti li tgħosfor, raġel misjub mejjet f’bajja, figura tħuf billejl fuq il-bjut. Il-pulizija jagħżqu fl-ilma … u l-każ ikollu jsolvih ħaddieħor.

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Sherlock, Lupin u jien - L-aħħar att fit-teatru tal-opra

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Sherlock, Lupin u jien - L-aħħar att fit-teatru tal-opra

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Qtil misterjuż li heżżeż id-dinja operistika!

Sherlock Holmes, Arsène Lupin u Irene Adler miftehmin li jiltaqgħu Londra. Imma Lupin ma jiftaċċax — missieru jinżamm arrestat u akkużat b’serqa u bil-qtil tal-assistent personali tal-kompożitur ċelebri Giuseppe Barzini. It-tlett iħbieb jibdew jinvestigaw ħalli jaraw kif jistgħu jippruvaw li huwa innoċenti — u meta jsalvaw lis-sopran popolari Ophelia Merridew, ikun għadu biss il-bidu ta’ sorpriża wara l-oħra li jwasslu lil Sherlock u ’l sħabu biex jikxfu min kien il-veru ħati.

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intervista mal-awtriċi tar-rumanz Gramma ta' Leanne Ellul

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intervista mal-awtriċi tar-rumanz Gramma ta' Leanne Ellul

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Wiċċ imb Wiċċ Serje 1, Ep 15   Leanne Ellul

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Ħija jiġri wara d-dinosawri ta' Giacomo Mazzariol

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Ħija jiġri wara d-dinosawri ta' Giacomo Mazzariol

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Għandek ħames snin, żewġt aħwa bniet u tixtieq ħafna li jkollok ħuk iżgħar li miegħu tista’ tilgħab il-logħob tas-subien. Jum minnhom, il-ġenituri jħabbrulek li fl-aħħar se jkollok … u li se jkun speċjali. Tħossok se ttir bil-ferħ, għax għalik speċjali tfisser supereroj. Anki l-isem tagħżillu: Giovanni. Imbagħad jitwieled, u ftit ftit tintebaħ li ħuk differenti minn ħaddieħor. Titgħallem il-kelma Down, u l-entużjażmu tiegħek jinbidel tant li ma tkunx trid taf bih u saħansitra jġiegħlek tistħi. Ikollha tgħaddi l-adolexxenza biex tinduna li l-mod kif immaġinajt lil ħuk fil-bidu nett ma kienx għalkollox żbaljat. U titħalla tinġarr mill-enerġija ta’ Giovanni u tasal għall-konklużjoni li forsi iva, ħuk tassew huwa supereroj. Hu x’inhu, tirrealizza li hu l-akbar ħabib tiegħek.

Storja vera, li tissorprendik, tqabbdek għafsa ta’ qalb, iddaħħqek u ġġiegħlek tirrifletti.

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Qari minn Magna Mater mill-awtriċi Loranne Vella

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Qari minn Magna Mater mill-awtriċi Loranne Vella

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Rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

Ir-ritorn ta' Loranne Vella, did-darba fil-letteratura għall-adolexxenti, wara s-suċċess tat-triloġija tal-Fiddien

Xejn mhu sejjer kif suppost fl-2020. Lanqas f'Malta. Id-dinja kienet donnha waqfet iddur fuq l-assi tagħha u ddeċidiet tagħmel fattiha.

Elizabeth għandha biss ħmistax-il sena, kif tista' tibża' mill-borra? Minflok, medhija tibbrawżja fuq il-Magna tikteb il-lyrics għad-diska l-ġdida tal-Jitterylemon, tfittex aktar dwar Fay Wray u King Kong, u tiċċettja ma' Jamie fuq iċ-Chatterbox. U d-dinja ta' Jamie ddur madwar l-isbejdbord xejn standard li dejjem jiġri fuqha, flimkien mal-isbejders l-oħra, ilesti ruħu għall-isfida kontra l-iskejters tas-Sulfarina li jirrenjaw fil-Glaskuppel ta' Tal-Qroqq. Jekk tħares sew tinduna li hawnhekk, ukoll, xejn mhu sejjer kif suppost.

