How to be True

I have some exciting news! My new book How To Be Free will be out in May 2024 and here’s a little bit more about it.

The front cover of How To Be Free by Daisy May Johnson — Cover: Thy Bui

It’s the start of a new term at the School of the Good Sisters and Hanna, Edie and Calla are ready to enjoy everything their extraordinary school has to offer. But they soon realise that Something Is Most Definitely Up. Not only is a mean businessman trying to open a kale factory in Little Hampden and remove all their delicious snacks, but their beloved Headmistress Good Sister June has disappeared – and nobody knows where she’s gone.

It’s time for Hanna and her friends to rally an army of first years to protest against the horrors of kale while they set out on an adventure to bring Good Sister June home. As they travel across the country following a trail of clues, they will learn about the power of family, friendship, and a well-timed slice of Victoria Sponge…

While How To Be Free is part of a series, you don’t have to have read the others to understand it. I cannot do with series that make no sense if you start in the middle or the end so my books do not. All you need is a biscuit and you’re sorted. But! If you’d like to catch up on previous titles and the adventures of Hanna, Edie and Calla, then How To Be Brave and How To Be True are out now.

What else can I tell you about How To Be Free? The other two books have focused on Calla and Edie so now it’s Hanna’s time to shine. I LOVE HER. We learn all about her and the people who mean the most to her. Also, there’s ice-cream. And libraries. And protests….

If you’d like to hear a little more in person about How To Be Free, then I will be at Pickering Library this weekend. See you there?

My second children’s book is out in less than a month (what a sentence! forgive me for having a moment over that!). How To Be True can be pre-ordered directly from the publisher here. It’s the second book featuring the characters from How To Be Brave and if you’re after buns, adventures, and a particularly Parisian flair, then you should do alright 🙂

I am also pleased to say that recruitment for my course on Blogging And Writing For Online Audiences is now open! The course starts in September and runs for seven weeks. If you can’t make that, then I’ll be teaching more throughout the next academic year. I enjoy teaching this course because I get to see students really kick their creative work into the next gear – it’s a privilege to witness!

And finally, I was down in London this week for some meetings and took some time out for doing a little bit of sightseeing. Along with walking far too far on a very hot day and signing some books at Waterstones Piccadilly (a delight!), I managed to make the detour to visit children’s literature royalty. If you’re ever at the Victoria and Albert museum then I recommend making the trip because he’s really very breath-taking in person.