Mark My Words

Description

Is the truth as simple as black and white? Mark My Words is the searing novel from Branford Boase Award-winner and 2020 World Book Day author Muhammad Khan, asking who you can trust when all you see is lies. Fifteen-year-old Dua Iqbal has always had trouble minding her own business. With a silver-tongue and an inquisitive nature, a career in journalism seems fated. When her school merges with another to form an Academy, Dua seizes her chance and sets up a rival newspaper, exposing the controversial stories that teachers and the kids who rule the school would rather keep buried. Dua's investigations are digging up things she shouldn't get involved with about family, friends and her community and as exams rattle towards her, she needs to make some hard decisions about when to leave things alone. But when she discovers that some kids at school are being blamed for selling drugs when the real perpetrator is right in front of their noses, she can't keep quiet any longer. 'A voice long overdue in British fiction' Alex Wheatle on I Am Thunder 'Khan has created a book steeped in drama and empathy, as well as providing two iconic superheroes' Nikesh Shukla on Kick the Moon

Muhammad Khan is an engineer, a secondary-school maths teacher, and a YA author! He takes his inspiration from the children he teaches, as well as his own upbringing as a British-born Pakistani. He lives in South London and has an MA in Creative Writing from St Mary's. His debut novel I Am Thunder was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize, won the Branford Boase First Novel Award, the 2018 Great Reads Award and a number of regional awards. His second novel, Kick the Moon has been nominated for the 2020 Carnegie Medal and he is an official World Book Day Author for 2020 with his short novel, Split.

A brilliant and powerful story that kept me on the edge of my seat. The protagonist is extremely compelling and relatable, a warrior through and through - you'll root for Dua the entire way! -- Nikita Gill A bold and timely book about protest and finding your voice. -- Fiona Noble * The Observer * A story about privilege, segregation and the power of the truth -- Marianne Levy * The I * A compelling YA thriller. -- Imogen Russell Williams * Guardian * A powerful page turner Muhammed Khan's second novel is engaging, provocative and empathetic. Tackling themes of racial intolerance, community integration, protest and the importance of finding, of having a voice, not stone is left unturned, no topic off limits. * Armadillo Magazine *