"The Journey of Age 14": A journey to find the meaning of friendship.

SGGPO 08/11/2023 16:25

Guido Sgardoli's novel, "The Journey of a 14-Year-Old " (published by Chibooks and Labor Publishing House), offers readers a meaningful message about friendship.

What if one day you discovered that you and your best friend are actually completely incompatible? Franco and Gabry share such a friendship. It all began with the "quick sand pit" incident, when Franz was in danger. Gabry bravely reached out to his closest friend, took Franz's hand, and said firmly, "I'm definitely not going to leave you here!"

Two people, two completely different pieces of a puzzle, from appearance to personality. Gabry was short, thin, and frail, while Franz had the well-proportioned physique of someone who regularly swam. Gabry was messy, talkative, sloppy, and impulsive. Franz, on the other hand, was the complete opposite: orderly, taciturn, rational, principled, and calm. Even Franz himself, with his passion for mathematics, remarked, "We are like auxiliary angles; when put together, we fit perfectly into a 90-degree angle." And their friendship remained as close as ever.

Bìa tác phẩm "Hành trình tuổi 14" của nhà văn Guido Sgardoli

Cover of the book "The Journey of Age 14" by author Guido Sgardoli

Until the summer of their final year of high school, their first ever backpacking trip completely changed the relationship between Franz and Gabry. For the first time, Franz felt a stark and unsettling difference in their relationship.

“During this trip, we became two very different people. Not like the close friends I used to know – the close friends who could share, or almost share, everything with each other back in Bologna.”

Franz and Gabry's contrasting viewpoints, personalities, and emotions, coupled with their need to rely on each other and navigate the challenges and difficulties beyond their control during the journey, led to countless conflicts and arguments. For example, Gabry's adventurous spirit prevented Franz from telling him the true destination of the trip – leaving Franz feeling betrayed and constantly contemplating turning back.

Writer Guido Sgardoli

The reassessment of friendship boundaries set during Franz and Gabry's 14th-year journey played a significant role in their maturation. Especially for two vastly different individuals, recognizing, accepting, and respecting each other formed the foundation of their deep, mature, and enduring friendship.

Born on October 19, 1965, in San Donà di Piave, Guido Sgardoli is one of Italy's most renowned children's authors, with over 100 books to his name. He also works in journalism, film, and television.

His notable works include: The Journey of a Fourteen , Dragon Boy , and The Frozen Boy . Throughout his writing career, he has received numerous awards, including the Penne Prize, the Andersen Prize, the "Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cento" Children's Literature Prize, the Italian Andersen Prize in 2009, 2015, and 2018, the Strega Children's Prize in 2019, and over 10 other awards. His works have been translated into 12 languages.

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