LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
April 2025 Book of the Month
Two VERY different boys with one big thing in common – Existor is an online gaming sensation, Fred is the friendless school loser. Nobody knows they’re the same person. As Existor’s popularity and influence grows, Fred realises he can use his alter ego to improve his real life. But as Existor’s concocted rumours and outright lies start to mount up, Fred finds it increasingly hard to keep track of his lies.
With genuinely funny humour that will have you snorting out loud this is the perfect read for young teens who enjoy funny, real-life tales. Fred is an incredibly endearing character, his attempts to balance his real life with his online persona will resonate with many young readers. He is a nuanced, thoughtful yet flawed teenage boy, and a wonderful antidote to toxic masculinity.
Nathanael Lessore has once again delivered what will undoubtedly be a book of the year for many. With his laugh-out-loud humour and skilled character development, it is little wonder that he has won the hearts of both awards judges and readers in their droves. His skill for wordplay and bringing to life the cringe-worthy reality of teenage awkwardness is unsurpassed.
Readers who find themselves stuck in the difficult chasm between Wimpy Kid-esque books and full-on YA novels, will devour What Happens Online. A must-have for all teen bookshelves.
Amy McKay
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About
What Happens Online Synopsis
Existor is the most popular guy in school. Fred is the loser with no friends. And nobody knows they're the same person.
Online, Fred goes by Existor@stmarks. His alter ego is the best gamer around - constantly on a winning streak, with tonnes of followers, and the confidence to go with it.
But offline, Fred's life is miserable. His dad's always working, his mum's struggling, and at school, everyone looks straight through him. Until Existor's notoriety spreads to his school, and Fred sees an opportunity: everyone listens to what Existor has to say, so why not use that?
Soon, Fred is coming up with outlandish rumours about his classmates, and everyone's lapping it up. His bullies are shunned, and people are finally taking notice of him. But it's a slippery slope and Fred struggles to keep track of all the stuff he's posted as his lies start to wreak unexpected havoc.
Fred will have to answer for his crimes against reality, but will he ever find someone to like him for who he really is?
A hilarious new teen comedy about figuring out who you are online and offline from YOTO Carnegie-shortlisted Nathanael Lessore, award-winning author of Steady for This and King of Nothing.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781471418204 |
| Publication date: |
24th April 2025 |
| Author: |
Nathanael Lessore |
| Publisher: |
Hot Key Books an imprint of Bonnier Books UK |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
320 pages |
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Press Reviews
Nathanael Lessore Press Reviews
Praise for Steady for This:
"Crammed withoutrageously hilariouswordplay, Lessore'sexuberantdebut for 12+ is asoutheast London celebration of teen awkwardness, creativity and silly joy." - Guardian
"Funny, original and heart-warming." - The Times
"An engaging, positive and heart-warming read." - BookTrust
Praise for King of Nothing:
"Rib-achingly funny, poignant, thoughtful and sly, Lessore's second novel confirms him as a uniquely talented writer." - Guardian
"Confirms [Nathanael Lessore] as a major new name in writing for younger teenagers . . . an immensely readable book." - The Observer
"This teen comedy really is very funny, while also being meaningful and heartwarming." - iPaper
Author
About Nathanael Lessore
Nathanael Lessore was born in Camberwell, South East London, as one of eight children to French and Madagascan parents. Although he has spent most of his life in Peckham, Nathanael has also lived in Paris, Strasbourg and Singapore.
His debut book Steady For This was shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2024 and won the Branford Boase Award 2024. His second book King of Nothing was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2025 and the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2025. He is also the author of What Happens Online, and writes stories that show his South East London childhood as the funny, warm, adventurous world that wasn't always represented as such.
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