Author(s): Anna Woltz

Senior Fiction | Social Issues & Relationships | Adventure

10-year-old Sam is spending the holidays with his family on the Dutch island of Texel, but no one is having fun. His older brother has broken his ankle; his mum is plagued by migraines; and the morbidly imaginative Sam decides to prepare for the day his family might die by practicing loneliness. But when 11-year-old whirlwind Tess catapults herself into his life, Sam’s only option is to follow her lead. Tess wants to find her father, who doesn’t even know she exists. Together they come up with an especially weird plan to lure him onto the island for one week, discovering the joy of living and the meaning of family along the way.
A hilarious, heart-warming tale about family, friendship and what it means to live.

Review:

"[Woltz's] imagination and ability to convey complicated family dynamics is unmatched in books for this age group... My Especially Weird Week with Tess has already become one of my favourite summer adventure stories." -- Alex O'Connell * The Times Children's Book of the Week *
"From one day's eclectic activities to the next, the story's pace never falters, while Sam's observations and earnest, occasionally clueless responses to new situations add to the narrative's charm...This novel is fresh, amusing, and rewarding." - * Booklist, starred review *
"I loved this. Deep and serious themes dealt with in such a sunlit, funny and enchanting way. A complete delight." -- Anthony McGowan, author of Dogs of the Deadlands
"One (especially weird) week is enough to change your life. I loved spending a week with Sam and Tess in this fast-paced, heart-warming novel. Woltz has a wonderful gift for tackling serious issues with just the right amount of tenderness and humour. All the quirky characters in this book will stay with you long after the last page. Hugely enjoyable." -- Jaco Jacobs, author of A Good Day for Climbing Trees
"Sam and Tess's charming story comes and goes too fast, much like that unforgettable vacation that you never want to end. I absolutely adored this!" -- Tanya Guerrero, author of All You Knead Is Love
"This novel is a heart-warming, life-affirming read about the importance of family and community, featuring two delightful protagonists who can only be their wonderful, original selves." -- Charlotte Eyre, The Bookseller, Book of the Month
'This funny, award-winning novel by Dutch writer Woltz is original and touching - and has two wonderfully memorable characters... The two complicated children build an unlikely but honest bond... while learning that being different from others can be something to celebrate.'-- Sally Morris * Daily Mail *
'Tess's conflicted feelings about her father and Sam's preoccupation with death's realities are deftly handled, and Sam's relationships with his family, particularly his brother, are realistically flawed and filled with love.' - * Publishers Weekly *
'What a treat this book is! Vibrant, fast paced, and fresh, its characters leap off the page... A rich and rewarding read that makes me hope to see more of this author's work becoming available to English readers.' -- Joy Court * LoveReading4Kids

Author Biography: Anna Woltz is an internationally bestselling children's author based in the Netherlands. She has written twenty-five books for young readers, which have been translated into twenty-four languages and won numerous prizes. My Especially Weird Week with Tess was made into an award-winning film titled My Extraordinary Summer with Tess. It has been translated into thirteen languages.