Cross My Heart and Never Lie

Awarded the 2024 Stonewall Book Award (US)

“With exquisite writing, gorgeous illustrations and nuanced depictions of queer themes, these books are essential additions to the canon of queer literature for young people,”
from the Stonewall Book Awards jury’s statement, Children’s and Young Adult Committee Chair Shira Pilarski.

Shortlisted for the 2023 Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi Award (Italy)

Nominated for the 2023 Cento Prize (Italy)

Nominated for the 2022 International Angoulême Comics Festival Award (France)

Nominated for the Max und Moritz Preis 2022 (Germany)

Awarded the 2020 Ministry of Culture Graphic Novel Prize (Norway)

Awarded the 2020 Pondus Prize (Norway)

Awarded “GOLD Best Illustrations Children’s Books 2021” and “Diploma Graphic Novels 2021” The Year’s Most Beautiful Books (the Norwegian Designer’s Guild’s Visual Prize) (Norway)

Nominated for the 2021 Best Graphic Novel (Norway)

Nominated for the 2021/2022 Avid Reader Award “Bokslukerprisen” (Norway)

Nominated for the 2021 Children’s Book Prize (Bergen Library) (Norway)

In this fresh, sensitive, diary-style graphic novel, 12-year-old Tuva’s questions about becoming a teenager are confusing—so when her first crush turns out to be on another girl, it feels absolutely wonderful – so why does it become so complicated?

Tuva is starting seventh grade, and her checklist of goals includes: writing out a diary, getting a trendy look, building the best fort in the woods with her BFFs, and much more. But when she starts school, nothing is how she hoped it would be.

Seventh grade has split her friends into rival factions: TEAM LINNEA and the girls who fall in love and TEAM BAO and the girls who NEVER fall in love. Linnea has a BOYFRIEND, Bao hates everything related to love. Worst of all, Linnea and Bao expect Tuva to choose a side!

In this delighfully hand-lettered coming-of-age graphic diary, Tuva gets caught between feeling like a kid and wanting to know HOW to become a teenager. Then Miriam shows up and suddenly Tuva feels as if she’s met her soulmate. Can you fall in love with a girl, keep it from your friends, and survive? For Tuva, it may be possible, but it’s defintely not easy

Watch the film with Nora Dåsnes talking about Cross My Heart and Never Lie here.

Reviews

With exquisite writing, gorgeous illustrations and nuanced depictions of queer themes, these books are essential additions to the canon of queer literature for young people,
from the Stonewall Book Awards jury’s statement, Children’s and Young Adult Committee Chair Shira Pilarski.

A soft and adorable story of first sapphic love and the trials and tribulations of pre-teen friendships, with gorgeous cosy artwork. Reading this was like a warm hug.
Alice Oseman, New York Times bestselling author of “The Heartstopper” series, goodreads.com

Nora Dåsnes’ debut hits right in your heart!
Una Gjerde, Empirix.no

Timeless and international….the “Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret” of the 21st Century….a relatable and touching story with incredibly charming and captivating art.
Viewpoint Books

A debut of an extraordinary high standard, among others through Dåsnes’ grip of the details. In Cross My Heart and Never Lie, so much can depend on a small glance, minimal facial expressions, and a father’s raised eyebrows. And that’s pretty big.
From the jury’s statement, the 2020 Ministry of Culture’s Literary Prize

It is smart art of storytelling from first to last page.
Frode Øverli, leader of the jury, the Pondus Prize

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