Close to the Wind by Jon Walter

When we meet Malik and his grandfather, they are escaping a war zone. They've made their way to the port under cover of darkness and they can see the humanitarian aid ship in the dock. Malik believes his mother will need a ticket too, even though no-one has seen her since she was taken by the soldiers three days ago. Fortunately, Papa has a plan, although it's going to take some courage, money and connections to get his grandson to safety. 

Close to the Wind shows us war from the perspective of a modern 10 year old boy, not battlefields or bodies, just the frightening and confusing reality that many urban refugees continue to face during political upheaval. The book does not name the country that Malik is escaping from, nor the details of the source of the conflict, this allows us to concentrate on Malik's tender-hearted character and his responses with the detail he and others like him deserve.

Published by David Fickling books May 26, 2015

The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh

This book broke my heart and then put it back together again. 

Twelve year old GiGi lives with her much older sister DiDi. DiDi pushes her to work hard in school and never lets her forget the memory of her beautiful, positive and resourceful mother. But when the sisters move to a nicer town, with money that DiDi won in a baking contest and GiGi starts a new private school, her life begins to unravel until she's no longer sure who she is and who to trust. 

This is a story about poverty, social mobility and identity told with a believable voice by a fiercely likable character. For ages 10-12.

Published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers

January 27, 2015

Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes

Anika Dragomir is a pretty confident teen and she's number two in school popularity, standing right behind Becky Vilhauer, who is totally evil. Slowly but surely Anika breaks away from Becky, by overturning a rumor and dating an unpopular guy she starts a train of events that ends in both triumph and tragedy.

Anika is one of the best characters I've ever read in a YA book. She is completely off-hand about so many outrageous things, not least that she feeds her McJob boss ground up Valium to mellow him out during her shift. And yet, she's far from shallow or stupid. Anika's voice is hilarious and really sweeps you up in the plot. Then the plot makes you think.

There's an author note at the start of the book which says:

"This is a novel based on my ninth-grade year of junior high. I wrote this story because I wish I could go back in time and give this message to myself."

Which also makes you think. 

For Ages 12+

Published by HarperTeen, September 2, 2014