Kalk Bay has secrets and surprises.

James explores the beach and harbour, with its whales and fishing boats, the village clinging to the hillside, and the best revelation of all: meeting the grandmother he never knew he had. But hidden from view are the abalone poachers, to whom everyone turns a blind eye . . .

Yet, no secret is as hefty as the one James carries with him: the hideous birthmark that has kept him from the water all his life. Will he find the courage to overcome his fears?

Op haar agtiende verjaarsdag loop Marné weg van die huis af. Weg van Die Sending waar sy grootgemaak is tussen groen valleie. Weg van die kultus met hulle tienduisend reëls wat haar hele lewe beheer.

Sy begin ’n nuwe lewe by haar tannie in Klerksdorp en probeer leer hoe om ’n doodnormale meisie te wees tussendeur die uitdagings van matriek in ’n nuwe skool. Sy maak nuwe vriende, en dan is daar die kitaarspeler met die mooi groen oë …

Maar na jare van breinspoeling en manipulasie is dit nie so maklik om weg te breek van die sendingdogtertjie wat sy eens was nie. En haar ouers en Die Sending sal nie ophou om haar te probeer opspoor nie. ’n Aangrypende grootwordverhaal oor die soeke na self, die soeke na God en die soeke na waarheid.

Hierdie treffende debuut is gebaseer op ware gebeure by die KwaSizabantu Sendingstasie in KwaZulu-Natal, waarvan die skrywer deel was.

Thlalefo’s family is constantly moving, and she doesn’t often get to establish friendships.

At a new school yet again, she strikes up a friendship with the beautiful Boitumelo and shares the story of her secret crush on Lethabo, whom she falls for when she sees him in her taxi.

As it turns out, Boitumelo is a “mean girl” – she steals Lethabo’s attention while pretending to stay friendly with Thlalefo, leaving Thlalefo to learn a hard lesson.

Welcome to the page-turning, twisty, gasp-inducing world of the Debutantes - an addictive YA mystery duology from the author of #1 bestselling, TikTok sensation INHERITANCE GAMES series.

Reluctant debutante Sawyer Taft joined Southern high society for one reason and one reason alone: to identify and locate her biological father. But the answers Sawyer found during her debutante year only left her with more questions and one potentially life-ruining secret.

When her cousin Lily ropes her into joining a mysterious and elite secret society called the White Gloves, Sawyer soon discovers that someone in the group's ranks may have the answers she's looking for. Things are looking up . . . until Sawyer and the White Gloves make a disturbing discovery near the family's summer home - and uncover a twisted secret, decades in the making.

Shocking twists, family secrets, a fish-out-of water protagonist and a page-turning mystery combine in Little White Lies and Deadly Little Scandals (The Debutantes Duology) - perfect for fans coming from THE INHERITANCE GAMES series looking for their next addictive read from the Master of YA Mysteries, Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Be prepared to be scared again in the nail-biting sequel to HappyHead.

FRIENDS, WELCOME TO ELMHALLOW. YOU ARE THE CHOSEN TEN.

By some miracle, Seb has survived the HappyHead programme, only to find himself stranded on a remote island under the guidance of a freakishly beautiful couple.

Far from home, Seb reluctantly teams up with Eleanor again and the pair are forced to compete in a series of ever stranger trials to prove their connection. All the while, he can’t stop thinking about Finn. Determined to find him, Seb’s search uncovers an even darker reality.

Can he escape the island and expose the sinister truth behind HappyHead?

Based on historical fact, it tells the poignant story of a little girl and her Ouma who experience removal from their suburb when it is proclaimed 'white' under apartheid's Group Areas Act.

Although narrated with the voice of innocence, this novella is hugely perceptive of injustice.

Ek en jy lyk dalk verskillend,
ons klink verskillend,
ons bly op verskillende plekke
en ons eet verskillende kos,
maar wanneer ek in jou oë kyk,
sien ek myself.
 
’n Warm, vertroostende boek oor vriendskap en ubuntu wat beide ons ooreenkomste en verskille vier.

