by Chibundu Onuzo
with illustrations by Puala Zorite
 
Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2025
 
“‘Our county is open to you,
Or arms are waiting for you,
Cos love lives here,
Love lives here.’ 
And in the crowd, people danced, wept and hugged complete strangers. They resolved in their hearts to do everything in their power to keep Britain open.”
 
At the age of just 8, Mayowa started jumping on books. Despite her mum’s ban, Mayowa is still keeping up the family book leaping tradition two years later. With a visit to Grandpa Edward, she finally discovers what lies behind this legacy and what powers she can unleash into the world with the right training. A friendship with a local refugee family, an introduction to a campaigner and the imminent threat of the government passing a vicious anti-immigration bill, culminates in political polarisations, crescendoing in to a clash of magical forces and a fight between cruelty and compassion. First in an exciting new trilogy. Extra credit for the footnotes which work like little, humorous, intimate ‘asides’ to the reader.  [Mayowa is mixed race: Black Nigerian mum / white Dad]. Age 7-12, Paperback 278pp
£7.99
Themes: Refugees and Migration