This is the most heartachingly beautiful story of family, of friendship and of finding the courage to accept change, to treasure memories and to support those we love through loss. I think, again without realising, it’s cathartic, a way for me to process some things that have happened to me. Writing it from a character’s perspective, rather than from my own, makes it a little bit further away and therefore easier to deal with. It’s a very hard thing to navigate, not wanting to be rude to people, but not wanting to have to explain yourself, or permanently be on hand as a disability trainer. We often have to be very grateful as disabled people, and saying no can make us appear to be rude, and not sit inside a box someone else has determined for us. I’m trying to be a lot better at not sitting inside anyone else’s box! Blatantly lost a metaphor somewhere in there… Basically, please do ask first, and don’t be offended if we say no.

For those who are new here, would you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your writing journey so far? Bestselling author Alexandra Christo, author of TikTok sensation To Kill a Kingdom, introduces her new book, The Night Hunt (Hot Key Books), a dark... The sometime invisibility of HSD was something I thought deeply about when writing my debut book, Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star. Set in late-Victorian London, it follows a group of disabled children who decide to pull off a jewel heist. My main character, Cos, shares my disability, and in the story both she and other characters wrestle with the visible/invisible dynamic of her condition – she is told on multiple occasions that she doesn’t look disabled. Cos’ experience contrasts with her friend Diya, who, as a wheelchair user, is more visibly disabled. However, both girls face discrimination throughout the story that is directly related to their status as disabled.Although the book is for middle-grade readers, there are some difficult topics and themes woven into the narrative. Mimi is losing the mother figure in her life to dementia and going through a time of big changes, something that many readers will likely experience in their own lives. How did you go about communicating something so big and emotive in a way that made it digestible for a younger audience? It's a nostalgic read but somehow very relevant to today and touches on themes with such remarkable sensitivity. Woven within the action and adventure are mysterious goings-on, suspense, and emotional angst. The tension is cleverly increased as the story progresses by the Crow's fleeting appearances. A neat subtle play that undoubtedly works on Mimi. Gives her the heebie-jeebies. Mimi is a girl who never let her disability get in the way of doing what she wanted. Never played on her weakness and used it as a strength, not a handicap. What I like about Mimi is that playtime meant Play Time, using every minute to the full, taking advantage of every second available. Now the Nitty-Gritty. I first caught on to the author Lisette Auton when I read and recommended her excellent novel, The Secret of Haven Point. A spellbinding children's adventure book based around a remote lighthouse and an abandoned young baby. With beautiful illustrations that enhance the delightful story.

Mimi has lived an idyllic existence being raised by her grandparents, adventuring with pals in nearby countryside. But friends start to change, preferring ‘hanging out’ to river-romps and Mimi feels left behind. Until she meets Titch, another lonely person longing for connection. Importantly, Auton doesn’t create an unrecognisable utopia of harmony. The new trio of friends get it wrong. They irritate and upset each other. They are inconsiderate and tactless. The exploration of how a neurodivergent person’s particular fixation can create selfishness is thoughtfully and expertly written. Mimi must learn how to be a good friend, and to meet the needs of those around her. It doesn’t have to be sitting there with an encyclopaedia. Even small, fun books help develop that love of books in children' Dapo Adeola, Tracy Darnton, Joseph Coelho and Chitra Soundar are among the 19 authors and illustrators longlisted for the Inclusive Books for Child... Louie on the magic of shared reading: 'You just see the positive outcome. Your connection to your child is so different'It’s good for children to see a man reading stories. Just go for it because it’s so much fun – your child’s not going to be judgmental" I wondered if the author has considered writing a novella, with Mimi's Grandparents and their bowls club taking centre stage. As they appear to be a perfect subject for a situation comedy. The idea of someone cleaning individual blades of grass from bird poo was funny. The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children... It’s sharing the intimacy of a story – that special moment between you and them”: Helping dads to get reading Having adored Lisette’s debut, The Secret of Haven Point, I was so excited to read this book. In my humble opinion, it’s a future classic. The cast of characters is wonderfully diverse – there is queer, neurodivergent, disabled and chronic illness representation – and the story is everything I love in middle grade: it’s full of magic, adventure, and heart. Our main character, Mimi, uses beautifully decorated mobility aids to get around. I’m not ashamed to admit that I wept when I read the joyous description of Mimi’s crutches: often mobility aids are looked down upon, and not seen for what they are: a tool for freedom. I especially loved the author’s note at the end, which encapsulates the wonderfulness of disabled, chronically ill and ND people, just as they are. Jayben and the Golden Torch by Thomas Leeds

Mimi is the most incredible young girl who is fighting through her fear, hurt and anger as the Gran who she clearly adores becomes lost to her through her memory loss. Her fallability makes her such a sympathetic character. Below are three books I have read and adored this year that spotlight disabled characters with both visible and invisible conditions: Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend by Lizzie Huxley-Jones Illustration by Valentina Toro portraying the central character, Mimi, who is confronted by the terrifying Void Collectors. Image courtesy Penguin Random House. The plot is certainly intriguing and sometimes quite difficult to follow. There are a number of different elements which eventually slot together as Mimi learns more about herself, her companions, and her family. Some readers may find the account of dementia distressing; others may be quite scared by the fantasy ‘void collectors’. Northerners will respond to the glimpses of dialect, humour and the range of eccentric characters. A scene with pterodactyls at the conclusion of the story helps to set up the beginning of the narrative – all very thought-provoking! It was impressive how the book didn't gloss over the problems of incapacity, whether through physical or mental illness. The author handled them brilliantly and openly.I’m trying very hard to ask this question in a way that sidesteps spoilers, but I genuinely almost cried when we meet a central character in this story. A character who plays a huge role in the plot and the adventures, mostly from her bed with dark sunglasses and ear-defenders on. Can you tell us a bit about how and why it felt important to portray this character in this way? Your best chance will likely be with the use of a fine mesh landing net or children’s dipping net. Carl Nicholls, fisheries & angling manager I think it’s because I really want people to know that they can accept you exactly the way you are, and should do, without having to know your entire medical history. Knowing the technical words for my impairments or not, doesn’t change the fact that these are the things I need to thrive, please just do them. I think everyone has the right to choose whether they disclose their impairments and conditions or not, and I completely stand by those decisions. For me I get a little bit fed up of unsolicited advice, or sometimes even getting told off, so as a safety mechanism for me I’ve chosen to say disabled, or neurodivergent, or chronically ill. They are also big and bold political statements and I’m well up for those! It’s a protective mechanism, I guess. I also didn’t want a reader to identify with a character and then find that they didn’t have that specific name for their impairment or condition, and so lose that connection. I basically didn’t want anyone to become Doctor Google on characters I love, just like I don’t want them to do that for me.