Literacy Strategy

A grieving family. A decaying house. A babysitter with a monstrous secret. Nothing on Gloam Island is quite what it seems…

Gwen doesn’t need anyone to help her look after her younger siblings. And she isn’t fooled by the beautiful babysitter with the hungry eyes and sharp teeth. But everyone else is. So if Gwen wants Esme Laverne gone, she’ll have to handle it herself.

As Esme’s power grows, Gwen must embrace her deepest fears before she can defeat the monster in her home for good.

⚠️ Trigger warning: includes themes of bereavement and a deceased parent.

Genre:

• Horror
• Gothic
• Fantasy

Themes:

• Folklore
• Superstition
• Friendship
• Loss and grief

A romantic entanglement takes a dark turn in this tale of control and consent.  Friends Marnie and Zed are left with impossible decisions and difficult consequences.  Playful use of language highlights character relationships and the twists and turns that these take and showcases how important the words we use are in determining our identities.

⚠️ Trigger warning: contains mature themes including issues of consent and teenage pregnancy

Genre:

• YA Adult
• Real Issues

Themes:

• Verse
• Empathy
• Consent
• Identity
• Friendship