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Sal-Quċċata tal-Everest ta' Marco Cremona

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Sal-Quċċata tal-Everest ta' Marco Cremona

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Fis-17 ta’ Mejju, 2010, tliet xabbaturi Maltin għamlu dak li ħafna kienu jaħsbu impossibbli għal nies imrobbija fi gżira mingħajr muntanji. Fis-sigħat bikrin ta’ filgħodu, laħqu l-ogħla quċċata tad-dinja; sfiniti, bla nifs, kesħa tremenda, ġlieda kontra l-ħin.

Din hija l-istorja ta’ Marco Cremona li għal sitt snin ixxabbat muntanja wara l-oħra: storja ta’ sfidi mirbuħa, ħbiberiji u rivalitajiet iffurmati minn kundizzjonijiet u ambizzjonijiet estremi.

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Intervista mal-awtur fuq Il-Kreatura tal-Bir

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Intervista mal-awtur fuq Il-Kreatura tal-Bir

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Nadja u Antonin kienu fil-bitħa meta wasal. Xammewh mill-ewwel għax ir-riħa kienet tasal qablu. Kien jinten seba’ pesti. Twerwru għax kienu jafu li ġej għalihom! Telqu jiġru imma hu daħal għal warajhom. Fejn se jaqbdu jinħbew?

Dan hu l-bidu ta’ storja kbira. Avventura li tlaqqagħna ma’ nies eċċentriċi, irwejjaħ differenti, ġojjelli forma ta’ brimb, kejkijiet tajbin u sopop strambi, xita, tattwaġġi, siġar, fjuri, vażuni, bagalji, eċitament, kurżità, sorpriżi u, fuq kollox, biża’. Biża’ minn mostri antiki li ħadd ma jaf minn fejn ġejjin jew kif se neħilsu minnhom. F’dan l-ewwel ktieb Antonin u l-bqija ta’ familtu jsibu ruħhom wiċċ imb wiċċ ma’ kreatura tal-qedem li, jekk toħroġ mid-dlam kiesaħ tal-ġiebja li tgħix fih, aħjar inwarrbu u ninħbew kollha kemm aħna!

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Artiklu dwar ir-rumanz Żero ta' John A. Bonello

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Artiklu dwar ir-rumanz Żero ta' John A. Bonello

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Żero is a 14-year-old boy who has never met another living being his whole life. Until, one day, the highly technological apartment where he has lived all his life is hit by a power cut.

With the black-out, one of the security doors opens up and for the first time, Żero steps out in the real world, which up till now he had no idea existed.

Unused to the cold and the snow, and unfamiliar with such things as roads, open spaces and cars, he soon falls victim to hypothermia and faints on a pavement. He is saved by Stefania, a doctor who happens to be driving by, but unused to being touched, Żero faints every time Stefania tries to gently stroke him.

Eventually, Stefania and her husband Luca work out that Żero was a Virtual War Network boy who belonged to an agency which built super technological remote war machines. These weapons for mass destruction were to be manned by an elite team of indoctrinated boy soldiers, and Żero was one of them. The boys were all snatched away from their biological parents at birth.

As he is chased by his former captors, Żero is taken to a safe hideout by Stefania and Luca, but even while trying to figure out the outside world, deep down he is torn. Part of him is scared and wants to go back to the familiarity of his old life and old rules, but part of him wants to explore this new, passionate and exciting world. Which world does he really belong to? Does he have it in him to undo all his fundamental beliefs and go against his creators?

Written by Italian author and university professor, Luigi Ballerini, Ż ero is a captivating, thrilling read, ideal for children 12 years and up, but also an exciting read for adults who enjoy thrilling adventures with a technological bent.

Such is the suspense and its fast-paced rhythm that when it was first published in Italy in 2015, children were snap-reading it in not more than two days. In fact, a year later Ż ero won the prestigious Italian Premio Bancarellino.

Soon after that Merlin Publishers secured the rights to make it available to Maltese children and it has been adapted to Maltese by award-winning author John A. Bonello, popular for his Il-Logħba tal-Allat fantasy trilogy and his bestselling Irvin Vella investigatur virtwali series.

