Just released, No Words is a funny, sweet, deeply moving story about Aria, a young boy from Iran who never EVER speaks and must learn to navigate the dog-eat-dog world of the school grounds in his new home in Australia without talking.

Luckily, Hero (the anti-heroine) and Jaz (the extrovert) step up to not only help him navigate his new life, but also defeat Rufus the school bully, form a poetry band and become besties in the process.

Beautifully written and told with such heart, No Words is the second book by Maryam Master who also wrote the incredible Exit Through The Gift Shop.

Drawing strongly on her Iranian heritage and childhood as an Iranian refugee arriving in Australia at the age of nine, Maryam has created a rich and vibrant back story for Aria, with culture, food, loss and the refugee journey all playing a part in the story.

A middle grade book to be read together or quite alone, if you’re going to buy your tween one book this year, make it this one.