12–14

The year is 1956 and it is summer in Dublin city where Rosy Heron and her big sister Martha spend their days helping their Aunt Toto in her bookshop. Far from their home and their friends in Skibbereen, the girls must navigate the big city together.

This intriguing, fast-paced psychological thriller tells the story of a queer, runaway teenager who, after being caught shoplifting, assumes the identity of Nate Beaumont, a boy who disappeared ten years earlier. What begins as a desperate attempt to escape his past quickly becomes much more dangerous when Nate’s family takes him home, believing him to be their missing son. Bad things begin to happen as someone threatens to reveal who ‘Nate’ really is, and our protagonist starts to fear for his own life.

Owais seems to epitomise London swagger, whether navigating his extended family, school, or the gangs in his neighbourhood. Committed to his comedic persona, the patter of groan-inducing puns conceals an unfocused, uncertain yet charming teenager, struggling with self-doubt and fear of the future. Failing grades lands Owais in a summer programme and life is further complicated by the disruptive arrival of his moody and troubled cousin Abass into the midst of his stable and loving family.

Set in Nova Scotia, during a seemingly endless winter, A Million Tiny Missiles draws on the author’s experience of growing up as a neurodivergent child in a small town in the Canadian province. Central to the narrative is the relationship between the narrator, a neurodivergent fourteen-year-old, and his older brother, who has fallen into a life of addiction and criminality. They live with their policeman father, and part-time teacher mother, whose relationship is showing the strain of the challenges facing them.

Cody Thompson has been obsessed with motor racing for as long as she can remember, so when she’s offered a job as junior engineer at Falcon Racing, it’s a dream come true. Soon Cody is travelling the world, meeting famous drivers, and impressing her new bosses with her aptitude for stats and analysis. But beneath the glitz and glamour, not everything is as it seems. Falcon’s top drivers, Carl and Austin, are locked in a bitter rivalry that threatens their chances in the championship – and when both men take an interest in Cody, things can only get more complicated …

Everything Amplified is a beautifully crafted and emotionally rich graphic novel which captures the intensity of growing up with honesty and care. At the centre is Nel, whose deep love of music runs throughout the story. Illustrated scenes and song lyrics are woven through the pages, reflecting her emotions and experiences and creating a strong sense of connection from the very beginning.

If this book doesn’t inspire and encourage your teenager to become a writer, I don’t know what will!

Always Angel represents those who are not always in the spotlight. Whittam gives a voice to her protagonist, Angel, who is living in foster care, and coping with her parent’s mental health problems. Whittam creates a genuine and sincere world in which Angel exists, and writes with flair to present authentic characters. While Angel struggles to hold onto her relationship with her mum, she also must confront toxic friendships, all while competing in the school-wide baking competition. While baking, Angel shines brightly, now all she has to do is avoid lunchtime detention!

This memoir offers an honest and unfiltered insight into the realities of growing up mixed-race in Ireland. Diop’s heartfelt exploration of his identity, upbringing and connection to his roots takes readers on a journey that transcends borders. His story and experiences are unique, but the issues and revelations he shares will surely resonate with many readers – both young and old, and of any background.