The Stories Nadine Remembered… Author Talk With Nadine Aisha Jassat

Join award-winning writer Nadine Aisha Jassat for a talk all about her verse-novels The Stories Grandma Forgot (described as ‘one of those books that truly makes the world a better place’ by Sophie Anderson) and The Hidden Story of Estie Noor (described as ‘a warm hug of a book’ by Maisie Chan).

This interactive session is ideal for 9 – 13 year olds and will help inspire young readers to connect to their own creative ideas, stories and poetic voices, while also encouraging them to think of whose stories they wish to see celebrated in the world.

Key themes include:

– Heritage and mixed identities, drawing on Nadine’s own mixed British-Zimbabwean heritage.
– The untold stories of historical figures such as Sophia Duleep Singh.
– The power of kindness and the importance of libraries.
– Northern English and Scottish representation.
– The power of poetry.

Nadine’s interactive talk can be tailored to last between 45 minutes and an hour, including time for questions, and Nadine is always happy to include time for a book signing after the session.

Get in touch

Publisher: Hachette Children's Books
Author: Nadine Aisha Jassat is the author of poetry collection Let Me Tell You This (‘beautifully written, immense, and full of passion’ – Nikita Gill) and the middle-grade verse novels The Stories Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them) (‘one of those books that truly makes the world a better place’ – Sophie Anderson) and The Hidden Story of Estie Noor (‘a warm hug of a book’ – Maisie Chan). Her work has drawn significant acclaim, and she has appeared internationally and across media. Find out more at nadineaishaj.com. Photo credit: Danielle Watt
Book: THE STORIES GRANDMA FORGOT (AND HOW I FOUND THEM) From acclaimed poet Nadine Aisha Jassat comes a gripping mystery… “Grandma Farida is losing her memory – but I’m going to help her remember a huge secret.” Twelve-year-old Nyla’s dad died when she was four, or that’s what she’s been told. So when Grandma Farida insists she saw him in the supermarket, Nyla wonders if she is ‘time-travelling’ again – the phrase she uses when Grandma forgets. But when Grandma asks Nyla to find her dad and bring him home, Nyla promises that she will. As Nyla sets out on her journey, she hopes that uncovering the past will help her to understand the mystery at the heart of her family … and to work out who she is. A page-turning verse novel about memory and identity, and a bond that soars above all else. ‘A beautiful read about love, family, identity and worth.’ Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear ‘A tender story about the meaning of life and love and loss.’ Katya Balen, author of October, October THE HIDDEN STORY OF ESTIE NOOR No one wanted to hear Estie’s side of the story. Now she’s on a mission to make sure the truth is heard . . . A page-turning mystery novel in verse about identity, friendship and learning to use your voice, with accessible text and beautiful illustrations throughout, perfect for fans of Matt Goodfellow. When twelve-year-old Estie is expelled from school, she’s sent to stay with her aunt in Scotland over the summer. Even though nobody, not even her mum, asked to hear her side of the story. Estie’s determined to keep her barriers up and stick to herself until the holidays are over. But when she comes across an intricately folded paper castle with a secret message written inside – a message from someone desperate to tell their own unbelieved story – a chord is struck, and Estie can’t help but follow the clues to the next piece of artwork. Who are these messages from? And what will their secret reveal about the town? In helping to uncover the anonymous artist’s truth, Estie just might find the words to tell her own. . . ‘I just devoured this spectacular story in one sitting… a future classic if I’ve ever read one’ – Laura Noakes, author of Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star.
Availability: Please contact directly. Open to discussion
Audience: 9 - 13 year olds.
Event Type: Online
Author's Travel Constraints: Public transport from central Scotland.
Fees: £350.00 plus travel expenses
Technical Requirements: PowerPoint facilities (screen, laptop, clicker) and flipchart or whiteboard

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