Die boek is ook beskikbaar in Isizulu en Engels.

Uncle Kelly is a drag performer who lives with his nephew Eli. Eli is about to start school and he has a birthmark on his face that he is afraid he will be bullied about. Uncle Kelly helps Eli find his confidence and encourages him to love himself as he is.

Eli finds a creative way of owning his insecurity and with his new confidence makes friends and inspires other children to accept their peers, and to even express their own creativity.

A book that encourages love and acceptance and embraces otherness, What’s Wrong With Glitter is a rhyming book that is filled with bright illustrations.

Grace Mendes a.k.a. Cinderhella is a fierce competitor in the PFF, a pillow fight federation that’s part roller derby, part professional wrestling. But in this fresh, coming-of-age YA graphic novel, Grace needs to learn to overcome her biggest enemy: herself. For fans of Check, Please and Bloom.

When college freshman Grace Mendes reluctantly attends her first pillow fight match, she falls in love with the surprisingly gritty sport.

Despite her usually shy, introverted, and reserved nature, Grace decides to try out for the Pillow Fight Federation (PFF), a locally famous league of fighters with larger-than-life personas like Pain Eyre, Miss Fortune, and champion Kat Atonic. They may battle with pillows, but there is nothing soft about these fighters. The first and only rule to pillow fighting is that the pillow needs to be the first point of contact; after that, everything else goes.

Grace struggles with deep-seated body image issues, so she is especially shocked when she makes the competitive league and is welcomed into the fold of close knit, confident fighters. As her first official fight performing as newly crafted alter-ego/ring persona Cinderhella looms on the horizon, the real battle taking place is between Grace and her growing insecurities. What if people laugh or make fun of her? Why did she think she could pillow fight in the first place when she doesn’t look like your “typical” athlete?

Turns out, no one is laughing when Cinderhella dominates her first match in the ring. And as her alter-ego rises through the ranks of the PFF, gaining traction and online fame (and online trolls), can Grace use the spotlight to become an icon for not just others, but most importantly, for herself?

Pillow Talk is an inclusive, high-octane, outrageously fun graphic novel that aims a punch at the impossibly high standards set for women in sports (and otherwise) and champions the power of finding a team that will, quite literally, fight for you. A knock-out!

We may look different you and I,
sound different,
act different,
eat different food,
and live in different places
but when I look into your eyes, I see myself.

A comforting and lyrical book about friendship and ubuntu that celebrates both our differences and similarities.

Also available in isiZulu and Afrikaans.

A young monkey finds himself in an unexpected situation when he stumbles into the home of a family who love to take walks outside, read books and eat chapati.

The family take the young monkey in and care for him, showing him a new way of life that he never knew of before.

This is a tale of acceptance, compassion and great love, a story of the warmth and comfort of a forever family.

This book is perfect for anyone wanting to show children that happiness can found wherever and with whoever, as long as you are willing to accept their love.

Goue reeks is een van die heel bekendste en gewildste inheemse leesreekse met beproefde sukses oor dekades. Derduisende onderwysers en ouers het self daarmee leer lees – en dit werk steeds! Op publieke aanvraag is die volledige reeks nou weer beskikbaar. Dit volg ’n basiese benadering tot leesonderrig deur klank- en woordbouvaardighede en is gebaseer op herhaling, herkenning en inoefening. Goue reeks se hersiene uitgawe (2009) bied alles wat nodig is om jong leerders te ontwikkel in jong lesers.

This book brings to light an important message about courage, and how to stand for justice by practicing values, virtues, and love.

Justice stands up to a bully and befriends her, showing the importance of love and empathy. Inspired by the many world heroes who have stood up for justice – like Nelson Mandela, Malala, and many others.

This is the perfect story to teach children about standing up for what’s right and helping others.

This is a HUMAN story, meant for both children and adults. To feel alone and sad, is human. This book is Astra the Unicorn’s story of love and being loved. Astra finds her ability to use her voice and her sparkle to make a difference to others.

