Hey, Girl! [Paperback]

A teenage girl travels the path to her future in this powerful coming-of-age poetry collection.

These poems explore the comfort of books, awe at the night sky, playground tricks and friendships, and first love conundrums. There are worries, anxieties, and questioning thoughts—but there's also courage, humor and hope, as one girl strikes out for the future, determined to dance to her own tune, find freedom, and be herself.

Always truthful, deeply perceptive, and understanding, this new collection from Rachel Rooney explores what it means to be a girl in the 21st Century. With distinctive black and white illustrations by a new illustrator.“I absolutely love this new children’s poetry book.” —David Walliams onA Kid in My ClassRachel Rooneyis the author ofA Kid In Our Class, shortlisted for the CLiPPA Children's Poetry Prize in 2019. Rachel is also author ofThe Language of Cat, winner of the CLiPPA in 2011, andMy Life as a Goldfish(2014). She worked as a teacher of special needs children while bringing up her three sons, and continues to take a close interest in the welfare of children with mental health problems. She lives in Brighton, England.

Milo Hartnollstudied illustration at the University of Brighton and is a painter and illustrator.Hey, Girl! is his first book. He is the son of Rachel Rooney and lives in Brighton, East Sussex.Introduction

Not long ago, I found a poem I’d written as a young teen. It was scrawled on a scrap of lined paper and kept in a box in the attic, buried among the memorabilia: old diaries, photos, certificates and music flyers. It’s a simple four-liner that I’d never thought to show anyone – and yet I’d kept it safe all these years.
I remember writing it one summer evening, having returned to my room after a mini-adventure. I don’t know why, but I&ló7