Tia Fisher, winner of the Yoto Carnegie Shadowers’ Award 2024 for her verse novel Crossing the Line, has been spotlighted in The Guardian for her forthcoming novel, Not Going to Plan.

In the review, children’s book critic Imogen Russell Williams wrote:

“Told from two perspectives, this poignant, powerful, often hilarious 14+ verse novel asks questions about respect, consent and how to hold it together when the plan falls apart.”

Read the full review here.

When Marnie’s rebellious streak gets her excluded from her exclusive school, she’s forced to take her GCSEs elsewhere, and sit next to Zed, a control-freak physics nerd with zero tolerance for mistakes—which is awkward because Marnie’s about to make the biggest blunder of her life.

Not Going to Plan is a taboo-busting novel about gender identity, consent and shame, which unflinchingly explores the heart-rending decisions a teenager must make as a result of a sexual encounter she didn’t fully consent to.

Not Going to Plan will be published on 28th August 2025. Pre-order your copy here or, better, via your local bookstore and bookshop.org.

Follow Tia on Bluesky @tiafisher.bsky.social.