I am extremely honoured to share that Odd Girl Out was shortlisted for the Teen category at this year’s Redbridge Book Awards, and came second place after the incredible Traumaland by Josh Silver.
The day was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow authors and, most importantly, the young readers who engaged so thoughtfully with our work. Writing can often be a solitary process, so events like this are a powerful reminder of the real-world impact stories can have.
In fact, I lost count of the number of brown and Muslim students who came up to me to say this was the first time they had met a Muslim author. Representation in literature matters – and it was incredibly powerful to see young readers recognise themselves in stories and feel that their voices and experiences belong in books. One student even told me she had dressed up as Maaryah from Odd Girl Out for World Book Day – an unforgettable moment for any author!
My sincere thanks to Redbridge Libraries for organising this beautiful event, now in its 22nd year. And a massive thank you to all the participating schools and students who made the day so special 
Author of the Carnegie nominated YA Odd Girl Out, The Thirty Before Thirty List and Finding Mr Perfectly Fine
