Toni Mata Wins XV Premi Carlemany for Novel El centre del món

Culture Minister Mònica Bonell handed the XV Premi Carlemany for Promoting Reading to author Toni Mata on Tuesday afternoon at the Govern's Sala d’Exposicions. The €8,500 prize, run by the Andorran Government and Grup 62 via Columna Edicions, was awarded to Mata’s novel *El centre del món*, published on 13 May and chosen from 31 submissions by a jury of nine students aged 14 to 16 from Andorra’s three education systems, advised by their literature teachers.

Bonell praised the award’s unique focus on young people, calling it a key meeting point between literature and adolescent readers. “Reading means asking questions, discovering other viewpoints and building one’s own perspective on the world,” she said, adding that this approach helps youth better understand reality. Now in its 15th year since relaunch, the prize has become a cornerstone for building reading habits among teens. She thanked schools, the reading council, teachers and the jurors, describing the young panel as the “soul of the prize.”

The novel follows Paula, a 17-year-old literature enthusiast from a working-class background, as she confronts money’s grip on her dreams, family bonds and path to financial independence. More astute and logical than Mata’s own Sabadell roots might imply, Paula tackles ambition, fragile relationships, emigration, sexual awakening, digital hazards and economic pressures that shape or strain connections. One chapter nods to J.D. Salinger with her epiphany during a pivotal night. The story also weaves in wider concerns like global debt crises, geopolitical tensions, US economic waning, worldwide de-dollarisation and digital shifts, pushing for greater financial literacy.

The 42-year-old writer, screenwriter and comedian shifted from past dystopias to this grounded take on the shift from teen years to adulthood. He emphasised money’s rare treatment in literature, particularly Catalan works, despite its everyday power. Parents often tell children to pursue happiness and effort but shy away from financial discussions, he observed, while teens notice adults’ economic compromises. Mata rejected typical young adult genres like fantasy or romance, favouring complex realism on relationships, sexuality, maturity and agency, with youth as proactive forces—even supporting their parents.

Mata valued the jury’s role and the prize’s prestige, building on wins like the Joaquim Ruyra for *Nascuts per ser breus*, Premi Menja Llibres and Consell Català del Llibre Infantil i Juvenil acclaim. Without young readers, publishers might have passed on the unconventional theme. “Young readers haven’t just given me a prize; they’ve likely made the book possible,” he said. He sees writing as pure pleasure, untouched by commercial fears, with two novels still unpublished. Eager for juror discussions at the 15th-anniversary ceremony, Mata views literature as an antidote to social media’s distractions, fostering deep concentration amid educational challenges. Initial responses from friends have been encouraging, though he awaits broader feedback.