If My Words Had Wings

‘Shining a light into lives hidden to most white readers, [this] book will leave a mark forever on many hearts’ Melvin Burgess, author of Junk

‘Danielle Jawando is an extraordinary storyteller’ Jenny Valentine, author of A Girl Called Joy

‘A powerful, much needed book about race in the UK. A must read!’ Abiola Bello, co-author of The Very Merry Murder Club

‘A beautiful and absorbing read’ Diana Anyakwo, author of My Life as a Chameleon

‘Danielle Jawando is an important and hugely talented voice in UK YA’ Liz Flanagan, author of Dragon Daughter

‘Gripping, unflinching, immersive and addictive’ Lara Williams, author of Supper Club

‘Danielle Jawando is an incredible talent and an important voice in the YA space. Her writing weaves such strength, resilience, heartbreak and hope into this story.’ Benjamin Dean, author of Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow

‘There is a real command and authenticity of her subject, place and narrative in Danielle Jawando’s writing. She’s fulfilling every promise and more that she displayed in And The Stars Were Burning Brightly. An outstanding talent.’ Alex Wheatle, author of Crongton Knights

Praise for And the Stars Were Burning Brightly:

‘An outstanding and compassionate debut’ Patrice Lawrence, author of Orangeboy

‘One of the brightest up and coming stars of the YA world’ Alex Wheatle, author of Crongton Knights

‘An utter page turner from a storming new talent. Passionate, committed and shines a ray of light into the darkest places - the YA novel of 2020!’ Melvin Burgess, author of Junk

Praise for When Our Worlds Collided:

‘A raw, unflinching and powerful story that will stay with me for a long time’ Manjeet Mann, author of The Crossing

‘A beautiful ode to found family, and a compassionate look at the power of connection borne from the ashes of tragedy and apathy’ Christina Hammonds Reed, author of The Black Kids

‘Hard-hitting yet still hopeful, this is an emotional powerhouse of a book’ Alexandra Sheppard, author of Oh My Gods

Danielle Jawando is an author and screenwriter.

Her debut YA novel, And the Stars Were Burning Brightly, won best senior novel in the Great Reads Award, and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the YA Book Prize, the Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize, the Branford Boase Award. It was also longlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, the UKLA Book Awards and the Amazing Book Awards.

Her previous publications include the non-fiction children’s book Maya Angelou (Little Guides to Great Lives), the short stories Paradise 703 (longlisted for the Finishing Line Press Award) and The Deerstalker (selected as one of six finalists for the We Need Diverse Books short story competition), as well as several short plays performed in Manchester and London.

Danielle has also worked on Coronation Street as a storyline writer. Her second novel, When Our Worlds Collided, won the 2023 Jhalak Children’s and YA Prize and the 2023 YA Book Prize.

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