Hate is Such a Strong Word...

'Finally a book that tackles the big issues - and the ones all girls face (frizzy hair, formal dates, and what to do about that boy).'
- Sarah Tarca, Editor of Girlfriend

Seventeen-year-old Sophie hates Monday mornings, socks worn with sandals, and having to strategise like she's a battle sergeant every time she asks her parents if she can go out. But she especially hates being stereotyped because she's Lebanese.

When New Guy, Shehadie Goldsmith, is alienated at her Lebanese school because his dad's Australian, she hates the way it makes her feel.

Like she's just as prejudiced as everyone else.

Like she could make a difference if she stopped pretending she's invisible.

Like the attraction between them might be too strong to fight...

But hate is such a strong word... Can Sophie find the strength to speak out - even if it means going against everything she's been brought up to believe?

A brilliant debut novel about identity, love, culture and finding your place.

Sarah Ayoub is a journalist, bestselling author and academic with a PhD in migrant Australian YA literature. Her work has been published in The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney Review of Books, Meanjin and more. Sarah is a Stella Schools Program ambassador, has mentored the youth curators of The Sydney Writers' Festival YA program, contributed to the anthology Arab, Australian, Other: Stories on Race and Identity and most recently been a judge for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards. Sarah was elected to the board of the Australian Society of Authors in 2021 and is currently working on her first novel for adults as the writer-in-residence of Sweatshop Literacy Movement.Sarah is an advocate for education and Australian stories, appearing at schools and festivals where she promotes her YA novels Hate is Such a Strong Word,The Yearbook Committee andThe Cult of Romance as well as her debut picture book, The Love that Grew.

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