Storyflames

Stories

Storyflames collects stories about reading, language and the road to books. They come from places where access to literature is smallest and the need is greatest.

Rosengård, Malmö · 6 min read

The library became my second home

Amira went there because it was warm. She stayed because someone asked what she wanted to read.

Amira, age 14 — Pupil, year 8

Bergsjön, Gothenburg · 8 min read

I learned to read Swedish together with my son

Homework became Yusuf’s own schooling. Six years on they still read together at the kitchen table.

Yusuf, age 41 — Parent

Araby, Växjö · 5 min read

I write to be heard

From notes on his phone to the stage at the culture centre. Mohanad on taking up space with words.

Mohanad, age 17 — Upper secondary student and poet

Ronna, Södertälje · 4 min read

The book that made me brave

Sara read about a girl who was afraid of the dark. Then she dared to sleep without the light on.

Sara, age 9 — Pupil, year 3

Hjulsta, Stockholm · 7 min read

Twenty pupils, nineteen languages

Linnéa stopped seeing multilingualism as a problem the day her class got to tell stories in their own languages.

Linnéa, age 33 — Teacher, middle school

Fittja, Botkyrka · 6 min read

Reading aloud on Thursdays

For nine years Gunilla has read to children she is not related to. She says she gets more than she gives.

Gunilla, age 68 — Volunteer, reads aloud