Degrees of Happy

When her parents decide to move, 14 year old Tess is not happy. She believes moving back to "Toytown" is no life for a teenager and it’s further away from the memories of younger sister Chloe. Tess is faced with navigating adolescence, the loss of Chloe, and moving to a place she never agreed to.

'Degrees of Happy' begins with Tess questioning why things can’t go back to the way they were. What follows is Tess’s journey through grief and uncertainty. Tess copes by remaining stoic, playing down her intelligence at school and putting up walls from others. It will take time, interested teachers, family bonds and a love of Shakespeare to lower her guard.

The author cleverly captures the everyday life of a teen. The school scenes and portrayal of a blended family are lovingly realistic. Although never mentioned explicitly in the novel, Toytown is loosely based on New Plymouth and hints of this are peppered throughout. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read for teens and adults alike with no content concerns for the YA reader.

Phillipa Werry is a Wellington-based writer. She mostly writes fiction, non-fiction, plays and poetry for young people. She has previously written the award-winning YA novel Iris and Me along with many other award finalists. You can read more about her on her website. https://philippawerry.co.nz/