The Wound

Feel the rush of the game as you dash around the ping-pong table, laughter and shouts filling the air. Your heart races. Then, a sudden stumble sends you tumbling down, and the world pauses – a sharp pain, a bloody knee. For a moment, for a week, you’re the centre of attention. You bask in a warm glow of sympathy and curiosity from your peers. But as days pass and the wound heals, the whispers fade and the crowd shrinks. But what happens when life returns to normal? The fleeting spotlight, once thrilling, leaves you wondering about who you’ll be once the bandage comes off… International picture book star Emma AdBage is a master at capturing life on a schoolyard: the games, friends, and group dynamics. The Wound, honoured as the Best Swedish Picture Book of 2022, is now available in English for the first time.