Zindzi Zevenbergen's debut 'Lennox' is a project that is endlessly heartwarming. Adorned with multicoloured illustrative works from Hedy Tjin and Brian Elstak, this paperback is an interactive experience, featuring printed text at various angles and slants makes the book something that you have to turn as you go. Perfect for reading with a child on your lap, the narrative follows Lennox’s journey as he starts to learn more about the invisible illness harboured by his father as he learns some of life's most important lessons. The book has now been nominated for Boon voor literature, so we thought it was time that we get familiar with the young writer herself and see what this ride has been like so far.
Lennox is the name of the main character. He’s a timid eleven-year-old boy, who lives in the city with his mom, the owner of a juice bar, and dad, a limousine driver. The story is fictional, but the characters in the family are based on an existing family. They are real, just like their family history – Lennox’s father’s side of the family has dealt with sickle cell their whole life and even lost family members because of it. Lennox’s father, Furgen, is a close friend of Brian. That’s why we really wanted to do their story justice. In real life, Lennox is a few years younger by the way. And a lot less shy! Our working title back in 2019 was ‘ Furgen’. But when I accidentally kept referring to the project as ‘Lennox’, Brian changed the name of our WhatsApp group, and that was it. I immediately liked the name. I love the fact that ‘sickle’ and ‘Lennox’ contain the same consonant sounds: the L, the K and the S.
In terms of representation in literature? A
lot more amazing books will have to be written and are
going to be written. By a lot of talented people who are now maybe dreaming of becoming a writer or are still in school or maybe not even born yet. Also, when you have the power or platform to include talented writers around you, do it. Work together. Just like Brian did when he called me. And just like our publisher De Harmonie did, who took a leap of faith by signing us. I’m really grateful they did.
The finale of the Boon is on March 24 in Belgium. A jury will decide who wins the first prize, but there’s also an audience award. You can vote until March 20. If people want to support us, this is the link:
https://interactief.langzullenwelezen.be/quiz/996977_213/deBoon.html.
