Overview

• Sandrine Collette’s novel 'Madelaine avant l’Aube' has been awarded the 2024 Goncourt des Lycéens, a prestigious literary prize decided by French high school students.
• The book tells the story of a young girl whose arrival in a rural community challenges societal norms, blending dark pastoral themes with a focus on survival and human resilience.
• Collette, known for her origins in crime fiction, has shifted to general literature, earning acclaim for her evocative storytelling and exploration of complex emotional landscapes.
• Other finalists included Rebecca Lighieri, Thibault de Montaigu, Abdellah Taïa, and Olivier Norek, with works tackling themes such as historical conflict, LGBTQ+ identity, and family dynamics.
• The Goncourt des Lycéens, created in 1988, is one of France’s most influential literary prizes, often driving significant book sales and fostering a love of contemporary literature among young readers.