When the sun and the moon fall in love the result of it is Astra, a beautiful unicorn who loved nothing more than to dance and play among the stars. When Astra comes to Earth on her 10th birthday, she is in for something of a surprise. The other animals down there are different to her and try as she might she found it almost impossible to fit in.

The zebras didn’t want her running and playing with them and she couldn’t even get up into the branches with the monkeys. Soon Astra felt out of place and wished she could be back where she belonged. But could a meeting with another group of other animals change Astra’s perception of Earth? And can she find a way to belong and make friends?

The Story of Astra the Unicorn Finding Her Belonging is a beautiful story with a strong message. Young children are certain to love the adventures of this endearing creature and her search to find a way to be included.

Sometimes it only takes a stranger in a dark place... to say we have the right to be here, to make us warm in the coldest season.

In 2019, Neil Gaiman asked his Twitter followers: "What reminds you of warmth?" Over 1,000 responses later, Neil began to weave replies from across the world into a poem in aid of the UNHCR's winter appeal. It revealed our shared desire to feel safe, welcome and warm in a world that can often feel frightening and lonely.

Now publishing in hardback and illustrated by a group of artists from around the world, What You Need to Be Warm is an exploration of displacement and flight from conflict through the objects and memories that represent warmth. It is about our right to feel safe, whoever we are and wherever we are from. It is about holding out a hand to welcome those who find themselves far from home.

Featuring new, original illustrations from Chris Riddell, Benji Davies, Yuliya Gwilym, Nadine Kaadan, Daniel Egnéus, Pam Smy, Petr Horácek, Beth Suzanna, Bagram Ibatoulline, Marie-Alice Harel, Majid Adin and Richard Jones, with a thought-provoking cover from Oliver Jeffers.

Sales of every copy of this book will help support the work of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, which helps forcibly displaced communities and stateless people across the world.

Translated as "The Ghost's Treasure", this is the story of Sgegede who, with the help of a witchdoctor, digs up his late grandfather's buried treasure of Kruger rands.

He underhandedly converts them to cash with the help of some clever IT friends, but his family's sudden wealth raises eyebrows in the community, and Sgedede is consumed by a guilty conscience. His luck runs out when it emerges his grandfather might be involved in the murder of his new girlfriend's father.

Meanwhile some old "friends" turn up, also in search of the coins...

Read the book behind the upcoming NETFLIX movie launching on 3rd March 2021, directed by and starring Amy Poehler.

When an unlikely teenager stands up to sexism in her high school she unwittingly starts a feminist revolution that shakes her whole town. It's time to fight like a girl! Perfect for fans of Holly Bourne.

Vivian Carter is fed up. Fed up with her high school teachers who think the football team can do no wrong. Fed up with sexist dress codes, hallway harassment and gross comments from guys during class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules.

Viv's mum was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates Moxie, a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She's just blowing off steam, but other girls respond and spread the Moxie message. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realises that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution.

TIME TO FIGHT LIKE A GIRL

A page-turning read with a feminist message, for anyone who has ever had to deal with #everydaysexism

Cover2Cover Books is delighted to announce the publication of an anthology of short stories written in isiXhosa, Akusayi Kuphind, by emerging author Sonwabiso Ngcowa.

The stories in Akusayi Kuphind are written in language that comes straight from the daily lives of young people from urban and rural communities all over South Africa. The characters respond to the kinds of challenges faced by many South African youth.

These include families where one of the parents had to work far from home; poverty; being a single parent; abuse of women and girls; bullying in schools and loss of self-esteem; arranged marriages; HIV and AIDS; as well as same sex relationships and the way they are looked at in the communities.

A wild night of partying and a run-in with one of the most notorious drug dealers in Gauteng turns Barries’ life upside down.

The police give him one simple choice – if he wants to stay out of jail, he has to spend the next six weeks on a farm, near a small coastal town in the Eastern Cape, right in the middle of nowhere. With his estranged father.

Slowly but surely, Barries comes to realise that the bottle of brandy stashed under the bed is not the only – or the darkest – secret his father is hiding.

