Maisy Hayes Is Not For Sale

From the award-winning author of Selfie comes the story of Maisy, whose life is shaped by financial hardship.

I often sit and dream with all my might but nothing's happened. Yet. Maybe I'm not wishing hard enough. Maybe I'm not very good at believing it. It feels like I spend all my time dreaming, waiting for the life I was supposed to have to appear.

Maisy Hayes is doing it tough. There's never enough money, even for the simple things like having a decent breakfast. Her friends have given up inviting her out. And then there's her sister's serious illness, her overwhelmed mum, and her latch-key kid brother. It's a lot. Maisy never hears from her dad-not now that he's got a fancy life in a different city with his new wife and kids. Why would he care?

Maisy's angry. She feels ripped off. And she's a first-class expert at hiding it-at making excuses, at covering her shame, pretending it doesn't exist. But pretending will only get you so far...

When Maisy's dad insists she go and stay with him and then lavishes her with spending money and extravagant gifts, it's everything she always wanted. So why doesn't it feel right?

Maisy is forced to question what she really wants-and she must find the power within herself to make it happen.

Maisy Hayes Is Not For Sale is a heartfelt coming-of-age story about hardship, coping with anger and frustration, and being true to yourself.

About the Author

Allayne L. Webster grew up in rural South Australia and now lives in Adelaide. Her books include Sensitive-an IBBY Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities-the CBCA notable novels Paper Planes and A Cardboard Palace, the Adelaide Festival Awards-shortlisted The Centre of My Everything, Our Little Secret and That Thing I Did. Her most recent novel Selfie was shortlisted for a NSW Premier’s Literary Award. Maisy Hayes Is Not For Sale, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Max Fatchen Fellowship.