6.8 /10 1 Votes
Original title Sandor slash Ida Originally published 22 April 2014 Genre Young adult fiction OCLC 186648566 | 3.4/5 Goodreads Language Swedish Country Sweden | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Publisher Penguin Group (English version) Publication date 2001 (Sweden)
May 14, 2009 (US) ISBN 978-91-7001-283-9 (Swedish version)
ISBN 978-0-8037-3276-6 (English version) Young adult fiction books The Circle, Dance on My Grave, Tomorrow - When the War Began, Secrets in the Fire, On the Jellicoe Road | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Are U 4 Real? (Swedish: Sandor slash Ida) is a Swedish young adult book written by Sara Kadefors. It was originally written as a script for a television drama, but after a Swedish television network turned it down, Kadefors got Bonnier Carlsen to publish it as a book in 2001. On April 7, 2009, it was revealed that the book would be released in the United States on May 14, 2009, with a new title, Are U 4 Real? The book is about a girl named Ida who lives in Stockholm and a boy named Sandor who lives in Gothenburg. The two sixteen-year-olds meet for the first time on an Internet chat room, where they eventually fall in love with each other. However, everything goes wrong when Sandor decides to visit Ida in Stockholm.
Contents
Plot
Ida is exactly the opposite of the girls Sandor usually talks to in real life. She is an attractive girl from Stockholm who likes to party, while he is a shy boy from Gothenburg who likes to dance ballet. The two first meet in an Internet chat room, where they share their feelings and become close friends. Sandor and Ida eventually fall in love with each other. However, everything goes wrong when Sandor decides to visit Ida in Stockholm.
Publication history
Sandor slash Ida was originally written by Sara Kadefors as a television drama. However, when she pitched the idea to the Swedish television network Sveriges Television, they turned it down. Kadefors therefore tried to get it published as a book, and in 2001 she got it published by Bonnier Carlsen. On April 7, 2009, it was revealed that the book would be published in the United States by Penguin Group on May 14, 2009. Several changes have been made to the English adaption of the book. Ida's name has been changed to Kyla and Sandor's has been changed to Alex. The book is no longer set in Sweden; Stockholm has been replaced by Los Angeles and Gothenburg by San Francisco. Several parts of the book regarding Ida's sexual experiences have also been removed or censored. Kadefors said she was insulted by the changes, "it's like if the book wasn't good enough, and [Ida's] experiences with sex and alcohol explains why she reacts the ways she does in the book." The book's translator explained that if the book had contained "too much sex" it would have been difficult to sell to stores.
Reception
The episode has received multiple awards. In 2001, it won the prestigious Augustpriset (English: August Award) in the "Best Children-Youth Book" category. It won the Pocketpriset (English: Pocket Award) for being the most sold children's book in 2001. It is one of the most common books for Swedish children between the ages of twelve to fifteen to read the book during their primary education in Swedish schools. Other common books include Lord of the Flies and Vinterviken.
Film adaption
A film adaption of the book was released in Sweden on February 4, 2005. It was written by Kadefors and directed by Henrik Georgsson, Kadefors's husband. The film won an award at the Gothenburg Film Festival, where it premiered. The film also won a Guldbagge Award.