Cross My Heart and Never Lie

A gorgeous full-colour coming-of-age novel, perfect for fans of Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Katie Kirby’s The Mega Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks and The Babysitters Club graphic novels

‘READING THIS WAS LIKE A WARM HUG’ – ALICE OSEMAN

Tuva is starting seventh grade, and her checklist of goals includes: writing a diary, getting a cool look, building the best fort in the woods with her BFFs, and sharing EVERYTHING with her best friends. But when she starts school, nothing is how she hoped it would be.

Seventh grade has split her friends into rival factions: Team Linnea and the girls who fall in love and Team Bao and the girls who are still playing. Linnea has a boyfriend, Bao hates everything related to feelings. Worst of all, Tuva is expected to choose a side!

Then Mariam shows up and suddenly things begin to make a little more sense. But with all her friends fighting, this is one part of growing up that Tuva isn’t quite sure how to share . . .

Reviews

Included in The Week Junior’s ‘5 Brilliant Graphic Novels’ (17/02/24)

“Gorgeous cosy artwork. Reading this was like a warm hug” – Alice Oseman

"For younger teenagers, this is a fresh, heartwarming look at friendship and first crushes, realised in a full-colour diary format, poignantly reflecting the challenges of adolescence” – Fiona Noble for the Observer

"A comically adorable coming of age story” – Guardian

“This sweet debut, perfect for girls aged 10 and up, explores the dynamics of first love and friendship in adolescence in a calm and reassuring way” – The Bookseller ‘One to Watch"

"A relatable tale of growing-up, Tuva’s graphic novel diary is a dream for pre-teen readers" – Irish Examiner

"A warm, wise and wonderful coming-of-age odyssey" – Lancashire Evening Post

"This charming graphic novel perfectly captures the difficult emotions of reaching milestones at a different rate to your friends” – BookTrust

“The complexities of friendship, love and identity are attentively and tenderly realised, in both the text and Dåsnes’ evocative illustrations.” – Centre for Literacy in Primary Education

"Charming … captures the challenges of navigating strains on friendship bonds … An absorbing, sincerely told story of adolescent self-discovery and connection" – Kirkus Reviews

“Evocative of greats like Judy Blume and Sharon Creech … raw, sweet, relatable and realistic, this modern classic has a timelessness that will leave a lasting impact” – Booklist, starred review

"Timeless and international….the "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret" of the 21st Century … a relatable and touching story with incredibly charming and captivating art" – Viewpoint Books

“Nora Dåsnes has established herself as one of our most important children’s book voices” – Kristine Isaksen

“A Best New Graphic Novel. Compelling” — We Are Teachers

About the author

Nora Dåsnes (pronounced Dos-NESS), born in 1995, is an author and illustrator who graduated from Kingston University in London and is an incredible new talent in the chldren’s book world. CROSS MY HEART AND NEVER LIE is her debut as a writer and illustrator, which has had incredible international success. For this work she received both Pondusprisen and the Norwegian Ministry of Culture’s prize for best comic. Nora recently received the 2022 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.