A Rose Among Thorns

Dear Diary,

Life in New York was looking great. Summer vacation was around the corner, and I’d finally turned 13! Then Mom announced we’d be moving halfway around the world to Singapore, where she grew up.

Now it feels like my life is over. I don’t know anyone here, my family’s totally weird and everything seems to go wrong at my new international school. How do I express myself when we have to wear uniforms? How do I avoid the mean girls and keep cool around my crush? One thing’s for sure—I’m gonna figure this out!

Things aren’t easy for Rosie Smith. Peek into her diary for tales about her spider-obsessed little brother, embarrassing episodes at school and making friends—and enemies—in her new home, Singapore. Narrated with honesty and charm, and peppered with humorous illustrations, Girl Overboard! is a fresh new series whose heroine you’ll find yourself rooting for.

Praise for the Book

“A very promising voice…Rosie is bright and spunky, headstrong yet enduring—a girl who knows her mind. She is sure to find a lot of friends (and devoted readers) in Singapore.” — Dr Myra Garces-Bacsal, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Education, Singapore

“Read Sheri Tan and Fernando Hierro’s funny and resonant Girl Overboard!: A Rose Among Thorns: for Tan’s honest story; for Hierro’s spirited illustrations, and above all, for Rosie, an appealing and realistically flawed protagonist whose struggles lead her to growth, understanding and hope.” — Pooja Makhijani, author of Mama’s Saris and editor of Under Her Skin: How Girls Experience Race in America

“Moving countries can be tough, especially for 13-year-old girls like Rosie Smith. Girl Overboard!: A Rose Among Thorns is a fun, fast-paced, full-of-laughs book that will make the perfect gift for any child living in Singapore, or coping with an international move.” — Catherine Carvell, author of Darcy Moon and the Deep-fried Frogs

“Hooray! At last a book for ever-increasing third culture kids. What a joy.” — Fran Lebowitz, author and literary agent

About the Creators

Sheri Tan worked as a children’s book editor in New York City for many years. She is also the author of a wide range of titles, including Seiji Ozawa (a biography of the former Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor) and Handshake in Space (The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project), as well as books featuring licensed characters such as Winnie the Pooh, SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.

Fernando Hierro is an illustrator and graphic designer who has worked at DC, Marvel and in advertising and theatre for many years. Born and raised in New York City, he is currently based in Singapore.