Cousins Yasmin and Ruby have always been rivals, but both sides of the story are exposed in this cleverly composed clean-teen novella from Karen McCombie. Ruby can’t stand her “perfect” cousin Yasmin. Yasmin is pretty, popular and has a gorgeous boyfriend Max.

She’s set to get excellent grades in her GCSEs and her parents won’t stop going on about how brilliant she is. Ruby always feel small and hopeless around Yasmin, and whenever she gets any attention, Yasmin tries to make sure the spotlight turns back to her. Or that’s how Ruby feels anyway.

But is there another side to the story? Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 7.

• Author: Karen McCombie
• Illustrator: Sofia Miller Salazar
• Publisher: Barrington Stoke (an imprint of HarperCollins)
• ISBN: 978‑0‑00‑873673‑6
• Publication date: 3 July 2025
• Dimensions: approx. 129 × 198 mm
• Interest age: 11+; Reading age: ~7+
• Accessible layout: designed with short chapters, dyslexia‑friendly font and supportive spacing

FAQs

Q1. Is this book suitable for readers with dyslexia?

Yes — published by Barrington Stoke, a specialist in accessible texts, and is designed with a reading age of approx. 7 while targeting interest age 11+.

Q2. What age is this book aimed at?

This title is ideal for readers aged 11+ (interest age) and is written in a format that supports a reading age of around 7+.

Q3. What themes does the book cover?

It explores themes of family rivalry, identity, self‑esteem, peer relationships, the pressures of academic life and the idea that everyone has more than one side to their story.

Q4. Can it be used in secondary schools or reading groups?

Absolutely. With its accessible format, meaningful themes and manageable length, it is well suited for reading groups, school libraries or intervention sessions targeting reluctant or struggling readers.

Q5. Is this a standalone story or part of a series?

This is a standalone novella aimed at younger teen and tween readers rather than a multi‑book series.