Noranto knows who he is. Or at least, he thinks he does.
Footballer. Hustler. One of the boys. He’s got the playground game on lock and big plans for his mum’s surprise birthday party this weekend. But poetry? That’s just something he does quietly – in his head, on the bus, between goals.
Until his teacher spots his talent and encourages him to enter a creative writing competition. Noranto laughs it off. No chance: the deadline’s in three days and he’s already got way too much going on. His mates agree and tell him to stick to what he knows. Poetry doesn’t win matches.
But the rhymes won’t stop coming. And a little voice inside him keeps asking: What if this is his shot? What if he could do it all?
As the weekend unfolds and obstacles are thrown in his way, Noranto finds himself stuck between what’s expected of him and who he really wants to be. Can he find the words in time – and the courage to share them – against all the odds?
A funny and authentic story about the joys and challenges of dreaming big and showing the world you don’t have to fit into just one box.
Against All Odds is not suitable for younger readers.
Author video
About the author
Nathanael Lessore
Nathanael Lessore was born in Camberwell, South East London, as one of eight children to French and Madagascan parents. Although he has spent most of his life in Peckham, Nathanael has also lived in Paris, Strasbourg and Singapore. His debut book Steady For This was shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2024 and won the Branford Boase Award 2024. His second book King of Nothing won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Older Readers 2025 and the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Writing 2025. He is also the author of What Happens Online, and writes stories that show his South East London childhood as the funny, warm, adventurous world that wasn’t always represented as such.
Alternative formats
The £1/€1.50 books are also available in braille, large print & audio via Guide Dogs, Vision Ireland, RNIB and Calibre Audio. If you require one of these formats, please find out about diversity and inclusion.
