Reader, meet Thisbe: a Grade 9 student and an aspiring novelist. Her passions also include carbs, swimming and Fishbone, her cat. Thisbe is dying to share her writing with someone, but who? Her parents are away and their home has been taken over by the eccentric Granny Ed and Chutney, her evil-smelling dog. Besides, both of her parents are academics and Thisbe wants to write books that people actually read…

When Thisbe’s English teacher offers her the chance to take her writing online with students at another school, she jumps at the chance. The weeks that follow show Thisbe revelling in both her own creativity and a blossoming friendship. But there are surprises in store! When confronted with an unpleasant truth, she is forced to re-evaluate her ability as a writer and observer of humankind. In Granny Ed’s company, and after some long swims and a few slices of medicinal cheesecake, Thisbe pulls herself back from the brink. With renewed humility and self-knowledge, she is able to acknowledge that you really can’t believe everything you read – especially if you wrote it in the first place.