Older children will inevitably be hooked to the storyline's adrenaline-rush and raw emotion and will easily identify with the main character. At the end of the day Ż ero is a coming of age novel: fundamentally it's about a young teen who is curious to discover the world and yet at the same time, is cautious to step into the unknowns of life.

Incidentally parents will also enjoy the read because it is a clever eye-opener about the risk of letting technology risk detach us from the real world.

Ż ero is available from all leading bookshops or directly online, with free postage to Malta and Gozo from merlinpublishers.com

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Żero is a 14-year-old boy who has never met another living being his whole life. Until, one day, the highly technological apartment where he has lived all his life is hit by a power cut.

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Żero se jagħlaq erbatax-il sena. Qatt ma kellu kuntatt ma’ bnedmin oħra, ma jafx x’inhi l-kesħa jew is-sħana, qatt ma ħass ir-riħ jew mess il-borra. Għex dejjem waħdu, f’post magħluq u maqtugħ minn kollox u minn kulħadd — ħlief għal-leħen tal-gwida tiegħu Mader. F’dak il-post tgħallem u tħarreġ kif juża droni militari sofistikati.

Żero, bil-mod tiegħu, jgħix kuntent. Kburi bir-riżultati li jġib, dixxiplinat għall-aħħar.

Sa ma darba … id-dwal ta’ dak il-post fejn jgħix jintfew u madwaru jaqa’ dlam ċappa. Żero jibda jaħseb li dak huwa biss it-test li jmiss. B’xi mod, jirnexxilu joħroġ u mid-dinja virtwali fejn trabba, isib ruħu fid-dinja reali. Hemmhekk nieżla l-borra, l-iscreens donnhom ma jaħdmux kif imdorri hu, anzi m’hemm xejn li jagħraf.

Hekk tibda l-ġrajja ta’ Żero, b’ħarba perikoluża min-nies li rabbewh, fejn irid jifhem ir-raġuni tal-eżistenza tiegħu u fl-istess ħin isib mod kif jgħix fid-dinja l-vera.

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The brackets allow a play on the words 'riġenerazzjoni' and 'ġenerazzjoni', both of which, together, encapsulate the running theme of the novel. (Ri)ġenerazzjoni is mainly about the process of growth and renewal we experience during adolescence, which is one of the most difficult transitions humans go through, generation after generation.

On the face of it, the story is plotted around a group of teenagers who find themselves in a police station after witnessing a traffic accident. One of the teens has a feeling that there's more to the accident than meets the eye and, being a keen fan of investigative series, she decides to do a bit of solo sleuthing. To her surprise she finds out that one of her friends knows a lot more about the accident than he is letting on. Meanwhile the police also decide to delve deeper into the dynamics of the accident, and eventually the truth comes out. (Or does it?)

But the story is also about six young people, each of them fighting a different battle. It is about two quirky policemen whose attitudes towards the teenagers are diametrically opposed, while each thinks his way is the right one. It is about the little gecko at the police station, which observes everything silently while struggling for its own survival...
Who is the target reader for this series? Is it a book for teenagers only?
The key target group for this book is young adults - as a manuscript it won the Novels for Youth prize, and its publication was part-sponsored by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, along with the National Book Council - but I think the novel can also be enjoyed by adults; we've all been teenagers after all!
So far you've only written novels for young adults. Is there a particular reason why you chose this genre?
There is no particular reason. Normally, at least until I finish a first draft, I don't like to write with a target reader in mind as this tends to interfere with my narrative tone. Rather, when I have a story in my head I try to find the best way to carve it out and give it shape, and then worry about target age group later, normally at the editing stage. The stories that I have published so far have turned out to be best suited for the young adult category. But it won't be like that for long, as at the moment I am working on projects for readers from primary school children to adults.
Both your books have won awards - does this put pressure on you?
When I first started writing, it was an experiment in chasing a dream, and although I put my heart and soul into it, my hopes went only as far as having my book published; the possibility of being considered for awards was so remote that it didn't even cross my mind.

