Kirsty Poynton

Turning sixteen was always for other people. But I suppose so was love. Author : Wibke Brueggemann Published : 25th February 2021 Publisher : Macmillan Children's Books We all remember being teenagers. Maybe some of you still are. So we can all relate to the embarrassing situations, emotions and achievements from that age. That’s why Wibke Brueggemann’s debut novel Love is for Losers is such a hilarious and heartwarming masterpiece. Written in the accessible and personal diary format, the story takes us through seven months of protagonist Phoebe’s life as a secondary school student preparing to take her GCSE exams. It’s filled to the brim with friend drama, designer cats, love, loss and everything in between; a raw, funny and oh-so-accurate insight into what being 15/16 is all about. From the outset, Love is for Losers doesn’t scream ‘I’m an LGBT+ novel’. But that’s exactly what it is, and by weaving Phoebe’s ups and downs while she tries to figure out what her feelings towards c...

Grandpa used to say it all the time: books have tremendous power. But what is that power really? Author: Sosuke Natsukawa Translated by: Louise Heal Kawai Published: 16th September 2021 Publisher: Picador If you’re searching for your next fantasy escape in the form of a magical acceptance and self-discovery adventure featuring a mysterious talking ginger cat, then you’ve certainly come to the right place. Set primarily in Natsuki Books, a haven for rare, out-of-print and long-lost literary treasures, the story centres around shy and reserved high-school student Rintaro who is navigating the world shortly after losing his grandfather.  Quietly overwhelmed by everything that is happening in his life, Rintaro is shocked to see a straight-talking ginger tabby enter the shop. The cat convinces him to embark on quests through strange labyrinths to save books from a number of otherworldly foes. We meet four adversaries, each of whom challenges the status quo of reading, publishing and...