“Sonny was aware of the white noise beginning to gather in his ears. He tried to force down the overwhelming sense of panic…”Twelve-year-old Sonny lives in a world shattered by a devastating cyberattack. Desperately struggling to fit in at school, navigate his fractured identity, and form real connections, he feels completely adrift.But everything changes when he discovers an unexpected friendship in the most unlikely of places. Could this mysterious bond finally offer him a lifeline… or is it just another illusion destined to crumble?
Writing Sonny
The heart behind writing this novel (aimed at ages 10-13 year olds) was to create a compelling story with themes in it which are both wholesome for middle school aged readers, but also which might provoke deep questions and discussion on topics which are relevant to this age group today.
Sonny is a 12-year-old adopted boy who struggles with his identity and attachment issues which impact his family life, school life and friendships. This is set against a backdrop of a cyber-attack which has destroyed the infrastructure of the country, meaning Sonny and his friends can only reminisce about a digital age that they have never known.
Whilst this story, on one level, is just a wholesome story to be enjoyed with a hopeful ending (in my opinion, there are not enough of these books for our younger generation), my hope is that it challenges discussion and thought around themes of communication and technology, identity, friendships and parenthood. As such, I have also written a parent/teacher pamphlet to accompany the book. Feel free to download!
Where to buy
Sonny can be ordered from all good book platforms, including Waterstones and Amazon.
If you would like a signed copy, or are interested in a scheme of work for school, please contact me.
