Previously best-known for her award-winning YA novels, Lisa Williamson proves she is just as adept at writing contemporary stories for younger readers (10 – 12 years) in this new series.
Lola is moving into Year 7, big school, and the challenges and ordinary pressures of that step are exacerbated by her parents’ recent divorce and mum’s decision to sell their house. At least Evie, her so close they’re two peas-in-a-pod friend from primary school, will be there with her. But, as many of us know, people change and even the oldest of friends can simply grow apart.
Williamson gives proper weight to Lola’s confusion and disappointment as Evie finds a new best friend, and depicts with the same skill Lola’s happiness and growing confidence as she finds her own new people.
This is very much Jacqueline Wilson territory, and both authors share the same warmth and insight, the same respect for their young characters and their emotions. Future books in the series will follow other year 7s of the Henry Bigg Academy and it will be worth collecting them all.
A new contemporary series from Lisa Williamson about an ordinary class of kids with extraordinary stories- teamed up with the hilarious and award-winning illustrator, Jess Bradley.
The Bigg School series follows a class of kids who have just moved up to secondary school, the Henry Bigg Academy.
Best Friends Forever tells Lola's story - she and Evie have been BFF since they were babies but everything is about to change for Lola, and not in a good way!
At home things are tough because Lola's parents are divorcing and they're having to move the family home. SO when Annoying Cleo becomes friendly with Evie, stealing her from Lola, three most definitely becomes a crowd - Lola must learn that not all change is bad.
See author Lisa Williamson introduce the first book in the Bigg School series
'Relatable, real and really funny ... This warm, true-to-life story will hit the spot with so many readers.' - Karen McCombie, author
'Funny, touching and wise... as good as Jacqueline Wilson at her best' - The Bookseller
'Heartfelt and funny, this is a story about staying true to yourself, no matter what - and about real friendship' - Sinead O'Hart, author of The Time Tider
'A fresh, funny story filled with feelings around the highs and lows and ins and outs of friendship. Lisa Williamson and Jess Bradley feel a perfect pairing and have brilliantly captured the seismic shifts of changing schools, house and friendship groups.' - Jake Hope - Youth Libraries Group
'This is a delight! It's warm and engaging, and perfectly pitched. Lisa's characters are spot on! We are all Lola and we all know a Cleo'. - Abie Longstaff, author of The Trapdoor Mysteries Series
'I absolutely loved Best Friends Forever. It's a warm, funny and bittersweet story of growing up and growing apart. This will resonate with so many young people, especially those leaving primary school. Lisa's writing is honest and heartfelt, and her portrayal of Lola's struggle to hold on to her best friend and fit in at her new school whilst remaining true to herself was captivating to read and felt so real. It's a best friend in a book. I just loved it.' - Tamsin Winter, author of Bad Influence
Author
About Lisa Williamson
Lisa Williamson was born in Nottingham in 1980. She spent most of her childhood drawing, daydreaming and making up stories in her head (but never getting round to writing them down). As a teenager she was bitten by the acting bug and at 19 moved to London to study drama at university.
Following graduation, Lisa adopted the stage name of Lisa Cassidy and spent several happy and chaotic years occasionally getting paid to pretend to be other people. Between acting roles she worked as an office temp and started making up stories all over again, only this time she had a go at writing them down.
Her debut novel for young adults The Art of Being Normal was a best-seller and won the 2016 Waterstones Children's Book Prize for best older fiction.
Lisa lives in London with her partner, step-kids and a blue whippet called Nelson.
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