Still pinching myself after my visit to Hornsey School for Girls last Friday – my old secondary school and the place where so much of who I am began. Honestly, teenage me would never have believed that one day I’d be invited back as an author. She’d assume I was lost and looking for the canteen. 

But last Friday was one of those beautiful full-circle, pinch-me moments. Standing in front of the girls – girls who reminded me so much of who I once was – felt emotional in the best way. We laughed, we talked books, we talked dreams, we talked about what it means to feel different or “othered” and how those very feelings can become our biggest strengths.

Growing up, I didn’t always see myself reflected in the books I read or the spaces I moved through. And yet, here I was, sharing my story with a room full of bright, curious, brilliant young women who deserve to know that they can achieve anything – absolutely ANYTHING – they set their minds to.

I hope I left them a little inspired. I know they inspired me!

Thank you, Hornsey School for Girls, for the warm welcome, the gorgeous nostalgia, and for reminding me just how far a girl with a big imagination and a slightly chaotic schoolbag can go! 

I’m absolutely thrilled to share that my debut YA novel, Odd Girl Out, has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing 2026!

The Carnegies are among the most prestigious awards in children’s and young adult literature, celebrating outstanding writing that inspires and empowers young readers. To be recognised alongside so many incredible authors whose work I deeply admire is both humbling and exhilarating.

Odd Girl Out tells the story of a British-Bangladeshi teenager navigating friendship, identity, and belonging while trying to find her voice in a world that often misunderstands her. Seeing this story resonate with readers – and now being recognised by the Carnegie judges – is beyond anything I could have imagined when I first started writing it.

This nomination is a testament not only to the power of diverse storytelling but also to the readers, teachers, librarians, and booksellers who have embraced Odd Girl Out and shared it so passionately. Your support means the world.

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who has read, recommended, and championed the book since its release.

Stay tuned for more updates as the Carnegie journey continues – and thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being part of it.