ILLEGAL Meadowside fiction, March 2012

The second book in a cycle of three novels set on beautiful Hayling Island.

The death of baby Jemma has sent fifteen-year-old Lindy's family into a downward spiral : her brothers are in prison and her parents have given up. The other girls at school all have proper families, with good jobs and nice cars. Why did Lindy get landed with such a useless one?

 

Lindy thinks she's been thrown a lifeline when her cousin Colin gives her a job, but she's soon out of her depth - he's a drug dealer and forces her to sell cocaine. Terrified that she will go to prison and seeing no way out, Lindy starts self-harming. Then she finds a surprising ally in fellow misfit, Karl, who is mute. Together they embark upon a desperate plan to ensure her freedom.

 

Illegal is the story of a teenage girl, driven to take desperate measures when all other choices are taken away from her.

"A touching, surprising and painfully honest story."

HIDDEN Meadowside fiction, March 2011

"Gripping story..written with clarity and immediacy." The Sunday Times 

Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week

Nominated  : 2012 CILIP Carnegie Medal.

Shortlisted : 2012 Portsmouth Book Award

Shortlisted : 2012  Essex Book Award

Nominated : 2011 People's Prize

Longlisted : 2011 Southern Schools Book Award

Longlisted : 2011 Hampshire Book Award 


HIDDEN on YouTube!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Aqj41fUnL4

Interview on Portsmouth Live TV ( halfway through)  here.


Order HIDDEN on Amazon or on The Book Depository

What the reviewers think about HIDDEN.

 Miriam Halahmy never puts a foot wrong in this gripping story focusing on an agonisingly difficult contemporary problem. Tautly written throughout, her fine novel deserves the widest audience.

Nick Tucker, reviewer and broadcaster.

The pace of the narrative carries the reader through the .... messages about justice and integrity.

The Observer 

Hidden tackles one of the most contentious issues of our time. Everybody under your roof will find something great in this story.

Katie Martin, BBC Radio Solent

A contemporary novel dealing with contemporary issues...very accessible.

Books for Keeps. Starred review.


 

'There's so much hidden in this little hut, and whatever I've dived into here is only going to get more complicated.'

 

HIDDEN, Meadowside Fiction, is a brave debut novel tackling the complex issues of immigration and human-rights laws, through the eyes of teenage Alix. 

A literary coming-of-age novel dealing with courage, prejudice, judgement, and the difficulty of sorting right from wrong. Challenging, charming, compelling.

 

 

HIDDEN is the first in a cycle of three novels set on Hayling Island off the South coast of England, near the Isle of Wight. Each novel is stand alone but a minor character in the previous novel becomes the major character in the next.

ILLEGAL : March 2012   STUFFED  : October 2012 

Hidden left me feeling inspired and empowered to stand up for the things I believe in...Everyone should read this book...It's invigorating!

The Bookette.

Beautifully written.... a novel about hope.

Armadillo

At a time when British youngsters are increasingly concerned about immigration, it seems very timely to publish a teen adventure about asylum seekers.

Bridget Galton, Ham and High

People grow and learn through this book. It raises all kinds of interesting questions but never loses sight of the fact that what we want to read first and foremost is an interesting story about people we can get to like.

Point this one out to your teachers - they'll thank you for it.

Adele Geras

A brave choice of subject matter.

Tall Tales and Short Stories

The Hayling Island setting is well-evoked and the denouement is inspiring.

Angela Kiverstein, the J.C.

A great story about a very real and current problem.

Bookwitch

Miriam Halahmy has addressed an increasingly common situation about which most teenagers know little and has cast an uncomfortable spotlight.

Mary Hoffman

Alix is a marvellous heroine - an apparently ordinarygirl who turns out to have enormous reserves of courage and strength. A novel which will stretch the minds of readers of any age.

Rosalie Warren

Brilliant! Un-put-downable! I liked the fact it was an Iraqi refugee as we rarely 'see' them. They are not as visible as other groups. Next installment please."

Mary Masaba

Comments from young people about HIDDEN.

I really enjoyed your book, it made me think about other people in other countries more. Can't wait to read ILLEGAL.

Holly Parkes.

I very much enjoyed Hidden  and  if I was you I would sign it for every book in every school so they can remember who wrote the book and how amazing that person  is at writing such an amazing book. I found it so interesting I would love to buy a book but I don't have enough money. So I'm going to see if my nan has a book of yours because she is a big fan like me . This is a book review for Hidden.
Lucy Crawford. Portsmouth.

I very much enjoyed Hidden and it made me think about asylum seekers and refugees. Alix and Samir inspired me very much!

Miriam Summerfield, 13 yrs.

I liked this book a lot as it has a very original subject which I hardly knew about. I would recommend it to any friend.

Jess Rodnight, 12 yrs.

Amazing book, I would recommend it to everyone. A real page turner. Go and buy it now. 

Jad Faki, 13 yrs

Hidden addresses one of the most current debates in the UK today - immigration and asylum seekers. Miriam addresses this with flare and to top it all its based on our home town - Hayling Island. Miriam Halahmy is truly a magnificent author. She makes you think and think.

Phoebe Ridgway, 14 yrs.

How did you link an Iraqi young man called Mohammed to a relatively unheard of island called Hayling?

Jordan Shortman,

15 yrs.

Interview for the Hayling Islander.

I am not much of a reader but I read pretty much the whole book in a day....The story was really good!

Ellie, 14 years.

Although I am more into dark and mysterious books I thought that this book gave me an insight into a topic I do not know well. I do know Hayling very well and I was wondering whether this was based on a true story?

Jesse, 14 years

No Jesse, this is not a true story, but there are many true bits to it, as told to me by asylum seekers. I am glad you enjoyed the book.

Miriam Halahmy