Activist
Activist is the third powerful and immersive YA verse novel from acclaimed author Louisa Reid. Tackling the sexual abuse and misogyny endemic in Secondary Schools, this is a novel about activism in all its forms, about speaking out and standing up for what’s right.
Cassie’s school is enmeshed in a scandal when a female student anonymously posts about the sexual abuse she has suffered and the school fails to act properly. As accusations start flying, a powerful movement arises in the school, with calls for those responsible to be punished – not just the students but the school whose environment has allowed this sort of behaviour to happen, unchecked, for so long.
Louisa Reid
Louisa Reid has spent most of her life reading. And when she’s not doing that she’s writing stories, or imagining writing them at least. An English teacher, her favourite part of the job is sharing her love of reading and writing with her pupils. Louisa lives with her family in the north-west of England and is proud to call a place near Manchester home.
GLOVES OFF is her first novel in verse, and she’s fallen in love with the exhilarating and exciting challenges and opportunities that writing in this form brings. Reading and loving the work of writers such as Jason Reynolds, David Levithan and Sarah Crossan inspired her to rise to the challenge.
Louisa writes about things that she thinks are important to young people, and all people generally, really. Drawn to write about themes of female empowerment and personal freedom, GLOVES OFF is about bullying and body image, with some boxing thrown in too. Louisa hopes the novel will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever had to fight for self-confidence and self-belief – things which are, for many, very hard won.