Tia Fisher, author of the “playful and creative” (Just Imagine) verse novel Not Going to Plan, has just been featured in the latest of Books for Keeps, discussing how to keep students engaged with difficult RSHE topics:

“We know that reading for pleasure is at an all-time low and our attention spans are shortened by social media. So, remember that stories come in different, equally-valid, formats. Audio or graphic novels count as well. And of course, I have to give a special mention to narrative verse! It’s a pathway into reading for so many young people who feel overwhelmed by what Jason Reynolds dubbed the ‘big black blocks of text’ in conventional prose. Narrative verse is like a concentrate: all the emotion, intensity and immediacy, in far fewer words.”

Read Tia’s full blog post 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. Order your copy here or, better, via your local bookstore and bookshop.org.

Follow Tia on Bluesky @tiafisher.bsky.social.