We’re thrilled that Traumaland is a Waterstones YA BOTM for October
Head down to your local Waterstones to grab a copy of this deliciously dark thriller, perfect for fans of Black Mirror.
Welcome to TraumaLand. You are now Jack.
Your story will start in 3… 2… 1…
Eli has been in a near-fatal accident, which has left him with no memory and no emotions. According to his therapist, he suffers from an Overwhelming Emptiness.
Desperate to feel something again, Eli winds up at TraumaLand, an underground club where crowds of emotionally numb party-goers seek a new thrill. Through hyper-real virtual reality simulations, they can experience nightmarish events happening to other people.
But when Eli immerses himself in Jack’s story, he starts to suspect there may be a darker – more dangerous – truth to the club.
Books can be a great way for children and teens to learn how to deal with difficult issues they may face throughout their lives, they can offer representation, provide coping mechanisms and raise awareness.
We’ve put together a list of some of our picture, middle-grade and YA books which focus on various issues and how they can be managed.
A survey, taken by the National Literary Trust, told us that boys between the ages of 12-16 are far less interested in reading for pleasure than girls of the same age.
To help with any reluctant readers in your household, classroom or library, we’ve compiled a list of both middle-grade and YA books we think would appeal to boys, with the hope that it’ll get them excited about reading!
We’re delighted to share And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun has been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize!
And the River Drags Her Down is a hauntingly beautiful and lyrical tale of grief, sisterhood and revenge that blends Gothic horror, mystery and Korean folklore and was published in September 2025.
Observer BOOK OF THE YEARThe best children’s books of 2025 | The Observer: ‘This is a dark and gripping YA psychological thriller exploring mental health and emotional connection. After a near-fatal car crash, Eli is plagued by fragmented memories and emotional numbness. His quest to feel something again drives him to an underground club where virtual reality simulations immerse patrons in horrific scenarios seen through the points of view of different characters. When Eli enters the story of a boy called Jack, he begins to uncover darker truths – about the club and the source of his own pain. Raw and compelling, with dystopian undertones.’
Waterstones BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Best Teenage & Young Adult Books of 2025 | Waterstones.com Blog– ‘A darkly compelling thriller from the author of HappyHead, Traumaland probes issues of mental health through a sinister underground club that offers emotionally numb people access to nightmarish virtual reality scenarios.’
Waterstones BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Best Children’s Fiction of 2025 | Waterstones.com Blog – ‘A gloriously gothic spine-chiller perfect for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events or The Monsters of Rookhaven, Mackay’s accomplished debut pits a resourceful orphan against an evil babysitter on sinister Gloam Island.’
Books for Keeps BOOK OF THE YEARpick – Books of the Year 2025 – Books For Keeps: ‘A beautiful picture book that shares the story of our ancestors and their beginnings. It celebrates their spirit, ingenuity and achievements, it’s lyrical and powerful. Each page is a work of art; a truly a stunning book.’ – Zoey Dixon, Library Hubs Manager, Lambeth Libraries
Daily Mail BOOK OF THE YEAR – Our picks for the best children’s books to give this Christmas | Daily Mail Online: ‘Dutch author Woltz vividly reimagines the horror of the London Blitz in this extraordinarily atmospheric coming-of-age novel. Four very different teenagers shelter in the underground tunnels every night, sharing their inner secrets and dreams, but the drive to survive tests their loyalty.’
Mr Bs Emporium Christmas Catalogue pick: ‘From the author of Firekeeper’s Daughter comes a beautiful, powerful, thrilling story of family and belonging. Lucy has been on the run from the foster system, earning money by working in a diner in the middle of nowhere. But when a pipe bomb goes off and Lily wakes up in the hospital with two people claiming they can help her connect with her Native American family, she doesn’t know what to think… but she does know what she needs to do – run!’
Rock the Boat snaps up Belfast-set YA from ‘necessary new voice’ Stephen Daly
30th July, 2025
Rock the Boat, an imprint of Oneworld, has acquired world English-language rights to The Last Death Poet, a gripping LGBTQI+ YA Belfast-based novel with a paranormal twist from debut author Stephen Daly. Rights were acquired in a two-book deal by senior commissioning editor Katie Jennings from Silvia Molteni at Peters Fraser + Dunlop.