When my work started getting recognised and awarded, I was overwhelmed and, yes, I did feel the pressure and it did affect my work. The harsh critic in me got even harsher, and I was continually worried that whatever I was writing would never be as good as my first. Lately, though, I've started to relax and be a little easier on myself. "Big Magic" the book by Elizabeth Gilbert has helped a lot. One of my favourite quotes is: "You can measure your worth by your dedication to your path, not by your successes or failures."
Are you a full time writer? What made you give up your day job for writing?
Yes, at the moment I write full-time. I had dreamed of writing a book for as long as I can remember, and one day I realised that life won't wait for me to fulfil my dreams in my own time. I was also well aware that my busy professional career at the time and a growing family left me no free time I could dedicate to writing. I wasn't prepared to give up my few remaining sleeping hours, so I had to decide how badly I wanted to write. I mulled over this for months, constantly supported by close family and friends, until I finally shut my eyes tight and took the plunge.
Can you run us through your writing day? Are you very disciplined? Do you make yourself write a certain number of words per day?
My writing day starts at about 8am, when I return to an empty house after my morning walk. I am usually at my desk until about 2.30pm, and then pick up writing again for another couple of hours after 9pm. As for the content of my writing slots, not a single day is like another. I write, yes, but most of the work I do never makes it to a page: such as the truckloads of research, and the crossing out and the starting over a million times. When actually writing, I am extremely self-critical, so sometimes I spend ages going round a sentence or paragraph that doesn't sound quite right. Indeed, there are days when I delete more than I write.

So for me writing is much more complicated than reining in the muse and typing away a set quota of words per day. Still, in spite of my chaotic writing ways, sometimes it happens that I open the manuscript I'd have been ploughing through for months, read it, and realise that hey! I've got a draft!
Do you have good days and bad days when it comes to writing? Do you have any superstitious rituals?
Yes, different days yield different levels of writing satisfaction. The best days are when I am fired up with enthusiasm about the story I'm writing; the worst are when I read the same story the following day and think that it's unpublishable rubbish. Luckily I love a good challenge and I hate unfinished business, so I always grit my teeth and persevere for as long as it takes. So far I have managed to make this work without the need for any superstitious rituals.
How does your family react to your reading and writing?
Sadly no one in my family is as enthusiastic about books as I am. But thankfully they don't complain about the books creeping up on them from everywhere, and they are definitely my biggest supporters. I run through many plot points and twists with my no-nonsense husband, and my son is my trusted advisor for teen speak and teen ways - dishing out advice (in a resigned tone of voice) such as "No, Ma, forget it! No one would ever do/say something like that!" My younger daughter wasn't a great book lover to start with, but now she seems to be well on her way to catching the book bug! Happiness is when I find her rummaging through a bookshelf, or reading a book in a quiet corner...
Do you subconsciously write about people you know? Do you think authors tend to do that?
Rather than writing about people I know, I tend to pick from them some personality trait I'd noticed, a piece of their life story, a peculiar habit or an unusual passion, and then use these to mould the characters in my stories. I think every author is tempted to write about the stories and people he/she knows well, especially in the early days of writing. My feeling is that, as an author grows, he/she will use less of these "props" and be more open to writing about what lies beyond his/her comfortable patch.
What inspires you? Who are your favourite authors - Maltese and foreign?
I am inspired by the idea that through my work I can make a difference in people's lives: uplift their spirits for a bit, reassure them, encourage them, hopefully inspire them as well. In other words, I love being able to give back some of what great writers have given to me.

I am always at a loss when asked to name my favourite authors: so many of them have moved me in so many ways over my reading life! At the risk of leaving a couple of hundred out, here's a few off the top of my head: Daphne Du Maurier, Neil Gaiman, Donna Tartt, Roald Dahl, Gabriel García Márquez; and Bill Bryson when in the mood for non-fiction. For Maltese inspiration, I devour anything written by Trevor Zahra, Clare Azzopardi, Immanuel Mifsud and Pierre Mejlak.
Do you feel Maltese authors should speak out more on current political events and be more alive as voices for the community like authors abroad tend to be?
I believe that authors, like everybody else, have a responsibility to make a positive impact on the community around them. Many authors abroad engage themselves in political conversation and are widely respected as influencers and shapers of global thinking.

