Cats: An incredible novel all round! Most probably a new favourite. I'll re-read and highly recommend.

When Our Worlds Collided is the book that will make you get on your nerves. Make you tear up (if your heart is a tissue like mine 👀) and even maybe, open your eyes to the things you have been blinded from before. So yeah I think an entirely separate book dedicated to the unfairness of the justice system would have been a better choice. Because there’s just so many elements to it and squeezing it into a book that had two other characters to worry about didn’t quite work.

A powerful coming-of-age story about chance encounters, injustice and how the choices that we make can completely change our future. The second YA novel from multi-award-winning Danielle Jawando, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Gayle Foreman, Jennifer Niven and Nikesh Shukla. Draxum tapped on the photo, right above one of the younger turtles. He was a teenager, about Usagi’s age, wielding an odachi. There were streaks of red peeking out from behind his blue ninja mask. “This is the one they call Leonardo,” Draxum told Usagi. “He’s not the smartest of the bunch. He’s loud, brash, rather annoying. Thinks he’s the best at everything.” Usagi was beginning to see Draxum’s grudge against them. “But he is not naive. However, I think you can get to him through…making friends.” Why would they do that? That’s awful.” Usagi glared at the faces of the brothers in the photo. So these were the bad guys his family had predicted he’d fight. They looked rather…pathetic. All the books I have read lately have made me absolutely sob and this one was no exception. One horrific moment ends the life of an innocent, young boy but at the same time brings three teenagers together that really need one another. The situations that those teenagers are put through were hard to read and undeniably awful but there was still hope sewn through the book with their friendship. Hard-hitting yet still hopeful, this is an emotional powerhouse of a book’ Alexandra Sheppard, author of Oh My Gods

The book, Jawando said, was “so hard to write”. “For a long time, I thought it was really terrible,” she said. “I lost a lot of confidence with this book.” She said she was “really honoured” to win the prize.Usagi would start there then, as soon as Draxum gave him the okay. Speaking of which…”How do I communicate with you?” Usgai asked Draxum. Then help me stop these turtles. What I’m trying to do can save the yokai. I can’t have these pests ruining it.” His eyes narrowed. “They’ll do anything it takes to prevent me from saving the yokai.” That, I can help you with,” Big Mama poked in. “Those turtley-boos are always dilly-dallying around Run of the Mill Pizza. They’re ravenous for it. Makes me rather queasy.” Still, Jawando shows us how so many still do their best, living with their heads high, despite the many injustices. It brings to mind Michelle Obama’s statement of “When they go low, we go high.” It still stinks, but I cannot help but be filled with pride, seeing how the three characters in the book take the high road and live their lives the best they can. The workshop Danielle gave was thoroughly enjoyable - using a picture to inspire creative writing is a different and easier way to inspire me! Thank you Danielle!'

Beautifully and emotionally written, Danielle does not let you down with this immense story. A story, that it would seem, is becoming more and more frequent in this day and age. This such a wonderful book that provides insight into the reasons why we still need to highlight the issue of racism, especially in the post BLM world we live in. I really enjoyed this novel and I've also bought a copy so my own teenage daughter can enjoy it too. On the one hand you want to be a sympathetic person on the other hand you just really wonder if the world is really so messed up. Obviously this is only a small slice of what people actually go through (still, in the twenty-first century!), but really, are the Chinese really the only ones afraid to condemn their soul and reincarnate as a meaningless fly in the next life when they do things xenophobic racist shit like that? Seriously what is wrong people?Fellow judge Irfan Master said the book stood out for its “craft, courage and connection”, while Yaba Badoe, also judging, said “every teenager” should read the book. Big Mama narrowed her eyes at Usagi from behind her glasses. “How do you know if he promised me something?” Travis Alabanza’s “vulnerable and urgent” memoir exploring genderqueer identities has won the 2023 Jhalak prize, while a coming-of-age novel by Danielle Jawando has taken the Jhalak children’s and young adult award. You’ll gather information on the turtles. Let me know their every waking move. Who they are. What they’re planning. Anywhere they go. You’ll be my eyes.”

Hard-hitting yet still hopeful, this is an emotional powerhouse of a book’ Alexandra Sheppard, author of Oh My Gods' This book is one of those stories that takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. As you watch the relationship of the three characters develop you see the joy it is bringing them. But then you also see how outside factors in the world are piled against them and you can't help but feel rage. It is especially hard to read this without getting upset because you know that these interactions happen to people every day in real life. A young lad, Marc, moving through the care system with no one behind him, except his most recent carer, who might not be as bad as he thinks, and also hiding more about his identity than just his living circumstances. This threesome of new friendship in Manchester all faced different inequalities whether that was walking down the street, just being in class or trying to live in the care system. Some of the things that happened in this book made me rage. The organisational prejudice was hideous, police and media. Ms Edwards was a complete tool and as an educator myself, I hated her with a passion but I know people like her exist which is, I guess, why I hated her so much. But then we had Gran, Mrs Cohen and Dry Eileen who frankly was a hug in human form; I adored her. I know how you play, Big Mama. There always needs to be something in return. And this is what I ask for.” Usagi crossed his arms. “I’ll still fight in the Battle Nexus, I can promise you that, but I don’t want to be under contract. I’m free to go anywhere and fight anyone I want. I’m not bound to you.” He looked at Draxum. “That’s my offer. If you can’t get me that, it’s a no-go.”Judge Maisie Chan, who won in the children’s and young adult category last year, said Jawando’s book “is one that speaks to many young people today that have been vilified or who go unheard”. People who look like me and Shaq, we're never seen as whe we are-kids. We're never even seen as being human."