The Fights That Make Us

"The Fights That Make Us is a thought-provoking, heartwarming wonder." Maz Evans, author of Who Let the Gods Out?"Highly engaging, completely relatable and truly empowering, I loved this book." Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.An unputdownable read about LGBTQ+ history and standing up for what you believe in, from award-winning author Sarah Hagger-Holt.Maybe there was a place in history for people like me, not on the edges of the story, but right in the centre.Jesse has recently come out as non-binary, and is struggling to find their place at school, and ideas for their project on lost stories from history.Thirty-five years earlier, Jesse's cousin Lisa is falling for her best friend, but with new laws being introduced to restrict LGBT people's rights, they'll have to fight for the world to accept who they are.When Jesse stumbles across Lisa's teenage diary, they are fascinated and horrified by her stories of living a secret life and protesting in the streets. Now it's Jesse's turn to find a way to shine a spotlight on a history that mustn't be forgotten.Praise for Sarah Hagger-Holt: Winner of the Little Rebels Award Twice-nominated for the Carnegie Medal"A heartwarming and empowering read that amplifies LGBTQ+ voices from the past and present." Tamsin Winter, author of Being Miss Nobody"An empowering, eye-opening and empathy-boosting book written with great sensitivity." Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of How To Be Extraordinary"Gentle and compassionate" The Times Literary Supplement. "A fantastic book - I absolutely loved it!" L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency. "Warm, funny and believable" The Guardian

Winner of Polari Prize 2024 (UK) Joint winner of Read for Empathy Collection 2025 (UK) Short-listed for Brilliant Book Awards 2025 (UK)

Highly engaging, completely relatable and truly empowering, I loved this book. Cleverly told from dual perspectives and two different time periods, and containing a cast of wonderfully diverse, rounded and recognisable characters, this is a gripping and truly empowering story steeped in LGBTQ+ recent history that cements the message that everyone has the right to be whoever they want and love whomever they choose. And that those things are worth fighting for. Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.
This powerful novel speaks to the concerns of our current era, shining a light on the damage of Section 28. Much needed. Bravo Sarah Hagger-Holt! Cath Howe, author of Ella on the Outside
A brave, defiant, life-affirming story, full of heart and hope. Ian Eagleton, author of Glitter Boy
An empowering, eye-opening and empathy-boosting book written with great sensitivity. Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of How To Be Extraordinary
A heartwarming and empowering read that amplifies LGBTQ+ voices from the past and present. Another beautiful and very important story from Sarah Hagger-Holt. Tamsin Winter, author of Being Miss Nobody
The Fights That Make Us is a thought-provoking, heartwarming wonder. Maz Evans, author of Who Let the Gods Out?

Sarah Hagger-Holt lives with her partner and two daughters in Hertfordshire and works for the LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall. She is the author of two adult non-fiction LGBTQ+ parenting books and has written for the i paper, the Huffington Post, and spoken on Radio 4's Woman's Hour about LGBTQ+ parenting.

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