Marjolijn Hof, formerly a children's librarian, always dreamed of being a writer. When Against the Odds (Een kleine kans), her first novel, was published, it was met with high critical acclaim, winning three major Dutch and Flemish children's book prizes - the Golden Owl Juvenile Literature Prize, the Golden Owl Young Readers' Prize and the Golden Slate Pencil - and it has been translated into at least nine languages. Marjolijn Hof has been praised for her ability to evoke emotions in very few words.