The Game I Will Never Forget

About this book

10-year-old Zak is content with his life as an only child. But then his parents hit him with two bits of news that change his world forever: his mum is having a baby, and his Nani is coming over from Bangladesh – and will be staying in HIS ROOM! 

Aided by his friends, Zak plans to reclaim his territory with a series of tricks, but Nani is not easily beaten. A former chess grandmaster, she plays Zak at his own game and gains the upper hand in the war of the pranks. 

But then Nani’s playful personality begins to change. She starts confusing people’s names, forgetting where she is or what she’s doing, and, slowly, Zak realises that she is living with dementia. He redirects his efforts and enters her in a chess tournament to try to help her rediscover her lost memories, leading to a game that no one will ever forget.

A beautifully crafted story which explores the complicated relationship between children and ageing relatives. Told from Zak’s perspective, this book interrogates the emotional impact of dementia in an age-appropriate way while celebrating all the warmth, memories and love shared between generations. 

About the author