Jennings said: ‘Only rarely do I come across a book this rich and multilayered, with characters you’re drawn to from the outset and who stay in your heart long after reading. The city of Belfast is depicted so vividly as to be a character in itself – one not unlike our protagonist, Michael: flawed and vulnerable, but also full of charm, humour and life. Recent events, both when it comes to immigration and LGBTQI+ rights, have shown that Northern Ireland has far from escaped its tempestuous history, making Daly’s debut more topical and urgent than ever. While The Last Death Poet draws strongly on Belfast’s past, it is also very much a book for now.’
In The Last Death Poet, the theme of queer identity blends with the ghosts of Belfast’s political history and the dark forces of Irish mythology, shining a timely spotlight on the violence that has broken out over recent months.
The book’s blurb reads: ‘When Michael is uprooted to his mum’s home town of Belfast, he isn’t just hoping for a fresh start. He’s determined to discover the truth about his dad’s mysterious absence. But from the moment he arrives, he’s plagued with visions of the city’s troubled past. Reunited with his extended family, Michael begins settling into his new life and even meets a boy who helps erase the painful memories of his ex. But as the visions grow stronger and more intense, the only person he can really confide in is his new friend, Meg. As Meg delves into the supernatural source of the visions, Michael begins to question whether events of the past are linked to his dad’s disappearance. Can he use his powers to find his dad before he’s gone forever?’
Daly is an author and photographer from Belfast. With a background in theatre, Daly knows that ‘storytelling is the best way to reflect the complexities of life’. He believes it’s time to tell more queer Irish stories.
Daly said: ‘I wrote The Last Death Poet to show the power of the city I grew up in. Belfast’s history has shaped people who are natural storytellers, sharply funny and endlessly resilient, but many still carry the scars of the country’s political past. It’s a queer coming-of-age story that underlines the struggle to be yourself when the people in your life hide who they are and what they’ve lived through, and also how there are dark forces from Irish mythology that refuse to be ignored.
‘I am thrilled and honoured to have my debut novel published by Rock the Boat, a team passionate about discovering new voices and treating authors with such care. Massive thank you to my agent Silvia Molteni for believing in my work and bringing it to Katie Jennings, whose support, creative drive and editorial eye has helped me to bring The Last Death Poet to life.’
The paperback original will be published on 2nd April 2026 as a superlead title on the Rock the Boat list.
Rock the Boat news – School events and a busy Midsummer!
10th July, 2025
June and July have been busy months at Rock the Boat HQ. We hosted a wonderful birthday party for the imprint, marking ten years of Oneworld publishing brilliant children’s and YA fiction that truly rocks the boat. It was a fabulous opportunity to finally bring together our lovely authors and illustrators, their agents, booksellers, librarians, and children’s reading champions – all in one place at the beautiful Phoenix Garden in Soho, London.
There was a major interview in The Bookseller with our editors Shadi Doostdar and Katie Jennings, which you can read here – with thanks to Caroline Carpenter.
And, amid the heatwaves, end of term busyness, and continuing to write fantastic stories, our authors have been beavering away doing events around the country – some having travelled across the world to do so!
Highlights include these recent school visits, literary festivals and awards ceremonies:
Sandie (S.A.) Reyhani visits the UK from Greece for A Sequence of Cosmic Accidents
Sandie visited schools in St Neots (Cambridgeshire), West London, Brentwood (Essex), and Bath, and plans to come back to the UK for another school visit in October. If you’re interested in booking Sandie for an event, please contact publicity@oneworld-publications.com.
Sandie’s themes include: mythological monsters from around the world, wormholes and intergalactic science, world-building, writing strong female characters and Victorian-era slang! She can also discuss positive disability representation, particularly for children with an upper limb difference. You can read more on her website here.
‘Sandie’s school presentations are informative and fun. She involves the children with questions and interactive aspects where volunteers are required and this is a brilliant quality to have, involve the children not preach at them! Her passion for her book is clear and she would be an excellent choice for school visits.’ Waterstones St Neots
‘Sandie was really impressive today. Friendly and personable and really engaging for the children. The children were captivated with her presentation and many children said they wanted to buy her book. They also loved the bookmarks she gave out. We would love to have her back in the future.’ St Stephen’s Primary School, Bath
‘The students were enthralled by the mythology and the magic, and of course the dragons and monsters! A big buzz! A real success! …You are welcome back any time.’ Ealing Fields High School
‘Sandie’s book is, quite simply, exceptional storytelling. Her school presentation engages the pupils, with talk of mythical creatures and wormholes. We had an amazing day!’ Chicken & Frog Bookshop, Essex
Nat Amoore visits the UK from Australia for all three of her books: Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire, Secrets of an Undercover Activist and Secrets of a Rebel Rockstar
We were so thrilled to finally be able to meet Nat in person, having published three of her rip-roaringly entertaining Middle Grade titles. She brings such energy to her events, lots of stories, humour, and plenty of inspiration for young writers. She was one of the speakers at this year’s Barnes Children’s Literature Festival, and visited two schools, Chestnuts Primary School, North London and the NEST site at Newhaven School, Greenwich.
