Publisher: Hot Key Books

Not Going to Plan

Poetry, Verse novel

A powerful verse novel about sexual consent, unplanned pregnancy and the breaking of taboos.

Marnie’s really messed up this time – expelled and forced to change schools, the only empty seat in Marnie’s new school is next to Zed, a nerd with zero tolerance for mistakes. Marnie (skilled at art and Spanish, struggles with numbers) can’t wait to lose her virginity. Zed (brilliant at maths and physics, loathes languages) is a loner who can’t stand being touched. They couldn’t be less alike, but they both need good grades in the subjects they hate.

What starts as a trade in tuition turns into an unlikely friendship – and after Marnie has sex with a boy who lies about using a condom, she needs Zed’s help to make the hardest decision of her life.

The Last Paper Crane

Chapter book

Nominated for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie Medal, joint winner of the UKLA 11-14 Book Award 2021 and winner of the Warwickshire Schools Library Award.

A Japanese teenager, Mizuki, is worried about her grandfather who is clearly desperately upset about something. He says that he has never got over something that happened in his past and gently Mizuki persuades him to tell her what it is.

We are taken to 1945, Hiroshima, and Mizuki’s grandfather as a teenage boy chatting at home with his friend Hiro. Moments later the horrific nuclear bomb is dropped on Hiroshima. What follows is a searing account of the blinding flash, the harrowing search for family and the devastation both human and physical. There is also the very moving and human story as the two teenage boys with great bravery search for and find Keiko, Hiro’s five-year-old sister. But then Keiko is lost when Mizuki’s grandfather has no option but to leave her in a safe place while he goes for help… Despite a desperate search in the aftermath of the bomb, where he leaves origami folded paper cranes for Keiko with his address on everywhere a survivor could be, he cannot find her… A powerful novel that, despite its harrowing subject matter, has hope at its heart.

Desi Girl Speaking

A. S. Hussain

Chapter book

Tweety is struggling.

Battling depression and faced with parents and friends who don’t fully understand what’s happening, sixteen-year-old Tweety feels like no one is listening and there’s nowhere to turn to. Until she stumbles across Desi Girl Speaking, a podcast by someone else who’s struggling too.

Through episodes and exchanged emails, Tweety and Desi Girl begin to confide in each other, but as Tweety’s depression deepens, she’ll have to decide whether to stay silenced or use her voice to speak up.

A powerful and compassionate novel about mental health and hope, for readers of Yasmin Rahman, Muhammad Khan and Danielle Jawando.

(TRIGGER WARNING: this book explores mental health, including discussion of depression, suicide and self-harm.)

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess

Nancy Springer

Chapter book

This is the first in the series of Enola Holmes books, telling the story of teenage super-sleuth Enola ‘Alone’ Holmes, the much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective, and Mycroft Holmes, the fastidious government official.

Enola lives in the country with her mother, who is homeschooling her in subjects from fencing to the language of flowers to cryptography. On the morning of her fourteenth birthday, Enola finds her mother is missing without a trace, leaving only a few clues as to where and why she has gone. Mycroft and Sherlock soon arrive and are astonished at the unladylike but extremely astute Enola. Despite their efforts to tame her, Enola goes out into the world by herself to find her missing mother.

But it is not only Mrs Holmes who is missing. Lord Viscount Tewksbury, Marquess of Basilweather, a young man with a promising future, has also disappeared, and ransom demands have been made. Enola soon starts to investigate this mystery as well, trying to prove she is just as capable as her brothers.

This is a great tale, written in a light and fresh style, which is bound to excite avid readers. Enola is likeable, and despite being a mystery story, it is easy to follow. The books have been turned into a Netflix TV series starring Millie Bobby Brown, which is likely to draw readers towards the books.

What Happens Online

Nathanael Lessore

Chapter book

Existor is the most popular guy in school. Fred is the loser with no friends. And nobody knows they’re the same person.

Online, Fred’s alter ego is the best gamer around – constantly on a winning streak, with tonnes of followers, and the confidence to go with it.

But offline, Fred’s life is miserable. His dad’s always working, his mum’s struggling, and at school, everyone looks straight through him. Until Existor’s notoriety spreads to his school, and Fred sees an opportunity: everyone listens to what Existor has to say, so why not use that?

Soon, Fred is coming up with outlandish rumours about his classmates, and everyone’s lapping it up. His bullies are shunned, and people are finally taking notice of him. But it’s a slippery slope and Fred struggles to keep track of all the stuff he’s posted as his lies start to wreak unexpected havoc.

Fred will have to answer for his crimes against reality, but will he ever find someone to like him for who he really is?

Work It, Lara Bloom

Dee Benson

Chapter book

This is part of the popular Lara Bloom series. Told through Lara’s diary, the story offers a relatable glimpse into the life of a teen juggling football dreams, friendships and a school business contest. Readers will connect with Lara’s honest thoughts – which she shares through her intimately honest diary – on friendships, sports, inequality and the challenges of balancing passions with everyday pressures.

