Writes of Passage: Words To Read Before You Turn 13

A collection that speaks across centuries

This thoughtfully curated anthology brings together over 100 pieces of writing that matter—from Shakespeare to Greta Thunberg, Martin Luther King to Lin-Manuel Miranda. Poems, speeches, letters, song lyrics, and excerpts from books are organised into eight thematic chapters exploring childhood, happiness and sadness, nature, kindness and courage, family and home, equality and justice, reading itself, and the journey of becoming who you are.

What makes this collection special is Nicolette Jones's accessible commentary accompanying each piece. As The Sunday Times' children's book critic for over two decades, she explains why each extract resonates and what it might mean to young readers discovering it for the first time. The selections span centuries and styles, yet they connect through shared human experiences—showing how voices from different times and places have grappled with the same big questions.

Published in a gorgeous hardback edition with neon and foil-stamped cover, ribbon marker, and beautifully designed pages, this is a book to dip into over the years. Each extract is brief enough to read in a sitting, yet substantial enough to return to and find something new.

Suitable for children aged 9 years and up