Set in a South Asian-inspired world, The Ivory Key opens in a tangle of family and political tensions. Told from the point-of-view of four royal siblings: Vira, the self-doubting queen who needs to return magic to her failing kingdom; Riya, the sister who defected to a band of vigilantes; Ronak, the brother who wants to run away; and Kaleb, the brother who was framed for their mother’s death.
Reality TV meets rom-com when confident-but-competitive Seyoon and shy-but-smart Dean are thrown together on Forest Feud. With more than their parents’ legacies on the line, can the rivals team up long enough to make it to the final – and the chance to win a million dollars?
Sixteen-year-old Azadeh attends a ‘posh’ school, but on a scholarship, her family are not rich. Azadeh makes her father drop her outside the gates of the school rather than be seen in his battered work van. At home her mother is battling mental health issues; her father is doing his best but he tends to avoids issue. Azadeh is left to battle her way through as best she can while also facing the typical challenges of teenagerhood—friendships, fashion, nights out, and first relationships.
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.
This fast-paced, suspenseful adventure, set on Mars in 2067 explores themes of loss, betrayal and trust. The Red Planet is getting crowded with countries, companies and the United Nations all vying for land, resources and influence. The powerful GravesUP corporation exerts it’s hold, both on Earth and this new frontier. The United Nations trying (and failing) to assert authority has established PAX Station.
Haunted by recent losses, battling addiction and anxiety, facing nothing but problems and increasingly unstable futures, Shosh and Evan are not doing well. To make things worse, they’ve been hearing strange music, an ethereal sound it seems like only they can hear. As this slow-burn romance unfolds in alternating vignettes from their difficult lives – with the occasional detour to other lifetimes – we watch these teenagers muddle through their days and investigate the spectral songs that seem to draw them together. All the while we wonder, will they find their way toward a better life?
This book offers a powerful and necessary exploration of the weight of silence surrounding mental health. As Tweety prepares to dance at Bristol’s Pohela Boishakh festival, the celebration of the Bangla New Year stands in sharp contrast to her inner turmoil. This story captures the unique pressure of achieving one’s dreams while feeling completely disconnected from that reality – a struggle made worse by a community where depression is often a silenced or non-existent concept.
If this book doesn’t inspire and encourage your teenager to become a writer, I don’t know what will!
Fans of intrigue, escape rooms and reality TV will be delighted with this page-turning thriller. It’s season five of The Escape Game, ‘a feel-good family show, featuring some of the most brilliant minds of the next generation.’ Teams of teenage contestants compete against one another to solve puzzles, and viewers at home can join in on the Domain, trying to figure out the solutions before the show reveals them.
It’s love at flat white for Eli and James when they meet at the Brewbear cafe. A rogue source of magic has been detected at a nearby abandoned farmhouse and James is on a mission to locate its source. Eli has never known another witch. For centuries, Arcana has investigated paranormal entities parallel to the world of human beings and contained their magic to preserve order. But within Arcana’s celestial interiors and grand halls, the Majors are harbouring a perilous secret. Can Eli and his newfound coven free themselves from the hands of a generational curse?