Whether football, fashion, entrepreneurship or friendships, readers will be drawn to Lara’s passions and find parallels with the joys and challenges of juggling their own interests and pursuits.

The diary format makes Lara’s observations accessible and engaging, exploring themes of relationships, ambitions and perseverance in a fun way. An appealing reading-for-pleasure choice for Year 8, this series resonates with young teens, making this a lighthearted yet insightful read about pursuing goals and navigating friendships

Wink

Rob Harrell

Chapter book

Wink is a remarkable book with a story that masterfully balances weighty themes with humour, making it a highly engaging read for older children and younger teens.

Ross’s seventh-grade year takes an unexpected turn when he receives a diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, instantly making his desire to be ‘normal’ a distant dream. Navigating the challenges of hair loss, a required hat and the awkward silence of friends unsure how to react, he feels like nothing more than the ‘cancer kid’. Readers follow Ross and his family grappling with this significant life event, discovering strength and laughter through friends, art and music amidst the hardship – not to mention the imagined antics of his comic creation, Batpig, offering a unique and relatable perspective.

Alongside the cancer plotline inspired by the author’s own experiences, this recommended read also explores themes of friendship dynamics, family bonds, peer judgement, identity and cyberbullying. The cast of characters – not least Ross’s friends and supporting adults – highly enrich the story, from Abby’s sharp wit to Frank’s musical passion and Jimmy’s surprising depth.

Relatable, funny and highly recommended.

Crossing the Line

Tia Fisher

Poetry, Verse novel

Gripping from start to finish, this heart-wrenching verse novel plunges the reader into the terrifying jeopardy of life in a gang.

Erik and his mum are left financially and emotionally vulnerable after the unexpected and untimely death of his father. At school, Erik’s bad behaviour recommends him to members of the local drug-dealing gang. The promise of money and the apparent safety of belonging to a close-knit group make him easy prey. All too soon, he is sucked into their world of threats, violence and fear. Safety becomes a dream of the past.

Too late, he realises that he’s trapped and everything that he cares about is in danger, including his mum and his little sisters.

The language is simple and direct. The story is told in Erik’s voice, so anything else would be jarring. Key points in the story are highlighted expressively by typography: a calligram; a change in font; disruption of the text layout. The central theme – criminal exploitation of the vulnerable – means that strong language and violent scenes are inevitably part of the plot, but the violence does not feel gratuitous, and the subject is one we shouldn’t shy away from. It could provide a good way into discussions about grooming and coercion.

As a story, it is accessible, immersive, and impossible to put down. I enjoyed it in one greedy sitting. It is ideal for Key Stage 3. I thoroughly recommend it to teachers too, as a poignant reminder of the importance of vigilance in schools. Erik is creative in his deceptions and his teachers seem to miss every warning sign.

King of Nothing

Nathanael Lessore

Chapter book

ANTON AND HIS FRIENDS ARE THE KINGS OF YEAR 9.

They’re used to ruling the school and Anton wears the crown. The other kids run away when he’s about but that’s the way he wants it – he’s got a reputation to live up to after all.

So when he gets into serious trouble at school, he doesn’t really care, but his mum most definitely does. She decides it’s time for Anton to make some new friends and join the Happy Campers, a local activity group. Anton would quite literally rather do anything else, especially when he finds out Matthew, the biggest loser in school, is also a member.

But after Matthew unexpectedly saves Anton’s life, Anton figures maybe this kid is worth a shot. Teaching him some game is the least Anton can do to repay the debt.

As the boys strike up an unlikely friendship, Anton finds himself questioning everything he thought was important. Does he want ruling the school to be his crowning glory or should he set his sights on better things?

Perfect for teen readers of Alex Wheatle, Jason Reynolds and Patrice Lawrence.

Glow Up, Lara Bloom

Dee Benson

Chapter book

MY NAME IS LARA BLOOM AND THIS IS MY LIFE . . .

Meet Lara Bloom – the best friend you never knew you needed. This is her diary . . .

When Lara meets super-cute new boy Caiden, she begins to think that the way to his heart is to give herself a glow up. But her friends are not impressed. You should never glow up for a boy, only for yourself!

As Lara and her friends embark on their project of empowerment and self-love, Lara shares her innermost thoughts with her online journal. How can she keep her hair under control when she’s playing football? Why is she so fast on the pitch yet so uncoordinated off it? And how will she ever convince Caiden to take an interest in her?

With her worries safely locked in her top-secret journal, Lara is on track to unlock the glow-up of her dreams. Surely nothing could possibly go wrong . . .?!

A heart-warming story of friendship, crushes and learning to love yourself. Perfect for fans of GEEK GIRL, Louise Rennison and Alesha Dixon.

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