‘We ♥️ Nat at Barnes and we can’t wait until her next visit to the UK!’ Amanda J. Brettargh, Director, Barnes Children’s Literature Festival
‘I just want to write to say how much we enjoyed and appreciated our visit from Nat last week. The students fed back that they hadn’t expected an author to be so funny. It may only have been 50 minutes in their lives but Nat’s visit has left a lasting impression and plenty of food for thought. The students’ eyes have been opened and their horizons widened. And of course, we are delighted at Nat’s emphasis on the importance of reading, woven subtly into the session. We will always have a space in our library for Nat.’ Newhaven School, Greenwich
‘We had the pleasure of welcoming Nat, who ran small group workshops with students of various ages and needs. All I can say is—wow! She was incredibly engaging, had everyone laughing, and completely captivated the students with her inspiring life experiences. Hearing how her journey of collecting stories led to becoming an author was truly powerful. It was an enjoyable and enriching experience for all age groups (yes, even the teachers!)’ NEST Site, Newhaven School, Greenwich
Gabrielle Shewhorak travels around the UK for the third Rani Reports
Husband-and-wife team Gabrielle and Satish Shewhorak bring us the final instalment in their delightful series where young reporter Raniand her mischievous Nani solve mysteries, teaching us about journalism and how to tell the truth and fake news apart along the way. Rani Reports on the Tropical Island Treasure transports us to Mauritius, and Gabrielle’s school events have been introducing children aged seven to nine to Mauritian culture and geography, Creole language and family recipes, as well as pirate history, ciphers and codes, natural history and colonialism.
Gabrielle has been on the Great North Tour once again, along with visiting schools in the North-East, London and Surrey. The Islington Tribune wrote this lovely piece about her assembly visit at Rotherfield Primary School, London.
‘Gabrielle spoke about her inspirations and how she plans and structures her stories. She also spoke of the long and arduous editing process before a book gets on the shelves. It was so generous of her to give her time to the pupils of Rotherfield.’ Rotherfield Primary School, London
‘I just wanted to say another big thank you for your time yesterday. The children loved your session and were so engaged throughout – I think you will have inspired some future authors!’ Sandfield Primary School, Guildford
Ruta Sepetys visits the UK as a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford!
The Bletchley Riddle, by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, has been an incredibly popular Middle Grade title since its publication last October – perfect for children aged nine to twelve who love solving clues and WWII history.
Ruta was awarded a 2025 Bodleian Visiting Fellowship at the University of Oxford to support her research for future historical fiction titles. During her fellowship, Ruta and Steve hosted two large, multi-school online events. Seven Stories Newcastle had 14 schools join with some home-educators watching the event too. Havering Libraries (East London) had 27 classes watching (approx. 800 children).
Last week, Ruta also attended the Historical Association’s Young Quills Award Ceremony, for which The Bletchley Riddle was Highly Commended in the 11–13 age category. Congratulations, Ruta and Steve! One of our favourite reviews of recent times is one that was read out at the ceremony:
‘This book is one of the best books I have ever read in my life, and I would definitely buy it.’ Chris in Year 7
‘Ruta and Steve were absolutely fantastic!’ Seven Stories
‘Our Year 5/6 children were treated to a live Zoom author event with award-winning global authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin yesterday and their new book The Bletchley Riddle about a brother and sister who find themselves at Bletchley Park in WW2. It’s a brilliant read, fast paced with mystery, spies, and of course, code breaking. We learnt about the Official Secrets Act, Enigma machines, the extensive and interesting research behind the book and what motivated our authors to write it. It was a fascinating hour, thank you to the authors for spending time with us, the books are in all of our libraries.’ Havering Libraries
Look out for some more really exciting events happening soon for titles including Jack Mackay’s GLOAM!
Are you a teacher, librarian or bookseller, and keen to have one of our authors appear at an event, or just want to know more about our books? Use this form to get in touch with us, and one of our team will respond as soon as possible.
