Books published by publisher Rock the Boat

A powerful story told through linked poems which raise questions of race and identity in an honest and tangible way for younger readers. How can Irene and Charles work together on their fifth grade poetry project? They don't know each other...and they're not sure they want to. Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, use this fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way, exploring such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners. Accompanied by artwork from acclaimed illustrators Sean Qualls and Selina Alko, this remarkable collaboration invites readers of all ages to join the dialogue by putting their own words to their experiences.

Tales from Watership Down is the enchanting sequel to Richard Adams’s bestselling classic Watership Down, which won the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Award. Adams returns to the vivid and distinctive world he created in that enduring work, reacquainting readers with the characters we know and love, including Fiver, Hazel, Bigwig, Dandelion and the legendary rabbit hero El-ahrairah. These compelling tales include all-new adventures, with the younger generation of rabbits eager to find out about the heroic age that existed before they were born. Enchanting us once again with stories of courage and survival, the millions of readers who enjoyed Watership Down now have the chance to re-enter this unique and spell-binding world.

It’s July in New York City, and aspiring filmmaker Wes Auckerman has just arrived to start his summer term at NYU. While shooting a séance at a psychic’s in the East Village, he meets a mysterious, intoxicatingly beautiful girl named Annie. As they start spending time together, Wes finds himself falling for her, drawn to her rose-petal lips and her entrancing glow. There’s just something about her that he can’t put his finger on, something faraway and otherworldly that compels him to fall even deeper. Annie’s from the city, and yet she seems just as out of place as Wes feels. Lost in the chaos of the busy city streets, she’s been searching for something―a missing ring. And now Annie is running out of time and needs Wes’s help. As they search together, Annie and Wes uncover secrets lurking around every corner, secrets that will reveal the truth of Annie’s dark past.

Izzy feels invisible. Trapped under the weight of expectation and censored by shame. Her mum Steph and best friend Grace have always been there to save her. But with one under the control of her stepfather and the other caught in the throes of new love, Izzy is falling between the cracks. As threats to her safety grow, Izzy wants to scream. But first she must find her voice. And if the sky is the limit, then the sky is hers. [This book contains material which some readers may find distressing, including discussions of rape, coercive behaviour, domestic violence and abuse.]

Two dogs, Snitter and Rowf, escape from a research laboratory in the Lake District where it is wrongly supposed they have been purposely infected with a deadly virus and now pose a dangerous threat to the human population. As the authorities give chase, the two friends make their way through the hills and across the moors, along the way learning to survive on their wits and finding friendship and help from a fox they encounter. They dream of finding their original owners and a safe haven - but the hunt is on. A lyrical and engrossing tale, The Plague Dogs is a remarkable journey into the hearts and minds of two canine heroes.

IT IS THE FUTURE. THERE IS NO WAR, NO SOCIAL UNREST, NO PAINFUL MEMORIES... AND NO FREEDOM. At seventeen, Lain has already aced the Institute’s elite training programme for Mindwalkers, therapists who use direct neural links to erase traumatic memories. A prodigy and the daughter of a renowned scientist – whose death left her alone in the world – Lain is driven by the need to save others. When troubled classmate Steven asks her to wipe a horrific childhood experience, Lain’s superiors warn her to stay away. Steven’s scars are too deep, they say, the risk too great. Yet as she defies their warnings and explores Steven’s memories, it becomes clear that something is very, very wrong. Is the Institute really an organisation of healing, or one of manipulation and state control? And is there more to her father’s death than meets the eye?

Willow has everything: a rich daddy, a pony and a place at a prestigious boarding school. Everything except the one thing she really wants: a father who cares enough to find her when she runs away from home. On the eve of her father’s wedding, Willow runs again into the unknown. Her mother was a circus performer and Willow longs to follow in her footsteps. But when all of her money is stolen and her only friend, a street performer called Suz, betrays her, Willow is left penniless and alone. So begins a gripping, exhilarating journey. Will Willow ever make it to the big top and find a place she can truly call home?

The story of an awful, universe-gone-mad-mistake, and one girls emotional battle for clarity and forgiveness Looking for socks in the dresser in her moms bedroom, sixteen-year-old Tiger Tolliver finds a pile of envelopes marked URGENT. Her and her mom have always been a team, but suddenly Tiger starts to wonder if their well-oiled machine is really so well-oiled after all. Because, come to think of it, her mom needs to control everything. The songs on the radio. The truth about the dad shes never met. Whether or not she goes to school dances. She can never just be on her own. And this doesnt even cover the rest of the sixteen million nerve-wracking, day-killing OTHER things shes got going on. Lupe Hidalgo at school for instance, whos only mission in life seems to be making hers a living hell. Band practice with Broken Cradle. The fact that dreamy Kai from Bio is moving to Deutschland for the whole. summer. But then something terrible happens. And Tiger realises that being on her own isnt something she really wants. Not at all. And so begins her quest. To find her dad. To find herself. And a whole heap of others along the way.

*Nominated for the 2019 CILIP Carnegie Medal* *Spectator Best Books of the Year selection* Two unlikely heroes inspire a whole town by fighting to save a tree Sometimes, in the blink of an eye, you do something that changes your life forever. Like climbing a tree with a girl you don't know. Marnus is tired of feeling invisible, living in the shadow of his two brothers. His older brother is good at breaking swimming records and girls’ hearts. His younger brother is already a crafty entrepreneur who has tricked him into doing the dishes all summer. But when a girl called Leila turns up on their doorstep one morning with a petition, it’s the start of an unexpected adventure. And finally, Marnus gets the chance to be noticed...

Sometimes the end is just the beginning of a new adventure.Martin’s life changes the day his dad is killed in a car accident.No one talks about it. His mum refuses to leave the house. His sister is only interested in her boyfriend. And Martin? He spends his afternoons alone with the family chickens – that’s why they call him ‘Clucky’ – and at night, he solves difficult maths problems in his head to help him fall asleep.But one day Martin meets a boy called Vusi, who dreams of making a zombie movie. The two are plunged head first into a wild adventure, pulling everyone they know along with them.Shortlisted for the Found in Translation award, it has also since been made into a popular film in Afrikaans.