In Malta, unfortunately, discussion about the current political environment is a deeply polarised, loud and toxic place that tends to crowd out (and in the process unfairly label) voices that try to put forward well-reasoned opinions, ideas and arguments. I believe this is why you won't find many Maltese authors on the frontline of controversial political discussions. Rather than entering divisive territory with counterproductive effects, many prefer to stay between the lines and focus on other ways of contributing to a better society, outside of the public arena. I feel that as a country we have a long way to go before we're ready for mature political discourse.
Do you think the world would be better place if people read more books? Or is the online reading that most people are doing these days more than enough?
Most definitely, reading books enriches people in so many ways that online reading does not. For me, the greatest merit of books is that they help us develop more empathy. When we read about other people, we immerse ourselves into their world and we imagine how it feels to be in their position. Being able to understand others makes us better at being human.
What's in the pipeline for us readers?
Oh, loads of exciting stuff, for young and older readers alike, all thanks to the wonderful team at Merlin Publishers! The most imminent are two stories I wrote for the series Tikka Qari, to be published shortly, and a picture book for children next in line. Then, still on my workbench, there is my third novel for teenagers, with a first draft already in good shape, and a co-authored collection of short stories for adults. Keep hitting the refresh button!

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Regenerating young adult's thirst for Maltese literature - The Malta Independent

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The brackets allow a play on the words 'riġenerazzjoni' and 'ġenerazzjoni', both of which, together, encapsulate the running theme of the novel. (Ri)ġenerazzjoni is mainly about the process of growth and renewal we experience during adolescence, which is one of the most difficult transitions humans go through, generation after generation.

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Rumanz rebbieħ fil-Konkors ta' Kitba - Letteratura għaż-Żgħażagħ 2014, imniedi mill-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb flimkien mal-Aġenzija Żgħażagħ

"Iċ-ċikkulata, dnub. Anke l-luminata, dnub. Għax id-droga mhux it-trab abjad biss. Ħafna ħin fuq l-internet, dnub. Jekk ma tfittixnix, dnub. Ħafna ħin barra mid-dar, dnub. L-ikel, dnub. L-ikel dnub. Kollox jista' jkun dnub."

Analiża għandha erbatax-il sena, u minn tal-inqas erbatas-il kilogramma żejda. Missierha kollu arja u ommha l-iċken kas. Imnalla jidħlu f'ħajjitha Daniel u Pappa. U Markita u n-nanna, ovvjament. Dawk dejjem hemm. Bħalma hu dejjem hemm ix-xaħam. L-ikel favorit t'Analiża l-arja (mhux minn ta' missierha). Tikolha mal-qiegħ taż-żarbun meta tmur timxi, iktar minn darba kuljum. Li tista' Analiża, lanqas tixrob, għax l-ilma kapaċi jneffaħ. Jekk tibki, tgħid, tonqos gramma?

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Il-Ġimgħa filgħaxija. Sitt teenagers. Tfajla bil-mutur. Inċident. Żewġ pulizija. U wiżgħa.

Imma żgur kien inċident? Andrea għandha d-dubji tagħha. Tiddeċiedi li tinvestiga ftit, u tiskopri ħafna. Xi ħadd minn sħabha għandu x’jaħbi, u jaf iktar milli qed jgħid dwar l-inċident …

Sadanittant, l-investigazzjonijiet tal-pulizija għadhom għaddejjin …

Int kieku x’tagħżel, Truth or Dare?

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“Daqshekk kulħadd vs Amina. Minn issa ’l quddiem, Amina vs kulħadd.”

Kanċell kbir quddiemha. Bagalja wieqfa ħdejha.

Amina ntgħażlet biex tipparteċipa fl-ewwel kamp tal-matematika f’Malta. Se tqatta’ sitt ġimgħat wara dak il-kanċell, tipprattika s-suġġett li tħobb, ma’ nies li ma tafhomx.

Amina għadha ma tafx li hemm ġew se tidħol f’xebgħa inkwiet. Għad m’għandhiex suspetti li xi ħadd se jinqed bil-kamp għall-iskopijiet sigrieti tiegħu. M’għandhiex idea li se jkollha tirriskja taħrab minn hemm f’nofs ta’ lejl.

Hemm ġew Amina se tiskopri żewġ stejjer, waħda ġejja mill-passat, u l-oħra ġejja minn ġo fiha.

Meta toħroġ minn wara dak il-kanċell, se tkun Amina differenti.