Carnegie Shadowers’ Award-winner Tia Fisher has discussed her latest Carnegie-shortlisted verse novel, Not Going to Plan, with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

In a wide-ranging interview, which you can listen to in full here, Tia explores her “powerful verse novel about sexual consent, unplanned pregnancy and the breaking of taboos.”

The winners of the 2026 Carnegie medal will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday 23rd June at The Cambridge Theatre. Read more about the shortlistees 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 is out now. Grab your copy here or, better, via your local bookstore and bookshop.org.

Follow Tia on Bluesky @tiafisher.bsky.social.