The Hidden Story of Estie Noor

Following an undisclosed "incident" at school, Estie is expelled and sent to stay with her aunt for the summer in a small, Scottish town. She vows to put her barriers up. 

Estie desperately wants her truth to be heard, to tell her own story, but feels drowned out by those who don’t listen, who do the talking on her behalf. 

When she arrives, the town of Brunstane is not as it first appears. Just like Estie, it contains hidden truths waiting to be unearthed. She discovers a trail of messages and clues with her new friend Idris that immerse her in a mysterious story from the past.

As the truth unravels, Estie begins to see parallels between the hidden story and her own struggle to find her voice. Will revealing this secret truth finally give her the confidence to share her own?  

Written in beautiful, first-person verse, this book manages to be an accessible read while still exploring some important themes around truth, representation and identity.

It features complementary illustrations and textual mediums throughout which add vibrancy as well as teaching the reader some Sudanese language. This is a brilliant book to demonstrate narrative poetic techniques to readers.