ISBN-13: 9781839130854

RRP: £8.99

Published: 3rd June 2021

Length: 400 Pages

Not My Problem

Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Readers
Winner of the Laugh Out Loud Book Award
Shortlisted for the Children's Book Ireland Award, Irish Books Award and the Polari Prize
Nominated for the Carnegie Medal

When Aideen agrees to help ambitious class swot Maebh Kowalska deal with her crazy workload, she doesn’t expect to end up reluctantly pushing Maebh down the stairs. With this, Aideen becomes the school ‘fixer’: any problem a student has, Aideen will sort it out, from stealing confiscated mobiles to breaking into parties. All she asks for is a favour in return. But Aideen’s own life is a mess – her mam’s drinking again, her BFF Holly is avoiding her and she’s skipping school. Spending more time with the uptight (but annoyingly cute) Maebh and chatterbox Kavi, Aideen starts to wonder: can every problem be solved?

Reviews

"I howled with laughter. Derry Girls but better, with such a massive heart"
Joanna Nadin

"[B]rilliantly channels the acerbic putdowns and frank humour of TV’s Derry Girls and Sex Education... Smart, well observed and highly entertaining"
Fiona Noble - Observer

"Romantic, hilarious and full of crazy capers, Smyth’s second novel also quietly conveys the grinding anxiety of growing up poor without parental support"
Guardian

"[A] charming novel for young lesbians"
The Bookseller

"Witty and engaging. This engaging novel will hook readers immediately."
starred review - School Library Journal