Hello and Happy World Book Day!
As children across the nation will have arrived at school today in their literary-themed attire, it made me think of two things. First, how many parents likely spent last night (or this morning) crying, cursing, chopping up bedsheets or finding creative ways to justify Elsa (Frozen: Before the Story: Elsa’s Icy Rescue) and Jude Bellingham (Official England Annual, 2026) as literary characters. Second, I wondered who tiny me would have wanted to go as (Katy Carr, Darrell Rivers, Jo March and Sally J. Freedman, obvs) and what influence these characters may have had on my writing.
As a child, I was a voracious (and bizarrely speedy) reader with an unquenchable thirst for strong female protagonists. In the beginning, these were the hockey obsessed heroines of Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers. Despite excellent parents, I longed to be sent off to this mysterious castle-like boarding school, set high on the cliffs of Cornwall (you see where I’m going with this) where a life of lacrosse, midnight feasts and the alarming threat of being ‘sent to Coventry’*’ would have awaited me. This world of fair play, personal responsibility, and hard lessons in managing a 'hot temper'** delighted and inspired me relentlessly until, one day, a shiny new section in our local library led me across the Atlantic and into a brand-new world.
Now, in fairness, I’d already been to America with What Katy Did and Little Women (two more obsessively re-read books) but the worlds of Judy Blume and Paula Danziger felt somehow revolutionary. They were funny, relatable, and truthful, and I found a version of myself in every single one. Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself and Tiger Eyes dealt with loss, grief, and imagination in a way that helped process my own and shaped how I would go on to write about it myself.
These strong, meaningful girls and their diverse universes helped guide me through childhood and beyond, influencing my worldview and my writing to this day. When faced with the question of ‘who am I when times get hard’, they always found an answer - whether through the moral grit of Malory Towers’ boarders, the heart and humour of Blume and Danziger’s teenagers, or the bravery and resilience of Katy Carr and Jo March. They taught me how to grow and persevere and I very much hope that one day, someone will find similar inspiration in Sienna, my very loving tribute to those who came before.
While I wait for that moment, let us be grateful for a day that celebrates the endless wonder, inspiration and joy of books.
* A form of collective shunning where every girl in the form (and sometimes the whole school) agreed to act as if the offender was completely invisible. Terrifying.
** Although Darrell was described as having curly dark hair and eyes in the book, I always pictured her as a redhead at heart and it was, in fact changed to this in the later TV versions, something I consider a moral victory to this day.
QUIZ: Which World Book Day Heroine Are You?
How to play: Keep track of whether you choose A, B, or C.
- A) Report it to the authorities - rules are there for a reason!
- B) Ask your friends what they think; you don’t want to go in alone.
- C) Grab a torch and head inside immediately. You need to know the truth.
- A) You lose your temper and tell them exactly what you think.
- B) You write a very honest entry in your diary about how unfair the world is.
- C) You start investigating why they are being mean - everyone has a motive.
- A) A sturdy pair of lacrosse boots and a sense of fair play.
- B) A notebook to record all your secret thoughts and feelings.
- C) A blue rucksack, mini screwdrivers and a map of the coast.
- A) Letting down your teammates or losing your “good name.”
- B) Nobody understanding what you are actually going through.
- C) Leaving a mystery unsolved, even if the truth is dangerous.
THE RESULTS
Mostly A’s: You are DARRELL RIVERS (Malory Towers)
You are loyal, fierce, and have a strong moral compass. You might have a bit of a temper, but it’s only because you care so much about justice. You’re the girl your friends can always lean on.
Mostly B’s: You are a BLUME/DANZIGER HEROINE (Margaret or Amber Brown)
You are the queen of “Heart and Humour.” You are incredibly honest about your feelings and aren’t afraid to ask the big questions about life, even when they’re awkward. You’re a true original.
Mostly C’s: You are SIENNA FITCH
A natural investigator, inspired by generations of female bravery, you want to get to the truth, no matter the danger. You are resilient, curious, and loving, inspired by the rugged beauty of the Cornish landscape you now call home.
