Temora and the Wordsnatcher

Temora Murphy is eleven years old. She lives in an immaculate house, with a mother who wishes to control and mould her. The only other children she sees are the “shiny” girls her mother selects for her as friends. Girls who tease her for her size and shyness. Girls who call her “Puddingface”. Temora wants more.

Temora loves reading, books about adventure and magic. She finds these books in a black pearl box at the bottom of the garden, beneath the Bloodwood tree. She does not know how they come to be there or who sends them, and every time she thinks too hard about it, some strange impulse in her mind compels her to stop.

The books help her to escape. But only so much. Then, at a party for her twelfth birthday, Temora Murphy makes another wish. And with that wish, Temora Tempest’s life alters forever.

Temora and the Wordsnatcher is a literary children’s story; a portal fantasy work, featuring characters from multiple backgrounds and a protagonist who does not conform to societal standards of beauty, and who wishes to push against the constructs of what it means to be “feminine”.

About the Author

Kate Gordon grew up in a small town by the sea in Tasmania. She is the author of six novels for teenagers, as well as the picture books, Bird on a Wire and Amira’s Magpie, and the junior fiction series, Juno Jones. She now writes middle grade fiction.

Kate’s books have been published internationally. Girl Running, Boy Falling and Aster’s Good, Right Things have both been adapted for the stage. When not writing, Kate reads, listens to Josh Ritter, has grand adventures with her daughters, and is (finally) learning to drive a car. Kate has two series and three novels forthcoming, in 2022 and beyond.