Our Macaw subscribers are heading to Japan this month with Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai, a magical, compelling and thought-provoking novel with a stunning setting, a hugely relatable lead character and a powerful message about identity, memory and the passing of time. We were gripped by Sora's coming-of-age story, the mystery she finds herself at the centre of, and the brilliant blend of philosophy, science and storytelling. Here Clara tells us all about what inspired the book and which other stories set in Japan she recommends our tween and teen readers turn to next. What inspired you to ..read more

Sing If You Can't Dance, one of the books we picked for our Macaw subscribers this month, had us alternately laughing, crying and screaming with frustration! We love Ven, a hugely relatable lead character who we think young people will find inspiring. This is an emotional but ultimately hopeful novel that celebrates diversity and the power of young people to do good in the world. We are delighted that author Alexia Casale has agreed to tell us more about writing for teens and which books with real-world settings she recommends you read next. What inspired you to write Sing If Y ..read more

Our Macaw subscribers are travelling to Scotland via Spain this month with thought-provoking mystery Away With Words by Sophie Cameron. This poignant family drama is set in a world where words appear as physical objects, reflecting the speaker's thoughts and feelings. It's such a clever concept - a highly original story, beautifully told and with much for young readers to relate to. Here Sophie tells us about being inspired by her own experiences of learning a foreign language and her top book recommendations for tweens and early teens. What inspired you to write Away With Words? Th ..read more

Our Macaw subscribers are heading off on a mysterious, magical adventure this month with the hugely original Hotel Magnifique. We were so intrigued by the concept of this book - an opulent luxury hotel that changes location every night, with an exclusive guest list and magical themed rooms. It's an exciting fantasy adventure, but quickly takes a sinister turn - we were hooked from the very first page! Here author Emily J. Taylor tells us more about what inspired the book and which fantasy books for teens she recommends you read next. What inspired you to write Hotel Magnif ..read more

One of the books we've shared with our Macaw subscribers this month is a powerful family drama with a real world setting. It tells the moving story of Maudie and her brother Jake, who has a learning disability. When their mum disappears, Jake is taken into care, but Maudie believes the best place for him is with her, so she sets in motion a wild plan to kidnap Jake and run away to Cornwall, a place that is particularly special to their family. It's a story packed with empathy and relatable characters. It's about giving a voice to young people, empowering them to stand up for themselves and ot ..read more

One of the books we've sent our Macaw subscribers this month is a thought-provoking contemporary family drama by award-winning author Malcolm Duffy. Smart, powerful and packed with empathy, Read Between the Lies stars two lead characters that young people will be really drawn to. Tommy and Ryan's story had us gripped and made us think. Here Malcolm tells us about how his daughter inspired the book and which books with real life setting for this age group he would recommend you read next. What inspired you to write Read Between the Lies? My eldest daughter is dyslexic, and ..read more

This month we've sent our Macaw subscribers an authentic heartfelt comedy starring a cast of neurodiverse characters that we were rooting for from start to finish. The Asparagus Bunch is narrated by thirteen-year-old Leon, who has been moved on from six different schools and faces yet more challenges at his new school when the school bully humiliates him in the canteen. But with the help of new friends Tanya and Lawrence, things might just turn out differently for Leon this time. The book is thoughtful, relatable and packed with both empathy and humour. It's perfectly pitc ..read more

  We are thrilled to be sharing The Bones of Me by Kel Duckhouse with our Macaw subscribers this month. Unlike anything we've sent them before, it's a gritty urban family drama set in and around an East London boxing club. It's also lyrically and beautifully told, switching between verse and prose throughout. And it stars a brave, loyal and ambitious lead character who we were rooting for from the very start. Molly is gutsy with a strong sense of justice and represents everything that is good about her generation. This is a thrilling book, desperate in places, but ultimately ho ..read more

  Our Macaw subscribers are heading to Jamaica this month with The Haunting of Tyrese Walker, a thrilling ghost story that had us on the edge of our seats! Londoner Tyrese is visiting family on the island when some very dark and mysterious things start happening to him. Gripped by grief following the death of his father, Tyrese finds the lines between what is real and what is not becoming blurred - but some new friendships and hidden strengths come to the rescue, and he learns much about himself and what he is capable of in the process. We asked author J.P. Rose to tell us more ..read more

  We’re firm believers that a well-chosen book is an excellent gift for any occasion. But there’s something particularly special about gifting books at Christmas. Perhaps it’s the fact that you can just imagine the recipient snuggling up to enjoy their new book during the cold winter months that follow the festivities? Books are also gifts that go on giving enjoyment well beyond the day that they’re unwrapped. Sometimes they can sit on a shelf for a while but, when the time is right, a child will be able to dive right in and enjoy the wonderful story that you’ve shared. Have we convinced ..read more