'I believe that everyone's voice deserves to be heard and everyone's big starts from small'

Yesterday, World Refugee Day, was the community launch day for 'Tender Earth.' It was full of emotion as young people from Fortismere School and Archer Academy expressed their feelings about our world.

Following a moving speech about being heard and finding your voice with the wonderful Nina Mansourian Year 9 student from Archer Academy. She and her friend Avisha Patel helped with the research for the book back in year seven.  Nina and Avisha were awarded their new roles as Inclusive Minds Inclusion Ambassadors. 

What did I do to deserve this?

I write inter-generational stories that I hope will be read by young people and shared across the generations...The following quotes are taken from young readers, parents, grandparents, librarians, authors, teachers, editors, literary agents, directors of refugee organisations and journalists attending the Archer Academy Book Launch .. written in response to the opening quote of 'Tender Earth.' 

'Days are scrolls: Write on them what you want to be remembered.' Bachya 

'In times like this,when it's so hard to make sense of painful and unjust events, truthful stories are ever more important. If these stories can give hope , meaning and agency to young people are vital.'

' Everyone should read children's and YA fiction and remember what it was like to be a child and learn what it is like for children now.' Venetia Gosling ( Editor of 'Tender Earth')

Grenfell Tower

'I was very moved this evening. I can't wait to wrestle Sita's book from my daughter and have a read myself!' 

'Roses are red

Violets are blue 

Voices are many

But the heard are few!'

' I believe that everyone's voice deserves to be heard and everyone's big starts from small' 

'What a very special event, seeing a wonderful inclusive book being launched and meeting one of the young people who helped inspire it.' (Alex - Inclusive Minds)

'Looking into the children's eyes and knowing that they, I and Alex as well as Sita who brought us all together will never forget tonight. Words change the world, they bring us together' # Everybodyin Joanna Sholem (Inclusive Minds)

'I've really enjoyed your books so far, they have inspired me to write...'

'So far the book has been powerful and flabbergasting. There's a snake in the kitchen!????'

'Sita's speech was very inspiring and the book is very well written with carefully thought through humour.'

'Everyone laughed at the part of the opening when Laila was contemplating whether a snake was all tail!' 

'I was very moved this evening. I can't wait to wrestle Sita's book from my daughter and have a read myself!'

'At my age of over eighty I sometimes remember things I had forgotten . A shock sometimes!' Bill Tyler

'Sita's speech was very inspiring and the book is very well written with carefully thought through humour.'

' I wish humans hadn't evolved to act negatively to those who are different.'

'I wish for all the world to be happy and for everyone to love each other as equals one day.'

' No one should be alone'

'My grandmother came to this country in 1896 from Russia, married happily and produced nine children, her husband my grandfather died early and she raised her family under such difficult circumstances. She could not read or write. Their youngest child,who was born an uncle,became a best selling author and won a Diamond Dagger Award. How proud  my grandmother would have been, and how proud of her children and grandchildren who have benefited not only from the far reaching liberal politics of this country, but also from her and my grandmother's energy, philosophy and wisdom - and their hard work.'

"This book fills me up with hope'

"Listen to the children" #Tender Earth @Fortisilibbie

"This books sounds serious and really funny too."

'Don't think that your individual votes don't matter because you're only one person'

'You only have one life, make it count.'

'So wonderful to bring a book ' home' to us, in our lives. Inspiring, powerful message of community in these divisive times. Thank You.'

'Both my son and I will read your books and compare our experiences.'

'Hope for better news to have a future with peace, community in London will be re-built'

'Our world will never be perfect'

'I was very moved this evening. I can't wait to wrestle Sita's book from my daughter and have a read myself!' 

'This has been really inspiring and it made us realize how important it is to find your voice'

Amnesty Banner

Thank you to two inspirational librarians Gill Ward from Fortismere School (where I was Patron of Reading) and Gill Wolfe of Archer Academy (where I will be Patron of Reading from Autumn 2017) 

Librarians are our national treasure. Without them young people like Pari in 'Tender Earth' who have no books at home will be all the poorer... and as a consequence the whole world will be poorer. I leave you with Pari's voice.

'I'm telling you so you know this is why we're here like this. I'm going to be the best at things. I'm going to be a teacher like Mrs Latif and find somewhere good to live for my mum and dad."  Pari

Pari, like all the children I worked with on World Refugee Day hold banners up for a better future for all the families in their community... 

  

Thanks to Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End who provided books for the workshop at Fortismere School and Children's Book Shop Muswell Hill for selling books and supporting the book launch event at Archer Academy.

Resources on 'Tender Earth' and other novels about our contemporary world published by Macmillan Children's Books are available to all schools:  

http://the-reading-agency.theshoppad.com/#/product/look-beyond-your-world-promotional-pack

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Tender Earth 

'Tender Earth is a book of our time. Sita Brahmachari’s words offer comfort and hope and a tangible way to heal our bruised and tender earth.' Gill Lewis - Author

   

Tender Earth is endorsed by Amnesty International UK '

because it illuminates the importance of equality, friendship and solidarity, and upholds our right to protest against injustice.'

Thanks to Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End who provided books for the workshop at Fortismere School and Children's Book Shop Muswell Hill for selling books at the book launch at Archer Academy, and their beautiful display in the shop window.