book cover

TMy Especially Weird Week with Tess

by Anna Woltz
Translated by David Colmer

Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 8+

Published by Rock the Boat, 2023

  • Around the world
  • Coming-of-age
  • Funny

About this book

Sam is playing football on the beach when his brother falls into the hole. Which is utterly hilarious until it becomes obvious that his leg is broken – leaving Sam with no one to hang out with for the holiday.

Luckily, he bumps into Tess who seems to have an office in a car park and is looking for a dance partner. And before he knows it, Sam is drawn into Tess’s world; holding a funeral for a canary and hatching a plan to help Tess meet her father. A father who doesn’t even know she exists.

And so begins what must surely be the weirdest week of his life.

Translated from Dutch and set on the tiny island of Texel, this is a warm-hearted, funny and poignant story that celebrates all things weird and will appeal to a wide range of readers.

Tess is strong-minded and determined, with a gift for ingenious planning, but it is her fledgling friendship with Sam, and a fair amount of teamwork, that finally gets her what she really wants. 

Amidst the comedic moments there are some interesting reflections on dying, death and bereavement as well as revealing insights about the true meaning of family.

About the author

Anna Woltz is Dutch writer who was born in London. She has written 20 books for young readers, ranging from adventure stories to challenging young adult novels. Her books have been translated into 12 languages and have won many prizes including the Dutch Nienke van Hitchum Award for Honderd uur nacht, a Dutch Vlagen Wimpel prize and the German Luchs-Preis Juli. Alaska won a Zilveren Griffel, the most prestigious literary prize for Dutch children's books.

She's been praised for her use of language, fresh humorous narrative voice and the psychological depth to her novels, which often deal with family relationships and growing up. In 2017 Anna was selected by Hay Festival as one of the Aarhus39 – one of the best 39 emerging writers for young people from across Europe.

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