''Johnny, My Friend'' (Swedish: ''Janne, min vän'') is the first novel by the Swedish author

Peter Pohl Peter Pohl (born 5 December 1940) is a Swedish author and former director and screenwriter of short films. He has received prizes for several of his books and films, as well as for his entire work. From 1966 until his retirement in 2005, he wa ...

. It was published in Sweden in 1985. The English translation by

Laurie Thompson Laurie Thompson (26 February 1938 – 8 June 2015) was a British Academia, academic and translator, noted for his translations of Swedish language, Swedish literature into English language, English. Thompson was born in York, England, and lived ...

was published in 1991.

Plot summary

''Johnny, My Friend'' is narrated by 12-year-old Krille. Krille is a naive youth, having grown up in a safe, supporting family in 1950s

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

. A new boy, Johnny, appears in Krille's life, and quickly impresses the neighborhood boys with his bicycling prowess. His popularity aside, Johnny is a bit of a mystery, rarely saying anything about his life. The boys of the neighborhood do not know where he lives, and sometimes he disappears for long periods, only to turn up again without explanation. Krille determines to solve the mystery of Johnny.

Translations

The novel has been translated into 11 languages: *Danish: ''Min bedste ven'' 1987 *Norwegian: ''Janne min venn'' 1988 *German: ''Jan, mein Freund'' 1990 (won the

Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis The (German Youth Literature Award) is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's and young adult literature. It is Germany's only ...

) *Dutch: ''Jan, mijn vriend'' 1991 *English: ''Johnny, My Friend'' 1991 *French: ''Jan, mon ami'' 1995 *Italian: ''Il mio amico Jan'' 1996 *Estonian: ''Janne, mu sõber'' 1997 *Japanese: 『ヤンネ、ぼくの友だち』 1997 *Icelandic: ''Janni vinur minn'' 1997 *Low German: ''Jan, mien Fründ'' 2000

Film adaptation

*The 1996 film '' My Friend Joe'' is based on the book.''My Friend Joe''
at

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References

{{Authority control 1985 novels Novels by Peter Pohl Novels set in Stockholm Novels set in the 1950s Swedish-language novels Swedish children's novels 1985 children's books 1985 debut novels Children's books set in Sweden Children's books set in the 1950s