Radio Popov by Anja Portin has enchanted Korea: the Korean edition, published by Dasan Books, has been welcomed with great success, and has been featured on the Korean School Library Journal. The reading public and booksellers have also welcomed the book favourably, and a book shop has organised a Radio Popov-themed evening with readings from the book and snacks consisting of Finnish apple pie.
Radio Popov is one of the greatest successes as far as Finnish children’s books go: it won the Finlandia Prize upon its release, and has already travelled to 25 language territories.
In it, we follow nine-year-old Alfred, who lives virtually alone. His mother has disappeared long ago, and his father, who stays away on business trips, doesn’t always seem to remember that Alfred exists. One night, Alfred sets off in the company of the mysterious Sneak, who puts things through letter- boxes – not just newspapers, but apples, woollen socks and sandwiches. Thus begins an unforgettable adventure that changes everything, and not just for Alfred. Sneak turns out the eccentric Amanda Lehtimaja, a paperwoman who is one of the Sharp Ears. At Amanda’s home Alfred finds an old radio transmitter designed by a Russian physicist, A. S. Popov. He starts making a secret, nightly radio broadcast that all the other forgotten children in the city listen to.
But how can Amanda and Alfred help the children, and what will Alfred’s father do when he notices that his son is gone? And who exactly are the Sharp Ears?
Radio Popov is an exciting and humorous, warm-hearted story that brings to mind the most beloved classics of children’s literature, like the novels of Roald Dahl and Astrid Lindgren, and it has established itself as a contemporary classic.