The Stickleback Catchers

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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. The Primary School Library Alliance is calling on the government to match-fund the private investment it has brought into helping primary schools c...

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. It doesn’t have to be sitting there with an encyclopaedia. Even small, fun books help develop that love of books in children' 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! Despite this, much of the story doesn’t centre around the girls’ disability – it’s just something that is a part of them – and Cos and Diya are completely accepting of that. I was deeply embarrassed of my disability as a kid, and reading a character like Cos would have made me feel far less alone as I sat, nose buried in a book, in my school library. I wrote my book because I want disabled kids to know that they can be the heroes of their story, and I feel incredibly honoured to be mentioned alongside other disabled authors writing for children today. It is important for all children to see disabled children as heroes, and Cos is by no means the only one hitting bookshelves in 2023. 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.Dapo Adeola, Tracy Darnton, Joseph Coelho and Chitra Soundar are among the 19 authors and illustrators longlisted for the Inclusive Books for Child... 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.

It’s sharing the intimacy of a story – that special moment between you and them”: Helping dads to get reading I think it’s the way I would have wished to have been told. With love and kindness and care, but mostly honesty. Young people are ludicrously clever and can feel and know when something isn’t right and they’re not being told something. That happens to Mimi in this book. Life is hard and heart-breaking, but beautiful too. We need to be prepared for both. 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. Illustration by Valentina Toro portraying the central character, Mimi, who is confronted by the terrifying Void Collectors. Image courtesy Penguin Random House.

The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children... Thank you so much for chatting with me Lisette, and congratulations on publishing another magical book! This is a moving story about a grandparent with dementia, with original and often scary magical realism touches. Auton explores friendship – Mimi is still working out how to be a good friend and not always succeeding – and community. There’s a real sense of community among the bowls regulars, and both grandparents are strong characters. Another plus is the inclusive portrayal of disability and illness – Mimi uses crutches as she’s wobbly without them, and another new friend, Nus, hardly leaves her bed. They are accepted as they are by each other and by Titch. A thought-provoking read. Finally, you already know that I’m basically your biggest fan. You are so talented, and I truly believe your books have the power to change the world – knowing that children are growing up with stories like yours to read means so, so much. There’s very big heads-up at the end of this story about what’s coming next (the cause of my biggest bookish jaw-drop to date) but dare I ask… after a well-deserved rest, what’s next for you?