By Anna Woltz (author)
"A mission to connect with a long-lost father makes for an unforgettable holiday adventure"
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
View All Editions (1)
At last, we have an English translation of a book which has won awards in its native Holland and across Europe and been made into a highly successful movie (My Extraordinary Summer With Tess, 2019), and what a treat this book is!
Vibrant, fast paced, and fresh, its characters leap off the page. This is the story of a thoughtful introvert, Sam, on holiday on the Dutch island of Texel, where he meets Tess, an islander who is bossy, boisterous and most definitely not an introvert. Yet these unlikely friends join forces to carry out Tess’s bizarre plan to get to know her father, who has no idea that she exists.
Tess has found his name in one of her mum’s old scrapbooks, found him on the internet and invited him to stay for free in their holiday home – without telling him that she’s his daughter and most definitely without letting her mum in on the plan. She intends to test him for a week to see if she really wants to have him as a dad, but of course all kinds of things go wrong.
While delightfully accessible and humorous this book also skilfully deals with some big issues, leaving her characters, and her readers, knowing a great deal more about themselves and about life, family and community. A rich and rewarding read that makes me hope to see more of this author’s work becoming available to English readers.
It's the first day of the holidays and Sam is roaming the island of Texel, imagining what it'd feel like to be the last person on earth. Then, like a whirlwind, 12-year-old islander Tess swoops into his life. Sam's only option is to go along for the ride.
Read the full description
Soon he's dancing the waltz, burying a pet canary and coming up with an especially weird plan to help Tess find her father, who doesn't even know she exists. Along the way, Sam discovers the true meaning of family and what it is to be alive. One thing's for sure - this is a holiday he'll never forget.
Translated by David Colmer
'From one day's eclectic activities to the next, the story's pace never falters, while Sam's observations and earnest, occasionally clueless responses to new situations add to the narrative's charm...This novel is fresh, amusing, and rewarding.' - Booklist, starred review
I loved this. Deep and serious themes dealt with in such a sunlit, funny and enchanting way. A complete delight. -- Anthony McGowan, author of Dogs of the Deadlands
One (especially weird) week is enough to change your life. I loved spending a week with Sam and Tess in this fast-paced, heart-warming novel. Woltz has a wonderful gift for tackling serious issues with just the right amount of tenderness and humour. All the quirky characters in this book will stay with you long after the last page. Hugely enjoyable. -- Jaco Jacobs, author of A Good Day for Climbing Trees
Sam and Tess's charming story comes and goes too fast, much like that unforgettable vacation that you never want to end. I absolutely adored this! -- Tanya Guerrero, author of All You Knead Is Love
This novel is a heart-warming, life-affirming read about the importance of family and community, featuring two delightful protagonists who can only be their wonderful, original selves. -- Charlotte Eyre, The Bookseller
Praise for Talking to Alaska:
Timeless and clever Sophie Dahl
Anna Woltz is an internationally bestselling children's author based in the Netherlands. She has written 24 books for young readers, which have been translated into twenty-one languages and won numerous prizes. Talking to Alaska won one of the most prestigious literary prizes for Dutch children's books, the Zilveren Griffel.
Celebrate World Kit Lit Month with International Children's Books
Children's Books that Celebrate Family Diversity - Different Families, Shared Feelings
The LoveReading4Kids Best Children's Books of 2023
the best books for 9-12 year olds
Lila Mackay Is Very Misunderstood
I Capture the Castle
Help: My Cat's a Vlogging Superstar!
The Princess Diaries
It's the first day of the holidays and Sam is roaming the island of Texel, imagining what it'd feel like to be the last person on earth. Then, like a whirlwind, 12-year-old islander Tess swoops into his life.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed My Especially Weird Week with Tess and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
My Especially Weird Week with Tess features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Recommendations, Funny, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Star Books, Stories about Family and Friends, Featured Books for 11+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
My Especially Weird Week with Tess was written by Anna Woltz and published by Rock the Boat an imprint of Oneworld Publications
My Especially Weird Week with Tess has 164 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.