The Year the Maps Changed by Danielle Binks

Some people in town, like Luca, think it's great and want to help. Soon after learning about the baby, Fred hears that the town will be taking in hundreds of refugees seeking safety from a war-torn Kosovo. According to Fred's teacher, maps don't always give the full picture of our history, but more and more it feels like Fred's family is redrawing the line of their story. Her birth father was never in the picture, her mom died years ago, and her stepfather, Luca, is now expecting a baby with his new girlfriend. If you asked eleven-year-old Fred to draw a map of her family, it would be a bit confusing. 'Timeless and beautiful, and it deserves to be read by people of all ages.' - Printz Award-winning author Melina Marchetta ‘This timely and beautiful story reveals the invisible lines of kindness and empathy that connect us all.Wolf Hollow meets The Thing About Jellyfish in Danielle Binks's debut middle grade novel set in 1999, where a twelve-year-old girl grapples with the meaning of home and family amidst a refugee crisis that has divided her town. ‘A brilliant gem that will make you see the world – and your place in it – in a new way.’ EMILY GALE When a group of Kosovar-Albanian refugees are brought to a government ‘safe haven’ not far from Sorrento, their fate becomes intertwined with the lives of Fred and her family in ways that no one could have expected.Ī middle-grade coming-of-age story inspired by true events about the bonds of family, the weight of grief and the power of compassion for fans of THE BONE SPARROW, WOLF HOLLOW and THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH. More and more it feels like a land-grab for family and Fred is the one being left off the map.Įven as things feel like they’re spinning out of control for Fred, a crisis from the other side of the world comes crashing in. But now Pop’s had to go away, and Luca’s girlfriend Anika and her son have moved in. Her mother died when she was six and she’s been raised by her Pop and adoptive father, Luca, ever since. One extraordinary year will change them all… Longlisted for the Indie Book Awards 2021 Longlisted for the ABIA Book of the Year Award for Young Children 2021 Shortlisted for the Readings Children’s Book Prize 2021 Shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2021Ī CBCA Notable Book for Younger Readers 2021 ‘A gorgeous book … it’s timeless and beautiful and it deserves to be read by people of all ages.’ MELINA MARCHETTA

The Year the Maps Changed by Danielle Binks