The After School Crime Club

Willow feels like an outsider at school, but she and her Nanna are alike. When a group of girls offers her friendship in exchange for fun-stealing dares, Willow must ask herself how far she will go to fit in. This story is about losing yourself and discovering your perfect self.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd

Willow has always felt like an outsider at school, but she and her grandmother were so alike that she never felt alone. Now that her grandmother is gone, Willow is lost. So when a group of girls offer her friendship in exchange for fun-stealing dares, Willow can't say no. But as the dares escalate, she has to ask herself: How far will she go to fit in?

This wise, warm, and uplifting story from acclaimed author Luna Rae is Not Alone explores what it feels like to lose yourself and the joy of discovering you're perfect just as you are.

Willow has always felt like an outsider at school. She didn't have many friends and often felt left out. But her grandmother was her rock. They were so close, and Willow felt like she could always count on her.

Unfortunately, her grandmother passed away last year. Willow was devastated. She felt like a part of her had been taken away, and she struggled to cope with the loss.

At first, Willow tried to stay busy. She went back to school and tried to keep up with her studies. But it was hard. Everything seemed dull and meaningless without her grandmother's presence.

One day, Willow was walking home from school when she saw a group of girls sitting on the playground. They looked like they were having a lot of fun, and Willow couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

"Hey, what's up?" one of the girls called out to her.

Willow hesitated for a moment, then walked over to join them.

"I'm okay," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

The girls looked at her curiously.

"You don't look like you're okay," one of them said.

Willow laughed nervously.

"I'm just a little lost," she said.

The girls nodded sympathetically.

"We know how you feel," one of them said. "We were all lost after our parents died."

Willow's eyes widened in surprise.

"You lost your parents?" she asked.

The girls nodded.

"It was hard at first," one of them said. "But we found each other, and we've been together ever since."

Willow felt a glimmer of hope.

"Maybe I can find a group of friends like you," she said.

The girls smiled.

"We'd love to have you," one of them said.

Over the next few weeks, Willow spent more and more time with the girls. They went to the movies, to the mall, and to the park. They laughed and talked and shared their secrets.

Willow felt like she had finally found a place where she belonged.

But as time went on, Willow started to notice something strange. The girls were always asking her to do things that she wasn't comfortable with. They wanted her to steal things, to skip school, and to do things that went against her moral values.

At first, Willow tried to resist. She didn't want to hurt anyone or get in trouble. But the girls were persistent, and they started to pressure her more and more.

One day, Willow was walking home from school when the girls stopped her.

"We have a dare for you," one of them said.

Willow's heart sank.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The girl looked at her with a sly smile.

"We want you to break into the school," she said.

Willow's eyes widened in shock.

"Are you crazy?" she asked.

The girl nodded.

"We know it's dangerous, but it'll be so much fun," she said.

Willow felt a wave of fear wash over her.

"I can't do that," she said.

The girl looked at her with disappointment.

"You're not one of us," she said.

Willow felt like she was falling. She had lost the only group of friends she had ever had, and she felt alone again.

But then, something inside of her clicked. She realized that the girls weren't her friends. They were using her for their own amusement, and they didn't care about her at all.

Willow turned and walked away from the girls. She didn't look back.

It was hard at first. Willow felt like she was walking into a dark void. She didn't know what to do or where to go. But then, she started to feel a sense of clarity.

She realized that she didn't need to fit in with anyone else. She was perfect just the way she was. She didn't need to do things that went against her moral values to be accepted by others.

Willow started to explore her interests and passions. She joined a local art club and started to draw and paint. She volunteered at a local animal shelter and helped care for the animals.

She also started to spend more time with her family. She went to dinner with her parents and talked to them about her struggles. They were supportive and understanding, and they helped her through the tough times.

As time went on, Willow started to feel more confident and happy. She realized that she didn't need to be part of a group to be happy. She was enough on her own.

And so, Willow learned an important lesson. She learned that it's okay to be different. She learned that it's okay to stand up for what you believe in. And she learned that true friends will always support you, no matter what.

In the end, Willow realized that she was stronger than she ever thought possible. She had faced her fears and overcome them. And she knew that she had a bright future ahead of her.

