Tia Fisher‘s “gripping, relatable, authentic and unputdownable” (LoveReading4Kids) novel in verse, Crossing the Line, has won the UKLA Book Awards 11-14 category. 

Sponsored by LoveReading4Kids and Reading Cloud, the UKLA Book Awards are the only children’s book awards judged by teachers. UKLA described Crossing the Line as a “powerful verse novel debut” which deals with “highly topical county lines exploitation of vulnerable youths”. See the full list of winners here.

Erik’s life has been falling apart ever since his dad died. Homework and being good at school stop feeling important when you’re the new man of the house. When Erik’s bad behaviour attracts the wrong crowd, he’s sucked into a terrifying new world of drug dealing, trap houses and violence.

Making money feels good but Erik soon learns that a small favour can become a huge debt.

And when his sisters’ lives are threatened, Erik will have to cross one more line to save them.

Described as “funny, moving and terrifyingly real” by Finbar Hawkins (Stone), you can grab your copy of Tia’s award-winning debut here or, better, via your local bookshop or Bookshop.org.

Follow Tia on Twitter @tiafisher_.