Andorra Writer Mariona Bessa's YA Novel Named Top Catalan Youth Book of 2024

Andorra la Vella writer Mariona Bessa, born in Escaldes-Engordany, has been recognised for her young adult novel *L’ascens dels rebels*, published by Elastik Books, as one of the top Catalan-language youth books of 2024.

The title is included in the 2025 anthology of outstanding Catalan youth literature, produced each year by the Consell Català del Llibre Infantil i Juvenil (IBBYcat). IBBYcat's expert committees evaluate all Catalan-language works published the previous year for children and young readers, selecting those that demonstrate editorial quality, narrative and formal strength, innovation, creativity, and diversity across authors, publishers, themes, and audiences.

Titles had to feature Catalan authorship in Catalan, 2024 publication dates, high production values, and efforts toward broad representation.

The anthology aims to showcase the strength of Catalan children's and young adult literature (LIJ), raising its profile both locally and internationally. The selected books will be presented at the Bologna Children's Book Fair to the Internationale Jugendbibliothek—established by Jella Lepman—which preserves global youth literary heritage, encourages cultural exchange through reading, and elevates Catalan LIJ onto lists like the White Ravens. The choices also inform the OEPLI's annual catalogue of Spain's best-produced books.

In the young adult category, Bessa's novel joins *Només el vent* by Raimon Portell (Edebé), *Piscina, un petit oceà de l’última nit abans de perdre’ns* by Ramon Mas Baucells (L’Altra Tribu), *Joia és el meu nom* by Jaume Subirana (Columna), *L’any de la boira* by Joanjo Garcia (Sembra), and *El vol de Farasha* by Mafalda Bellido Monteverde (Bromera).