This wise, warm, and uplifting story from acclaimed author Luna Rae is Not Alone explores what it feels like to lose yourself and the joy of discovering you're perfect just as you are. Willow has always felt like an outsider at school, but she and her grandmother were so alike that she never felt alone. Now that her grandmother is gone, Willow is lost. So when a group of girls offer her friendship in exchange for fun-stealing dares, Willow can't say no. But as the dares escalate, she has to ask herself: How far will she go to fit in?

This wise, warm, and uplifting story from acclaimed author Luna Rae is Not Alone explores what it feels like to lose yourself and the joy of discovering you're perfect just as you are.

Willow has always felt like an outsider at school. She didn't have many friends and often felt left out. But her grandmother was her rock. They were so close, and Willow felt like she could always count on her.

Unfortunately, her grandmother passed away last year. Willow was devastated. She felt like a part of her had been taken away, and she struggled to cope with the loss.

At first, Willow tried to stay busy. She went back to school and tried to keep up with her studies. But it was hard. Everything seemed dull and meaningless without her grandmother's presence.

One day, Willow was walking home from school when she saw a group of girls sitting on the playground. They looked like they were having a lot of fun, and Willow couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

"Hey, what's up?" one of the girls called out to her.

Willow hesitated for a moment, then walked over to join them.

"I'm okay," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

The girls looked at her curiously.

"You don't look like you're okay," one of them said.

Willow laughed nervously.

"I'm just a little lost," she said.

The girls nodded sympathetically.

"We know how you feel," one of them said. "We were all lost after our parents died."

Willow's eyes widened in surprise.

"You lost your parents?" she asked.

The girls nodded.

"It was hard at first," one of them said. "But we found each other, and we've been together ever since."

Willow felt a glimmer of hope.

"Maybe I can find a group of friends like you," she said.

The girls smiled.

"We'd love to have you," one of them said.

Over the next few weeks, Willow spent more and more time with the girls. They went to the movies, to the mall, and to the park. They laughed and talked and shared their secrets.

Willow felt like she had finally found a place where she belonged.

But as time went on, Willow started to notice something strange. The girls were always asking her to do things that she wasn't comfortable with. They wanted her to steal things, to skip school, and to do things that went against her moral values.

At first, Willow tried to resist. She didn't want to hurt anyone or get in trouble. But the girls were persistent, and they started to pressure her more and more.

One day, Willow was walking home from school when the girls stopped her.

"We have a dare for you," one of them said.

Willow's heart sank.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The girl looked at her with a sly smile.

"We want you to break into the school," she said.

Willow's eyes widened in shock.

"Are you crazy?" she asked.

The girl nodded.

"We know it's dangerous, but it'll be so much fun," she said.

Willow felt a wave of fear wash over her.

"I can't do that," she said.

The girl looked at her with disappointment.

"You're not one of us," she said.

Willow felt like she was falling. She had lost the only group of friends she had ever had, and she felt alone again.

But then, something inside of her clicked. She realized that the girls weren't her friends. They were using her for their own amusement, and they didn't care about her at all.

Willow turned and walked away from the girls. She didn't look back.

It was hard at first. Willow felt like she was walking into a dark void. She didn't know what to do or where to go. But then, she started to feel a sense of clarity.

She realized that she didn't need to fit in with anyone else. She was perfect just the way she was. She didn't need to do things that went against her moral values to be accepted by others.

Willow started to explore her interests and passions. She joined a local art club and started to draw and paint. She volunteered at a local animal shelter and helped care for the animals.

She also started to spend more time with her family. She went to dinner with her parents and talked to them about her struggles. They were supportive and understanding, and they helped her through the tough times.

As time went on, Willow started to feel more confident and happy. She realized that she didn't need to be part of a group to be happy. She was enough on her own.

And so, Willow learned an important lesson. She learned that it's okay to be different. She learned that it's okay to stand up for what you believe in. And she learned that true friends will always support you, no matter what.

In the end, Willow realized that she was stronger than she ever thought possible. She had faced her fears and overcome them. And she knew that she had a bright future ahead of her.

This wise, warm, and uplifting story from acclaimed author Luna Rae is Not Alone explores what it feels like to lose yourself and the joy of discovering you're perfect just as you are.

Weight: 186g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788006064