Reviews

• “It could have been too much when these two broken and vulnerable people meet, but Lova Lakso is a master at creating believable characters that are different, and in some ways a bit twisted, yet completely authentic and relatable. /…/ An unexpected and unusual friendship begins to grow between them and it’s beautiful to follow it.”

• “What a great book this is! It tackles many difficult subjects, including mental health issues, dysfunctional family relationships, abuse, rootlessness, being a refugee and being a transperson. /…/ It can sometimes be cliché when authors try to include too many topics in an effort to make the story as inclusive and diverse as possible, but Lova Lakso has a remarkable ability to make it feel natural and never too much. It’s not only the misery that’s being portrayed, but there is also warmth, hope, love and amazing adult characters (…) who are able to see what the kids need and says the right things.”

• “Do Not Pass Go is a very well-written YA novel that takes young people seriously, and the narrative deepens chapter by chapter. The meeting between Issa and Aaden, and their struggles, which seem very different on the surface, but are being rooted in the same teenage longing for safety in the transition to adulthood, is moving and emotionally portrayed.”

• “The language is sharp and precise. The pace is the same as for a thriller, but the suspense is even more unsettling because the lives of these young people feels real. The main characters, Issa and Aaden, hidesfrom the truth, while [Lakso] on the other hand does not shying away from it. Sparingly, but effectively, she introduces other perspectives when the cruelty becomes visible.”

• “Many of the sentences make me want to read them over and over again. Sometimes, they deliver a shocking, in-your-face punch, and other times, the words capturing young people’s emotions are so delicately raw that they bring tears to my eyes. At the same time, I’m eager to read ahead. /…/ The tension of the plot thickens, almost to the point of being unbearable. But [Lova Lakso] is a master of her craft – because she has also woven in buckets of delightfully redemptive humor.”

• “[Lova Lakso] creates layer upon layer of sharp, striking phrases that together form a very fragile world, where there is a core of love and trust – but it escapes, slips here and there, and as a reader I do not know whether I should dare to believe in its permanence. It’s simply impossible to put this book down. The way the cast of characters effortlessly manifests into living, genuine personalities, the strength of their presence, making them believable and moving. The same goes for the settings…”

• “Do Not Pass Go is a moving book that takes young people seriously. /…/ Despite the darkness and moments of brutality in the story, it becomes a tribute to friendship and happiness, as well as to the hope of being able to choose your own life. The author’s language and solidarity with the main characters add momentum to the story, making it a page-turner and a reading experience that that stays with you for a long time.”

• “In an equally heartbreaking and equally heartwarming novel about the family you choose, friendship and the vulnerability of two young people, reality is depicted with great accuracy and authenticity. The central theme in Do Not Pass Go is not about being a transperson or not having residence permit – it is about being human.”

• “A beautiful depiction of an unexpected and healing friendship between an unaccompanied Somali boy and a trans girl from Gothenburg. Mostly it’s about not belonging, about finding your family, both literally and figuratively. Lakso tackles big issues with a light hand and a laugh. If there is no hope in humanity, perhaps it can be found in the individual.”