Got a young reader in the house?

Cork author and teacher Leona Forde will be signing copies of her brilliant new book in two bookshops in March.

Milly McCarthy is a Complete Catastrophe is Forde’s first effort. Published by Gill and coming out on March 2nd (€9.99 from all good bookshops), it’s already creating a buzz among bookish folk.

In fact, Sarah Breen, Lilly Higgins, Rachel Allen, and Louise O’Neill have been raving over early copies.

Forde, an English and history teacher from Bandon, wrote the book for her daughter, “who wanted to read a Wimpy Kid style story but not one set in the US or UK”.

 

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The story follows Milly McCarthy, a ten-year-old girl from Cork – fun-loving, excitable, and full of ideas.

Illustrator, comic creator and visual designer Karen Harte from Dublin created the illustrations.

“The first installment in an exciting new middle-grade series, Milly’s Rebel pride and infectious energy bubble over every page – and where Milly goes, an accidental trail of chaos is sure to follow!” the publishers told us.

“Sprinkled with cúpla focail and references to iconic Irish favourites, young readers will find a friend in this calamitous Cork cailín.”

The upcoming events to catch are: 

• Saturday, March 4th, 11:30am at Bandon Books in Riverview Shopping Centre: book signing with author Leona Forde
• Saturday 11 March, 3pm at Waterstones, St Patricks Street, Cork: reading event with Forde and illustrator Karen Harte, who is also hand-painting a custom Milly window on March 8th.