The Silver Chain

'Utterly moving, totally powerful. Honest, pure and true! An arrow to the heart. A warm hug. A light of hope in the dark. I could not put it down.' Laura Dockrill

'Witty and heart-breaking in equal measure' Books Ireland Magazine

'Beautiful coming of age story' Manjeet Mann

The Independent's YA verse novel of 2022

Uplifting and unputdownable, an illustrated coming-of-age verse novel about family, mental health and the healing power of music.

Azadeh is a budding violinist on a music scholarship at an expensive private school, dealing with all the usual trials of being sixteen: trying her best to fit in, keep up and have fun. Then as her mum's mental health spirals out of control, Azadeh's world starts to unravel. Her friendships fall away, and as much as she and her dad try to keep a lid on everything, their problems insist on taking over. Feeling alone, it's her violin that finally helps Azadeh to find her way back to her friends, herself and even her mum.

A beautifully illustrated, highly important and irresistible novel about mental health struggles and the solace we find in music and rhythm, friendship, family and honesty.