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Recently Wills has taken to spending all his time alone in his room.
No requests for food or company. Aunt Rose thinks he’s into poetry as she hears him occasionally hollering “ou-ou- ou”. But Alfred Lindberg soon identifies the sound. It is not poetic, rather it’s futuristic! Wills has become completely addicted to computer games and is in a state of gaming frenzy. Something must be done and fast! Alfred helps by confiscating the computer but soon that familiar “ou-ou-ou” can be heard coming from his flat instead!
While Wills has been in his hermit-like game-addiction stage, it seems that neglected Nelli has developed a huge crush on a cute pop singer Billy Storm whose concert is only days away. Rose eventually manages to rehabilitate Mr Lindberg from his gaming bout, and Wills does something so heroic that it earns him a place on stage with the famous Billy Storm himself! Nelli can’t believe her ears, nor eyes, when Wills performes a rap about her! “Nel-li, oh Nel-li, you turn me into jel-ly” raps Wills on stage. Just like that, his gaming days are forgiven.
The Wills & Nelli books by Sinikka Nopola (b. 1963) and Tiina Nopola (b. 1971) have been popular in Finland for over 20 years. Now films, plays, and songs that are based on the books are further increasing their popularity.
W&N: Shy Elmer, 2019
W&N: Julia the Schemer, 2018
W&N: The Artist Within, 2017
W&N: Something in Common, 2016
W&N: The Unusual Suspects, 2015
W&N: The Scrooge of Seville, 2014
W&N: The Lookalike, 2013
W&N: Nelli’s Plight, 2012
Illustrated by Christel Rönns
W&N: Wills’ New Dad, 2011
W&N: Star Struck, 2009
W&N: The Last Ice-Cream, 2007
W&N: A Gaming Frenzy, 2006
W&N: Teacher’s Pet, 2004
W&N: The Persistent Pimple, 2003
W&N: Dandy Andy, 2002
W&N: Freezer Fran, 2001
Wills & Nelli, 2000
Wills McFinn and the Horrible Sausage, 1998
Wills McFinn, 1997
Illustrated by Aino Havukainen & Sami Toivonen
104pp
Colour illustrated
Age: 8+
Finnish PDF
Series synopsis
Arabic (Dar Al Saqi)
Brazilian (Sds Editora)
Bulgarian (Faber)
Danish (Turbine)
Danish (Carlsen)
Estonian (Varrak)
Finnish, Sámi (Abc-Company)
French (Pocket Jeunesse), six book deal
Hungarian (Cerkabella)
Japanese (Komine Shoten)
Latvian (Zvaigzne)
Lithuanian (Nieko Rimto)
Polish (Foksal)
Slovenian (Sodobnost)
Spanish (Santillana)
Swedish (Bonnier Carlsen)
Turkish (Altin Kitaplar)
“The enduring popularity of Wills reflects the fact that Sinikka and Tiina have managed to keep their readership happy… the Nopolas are masters of charming storytelling and skillful language.” — Savon Sanomat newspaper