By Rachael Fernandes (author)
"Trying to stay true to your dreams and heart in the face of bullies and opposition — this uplifting YA romance packs a lot of big themes into its big heart."
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July 2024 Debut of the Month
Brimming with drama — of both the emotional and musical theatre variety — and threaded with a fun “What would Freddy Mercury do?” mantra, Rachael Fernandes’ The Mercury in Me is an inspiring ode to being unapologetically yourself. Alongside tackling universal themes — first love, family conflict, fallings-out, and school bullies — it’s also brilliant on the British Indian experience, and fist-pumpingly uplifting.
Though studious sixth-former Maya is set on becoming a doctor, she also has a talent for music that comes to the fore when handsome Harry Wu, her school’s “musical theatre heartthrob”, convinces her to audition for a production of We Will Rock You. After bagging a big role in the show, Maya finds herself falling for Harry big-time, while also handling the school’s nasty bully, and trouble at home.
At its heart, The Mercury in Me is about finding the courage to be true to yourself, and navigating the confusing road to finding that truth in the first place. It’s also about the pull between following your dreams and talents versus wanting to please your parents. In Maya’s case, her parents have forbidden her from having a boyfriend.
In Harry’s case, he’s desperate to study drama, but feels he has to read music at Oxford to fulfil his mum’s dream.
Matters come to a crunch right before Maya’s parents are due to see her perform in the musical. “I’m tired of not being quite Indian enough, not quite British enough”, she declares, while her older brother steps in to support her as he also reveals his own truth.
With a show-stopping finale (quite literally), The Mercury in Me is funny, packed with drama, and delivered with an empathetic lightness of touch.
Maya Pritik is seventeen, an aspiring doctor and wants to get through Sixth Form in one piece. This is not made easy by school bully Candice Riley, who has a target on Maya’s back and is the owner of the not-so-anonymous Hot-Or-Not Instagram account.
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Luckily Maya has her best friend, Lucie Perry, and older brother, Tamir, to keep her together. Maya’s passion is music, so when she hears musical theatre heartthrob Harry Wu singing an original song, she has to go investigate.
Perfect for fans of Sex Education, When Dimple Met Rishi and Never Have I Ever, The Mercury in Me is an ode to romcoms, musicals, and being British Indian.
Featuring an ensemble cast including one ride-or-die best friend, a smattering of theatre kids, and a brother in turmoil, this is a YA debut not to be missed.
Rachael Fernandes is a British-Indian twenty-something writer; born, raised and still living in South London. Rachael started her career at Penguin Random House, and has since worked in marketing for major national and international brands. She wears many hats; having a first-class degree in Maths and Chemistry, a diploma in Art and was selected onto the Curtis Brown Children’s and YA Writing course, where she developed THE MERCURY IN ME. You can also find her occasionally on stage, performing regularly in an improv group.
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The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Mercury In Me and determined it is suitable for children aged 15-18 years old
The Mercury In Me features in the following genres: Romance / Relationship Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for Young Adults, Recommendations
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Mercury In Me was written by Rachael Fernandes and published by UCLan Publishing
The Mercury In Me has 326 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
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