The Edge of Thirteen by Nova Weetman sensitively captures what it's like to be a teenager as your world begins to change and you balance on the edge of who you are and who you want to be.
After the summer holidays, Clem is eager to catch up with her best friends Ellie and Bridge as they begin Year 8. To her surprise, she discovers her friends are growing up faster than her and their talk is about boys and bras and periods. Things have changed between them and Clem feels left behind.
Clem doesn't want to change, but she also wants to fit in and be like everyone else at high school. When she makes friends with Tom in her photography class, everyone starts gossiping. At school camp Clem desperately tries to fit in, but is left feeling embarrassed and betrayed by Bridge. Have they grown too far apart to save their friendship that began on the first day of primary school?
Striking up an unlikely friendship on camp with pink-haired Jacqs might be just what Clem needs to help her find the confidence to be herself and follow her own path at her own pace.
A gentle and affirming story for readers on the edge of thirteen.
If you enjoyed The Edge of Thirteen, you can also meet Clem in The Secrets We Keep and The Secrets We Share.
Thank you for the copy of this book to review UQP.
Happy reading!
