My Perfect Cousin
by Karen McCombie, illustrated by Sofia Miller Salazar
Interest age: 11 to 13
Reading age: 7+
Published by Barrington Stoke
About this book
Ruby’s cousin Yasmin is pretty, clever, and has a gorgeous boyfriend. The cousins go to the same school and Ruby’s always felt that Yasmin tries to get attention away from her.
And when Yasmin’s boyfriend suggests that Ruby does a sponsored swim at the lido where he works, Ruby asks him to keep it a secret. She wants it to be her thing.
On the other hand, Yasmin has always felt pressurised by her parents, to study hard, and, by Max, to do what he wants her to do. Ruby always seems to glare at her and they’re not close. But Yasmin has a secret plan...
This is a clever story showing that there are always two sides to every situation. The contemporary themes will resonate with young people, including being an ally to a gay friend, and the pressures of exams and family expectations.
Using a dyslexia-friendly font on yellow pages, and with illustrations throughout, this slim volume will appeal to a wide range of readers.
About the author
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