Breath, a translation of the best-selling Asem, is a gripping novel for teens that doesn’t hesitate to tackle difficult themes.

This special children's book contains ten caring stories with heart.

Each child in Miss Ansie's class at Hoephoepieland has their own story that takes place in challenging circumstances within a multicultural South African context. The situations range from trauma (a taxi accident, xenophobia, a house burning down and domestic violence), medical conditions (congenital heart defect, infectious lung disease and cerebral palsy) to different family structures (adoption and an absent father).

The author tackles weighty issues with compassion, sensitivity and a fine sense of humor. The book makes children aware of others' worlds and helps them develop their capacity for empathy. There is also background information on each story’s specific theme as well as questions to discuss.

Singabukeka sehlukile mina nawe,
sizwakale sehlukile,
senze okwehlukile,
sidle ukudla okwehlukile,
futhi sihlale ezindaweni ezehlukene
kodwa uma ngibheka emehlweni akho, ngizibona mina uqobo.

Incwadi eduduzayo futhi ethinta imizwa emayelana nobungani kanye nobuntu ebukangaza kokubili okufanayo nokuwumehluko kithi.

Iyatholakala futhi ngesiNgisi nangesiBhunu.

In Danny Shoots for Goals, Danny develops a passion for football and dribbles and kicks with finesse in his back garden. However, the school football trials do not go too well, and he doesn’t initially make the team. His Dad uses this as an opportunity to teach Danny about participation, perseverance and sportsmanship rather than purely wanting to win.

The story teaches children the concepts of varying talents, of setting goals, rising above disappointment and continuing to try their best, even if they “miss” some of their goals- valuable lessons in the sports and life arenas.

The second fantastic book in the series about four friends who want to make the world a better place.

Izzy and Poppy are being taken for a walk along the river by Poppy's boisterous dog, Billy, when he decides to chase after a water-rat. Both animals land in the river, which is so choked with rubbish that Billy can't get out. His paw is stuck in an old bike wheel and the girls must work to free him. The adventure gives Izzy a great idea for their next project, though, and it's a very very muddy one...

A brilliant series about the small changes that make a big difference, with themes of environmentalism and friendship. Written by Holly Webb, bestselling author of the Pet Rescue Adventure series.

With cover illustration by Owen Gildersleeve.

Look out for the other books in the Earth Friends series: Fair Fashion, Green Garden, Pet Protection

Originally published as Izzy's Rescue, this edition of the book comes with a brilliant new cover!

Beloved author Gary D. Schmidt expertly blends comedy and tragedy in the story of Doug Swieteck, an unhappy "teenage thug" first introduced in The Wednesday Wars, who finds consolation and a sense of possibility in friendship and art.

At once heartbreaking and hopeful, this absorbing novel centers on Doug, 14, who has an abusive father, a bully for a brother, a bad reputation, and shameful secrets to keep. Teachers and police and his relatives think he's worthless, and he believes them, holding others at arm's length. Newly arrived in town, he starts out on the same path—antagonizing other kids, mouthing off to teachers, contemptuous of everything intimidating or unfamiliar. Who would have thought that the public library would turn out to be a refuge and an inspiration, that a snooty librarian might be a friend, or that snarky redheaded Lil would like him—really like him?

With more than his share of pain, including the return of his oldest brother from the Vietnam War, shattered and angry, will Doug find anything better than "okay for now"?

HBO's Emmy-winning Last Week Tonight with John Oliver presents a children's picture book about a Very Special boy bunny who falls in love with another boy bunny.

Meet Marlon Bundo, a lonely bunny who lives with his Grampa, Mike Pence - the Vice President of the United States. But on this Very Special Day, Marlon's life is about to change forever...

With its message of tolerance and advocacy, this charming children's book explores issues of same sex marriage and democracy. Sweet, funny, and beautifully illustrated, this book is dedicated to every bunny who has ever felt different.

100% of Last Week Tonight's proceeds will be donated to The Trevor Project and AIDS United.