Not Going To Plan - Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Writing 2026

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR WRITING 2026

A powerful verse novel about sexual consent, unplanned pregnancy and the breaking of taboos.

MARNIE'S REALLY MESSED UP THIS TIME.

Expelled and forced to change schools, the only empty seat in Marnie's new school is next to Zed, a nerd with zero tolerance for mistakes. Marnie (skilled at art and Spanish, struggles with numbers) can't wait to lose her virginity. Zed (brilliant at maths and physics, loathes languages) is a loner who can't stand being touched. They couldn't be less alike, but they both need good grades in the subjects they hate.

What starts as a trade in tuition turns into an unlikely friendship - and after Marnie has sex with a boy who lies about using a condom, she needs Zed's help to make the hardest decision of her life.