The Woken Ones

Siri Kolu (b. 1972) is a writer, dramatist, director and theatre instructor among many other duties in the Finnish cultural field. She is a Finlandia Junior Prize winner and her works have been translated into 22 languages. She has been awarded the Laivakello Prize by the Finnish Institute for Children's Literature and in the Netherlands, Siri Kolu won the Silver Slate Pencil. Me and the Robbersons received an honour mention in British Book Trust's In Other Words competition in 2018. Siri Kolu is a front-line author with a strong voice and a broad range from humourous middle grade to edgy YA, cross-over.

The Woken Ones: The Secret of the Night

(Yön salaisuus) Age 9+ |160 pages | Otava | 2022

One night, 11-year-old Leo wakes up to discover that his seemingly normal parents have been keeping a secret from him. Every night, his mom and dad turn into fighters who battle terrifying creatures of the night – right in their back yard. Now that the truth has become clear to Leo, he too must join the fight and protect his little sister Lumia from the night world of horror. For this, he will need endless wit and courage.

But if you struggle with ferocious monsters all night, you will inevitably get tired during the day. How could Leo possibly lie to his best friends, and tell them that all is well? He knows that he has no choice, for the secret must not be revealed.

The Woken Ones: The Secret of the Night is the first book in a new addictive series by celebrated author Siri Kolu, illustrated by Johanna Lumme. Drawing inspirations from ancient myths and gaming, Kolu has created an action-packed horror story that also touches on subjects such as grief and friendship.