by Kristina Rahim 
 
Shortlisted Books Are My Bag Readers Award 2025 (Children’s Fiction0); Winner PFD Queer Fiction Prize 2023
 
There is nothing all that surprising about 12-year-old Quinn’s family. She calls them “awesome”. They laugh, they squabble, they muddle along happily. But, sometimes, other people make a point of highlighting their ‘difference’. This includes her peer, Monika, who Quinn has to tolerate every summer on their annual seaside trip. Aged 6, Monika asks Quinn why she doesn’t have a daddy and mishears “donor” for “doughnut” an irritating nickname she’s applied to Quinn ever since.
 
Quinn and her younger sibling, Olly (aged 10) share the same donor and have two mums (an interracial couple). Their parents told them about their conception as soon as they were old enough to understand but, this year, as they drive to the coast, Mum (with Mama looking anxiously on) reveals that a new website for donor families has shown that Olly and Quinn have a number of half-siblings…perhaps, rather more than they might have expected… a total of 16 diblings! Olly shrugs. Quinn is intrigued. And so begins a classic, coming-of-age, summer holiday narrative ripe with adventures and full of both challenging and thrilling self-discoveries which prompt Quinn to examine her relationship with her family, her potential extended family and her friendship. Maybe she even needs to reassess Monika. Could her taunts and peskiness be masking a vulnerability? 
 
Superb secondary character includes the sweet and sparky elderly Fred who Quinn develops a friendship with as they share cliff walks. There’s also some lovely content here about the empathetic powers of art, taking in wall and graffiti art. 
 
Rahim’s debut novel is model middle grade fiction with just the right balance of depth and lightness for the age range. As comforting as a warm seaside breeze, with family and friendships at it heart. Backnotes include some helpful information about donor-conceived children (drawing on the author’s own experiences) and a short Q&A with Rahim. Age 9-12, Paperback 266p
 
Themes: LQBTQ+ Themes: Diverse Families