Angie (novel)
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_book_cover.png) Cover of the 2007 edition | |
| Author | Janja Vidmar |
|---|---|
| Language | Slovenian |
| Genre | Youth novel |
| Publisher | Založba Goga |
Publication date | 2007 |
| Publication place |  Slovenia |
| Pages | 236 |
| ISBN | 9-789-61642157-7 |
| OCLC | 449340652 |
Angie is a youth novel by Slovenian author Janja Vidmar. It was first published in 2007 by Založba Goga. The novel was featured on the IBBY Honour List in 2010, recognized for its portrayal of trauma and dysfunctional family dynamics without clichés.[1]
Plot
[edit]The novel follows Angie, a teenager navigating her path to adulthood with an absent father and a bipolar mother. At just under eighteen, she faces numerous health issues, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, agoraphobia, panic attacks, and a speech impediment where she mixes syllables, despite denying dyslexia. Left to cope alone, Angie becomes her mother's caregiver, managing her romantic troubles and consoling her rejected suitors, rather than receiving the support needed for her own balanced development. Her fear of public spaces leads her to regulate her actions based on crowd levels, counting breaths to calm panic, and using plastic cups as a barrier. Unable to attend school normally, she studies from home. The story lacks a happy ending: her father does not return, her mother remains immature, and no external help emerges. Ultimately, Angie realizes self-reliance through her own will is her only solution.[2][3]
Themes and Style
[edit]Angie is a "problem novel," focusing on the unusual mother-daughter dynamic and exploring mental health themes such as agoraphobia, panic, and parental role reversal. The language alternates between standard Slovene and slang, reflecting Angie’s internal struggles, with innovative and non-moralistic styling that makes the narrative engaging yet challenging to read.[1][2]
See also
[edit]
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- ^ a b IBBY, International Board on Books for Young People (2010). ""IBBY Honour List 2010"" (PDF). IBBY: 76 – via IBBY.org.
- ^ a b JAK, Slovenian Book Agency (2012). ""Janja Vidmar – Author Catalog"" (PDF). Slovenian Book Agency: 2–3 – via JAK – Javna agencija za knjigo RS.
- ^ "DKUM - Search". dk.um.si. Retrieved 2025-07-25.