Go back

News | 15 April 2025

Jefferson

Jefferson - A mystery novel for middle school and a collaboration between the library and the Swedish curriculum at IES Österåker

One of our student's favorite places at IES Österåker is the school library. It was therefore a great opportunity to start a co-planning initiative between the library and the Year 4 Swedish classes. The collaboration began with Mr Hermansson, the school librarian, and Ms Werner who teaches Swedish in Year 4 collaborating to select a book that year 4 could work with during the spring term. The chosen book needed to align with the curriculum guidelines for Swedish literature as well as the recommendations set by the Swedish National Agency for Education's reading list for middle school. Mr Hermansson recommended the book Jefferson by author Jean-Claude Mourlevat. The book was included in the official list of recommended titles and was also awarded the prestigious ALMA Prize in 2021.

"Jefferson (2018) by Jean-Claude Mourlevat. The hedgehog Jefferson is accused of murdering his badger hairdresser. Along with his friend Gilberg, Jefferson suspects that a human is actually behind the crime. Together, they set off into the human world to solve the mystery. The book is a clever mix of fable and detective story, surprisingly realistic, at times violent, yet also humorous. Jean-Claude Mourlevat has created a cast of compelling characters in a unique world that readers are eager to revisit. The story also raises important questions about animal rights. This is a stand-alone novel in a series. Mourlevat was awarded the prestigious ALMA-Prize in 2021. Jefferson is included on the 2024 reading list for middle school published by the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket) and the Swedish Arts Council (Kulturrådet)."

The students have had the opportunity to practice reflecting on, and analyzing the text individually and in groups. They have even worked with a variety of different text types and connected the content of the book to other learning objectives in Swedish.

As part of the learning unit, the fourth grade students also gained a deeper understanding of the text by seeing the play Jefferson at Dramaten in Stockholm. For many of our students, it was the first, but certainly not the last time they will visit theatre. Following the theatre visit students, spent time reflecting on the similarities and differences between the book and the dramatization.  The students appreciated the opportunity to consolidate their learning by visiting the theatre, below you can read about some of their experiences. 

 

What did you think of the play? "It's that you get that feeling, that you see them so close and that you feel like you're part of the play. And that you understood the play from beginning to end."

How do you feel the Jefferson project was? "Um, it was a fun project, the book was really good and that we listened to it. That we didn't just write but that we had an experience."

What did you think of the book? "Unlike the play, you got a lot more details. I personally think it's fun with a good book and that you get to read it during school hours. This whole trip was really fun."

What was your favorite moment during the Jefferson project? "Practicing summarizing and that I shouldn't retell everything, I think I've gotten good at that."

What was the best thing about the play? "It was when Edgar was murdered, it was so incredibly dramatic and really fun to see those who hadn't read the book and how surprised they were. I myself was surprised even though I had read the book."

How was it to go to Dramaten? "It was my first time at Dramaten so it was really fun. And I want to go there again."

What would you say was your favorite moment? "When we drew the 'scared animals' posters." "The funniest chapter to summarize was chapter 17 because so much happened."

What was the best thing about the play? "Really good acting, I want to go there again."