The Booksellers Association has today named Patience by Victoria Scott as its Fiction Book of the Month for August, while Maddy Yip’s Guide to Life by Sue Cheung is Children’s Book of the Month.
 
Patience, the debut novel by journalist Victoria Scott, follows the Willow family, who face a near impossible dilemma when a new gene therapy offers disabled daughter Patience a potential cure for her Rett Syndrome. But while opinions in the family are divided, Patience must consider what a ‘normal life’ is anyway, and whether she is about to find out for herself.

Patience is published by Head of Zeus on 5^th August and is available to preorder in bookshops now.
 
Victoria Scott said: “Is there anything better than an indulgent wander around an independent bookshop? I reckon not. You never know what treasure you might find in there, what adventures might lie behind each front cover. Indie bookshops are such an important part of our highstreets - they're portals into thousands of different worlds. And after the year we've all had, we need that escape now more than ever.”

Maddy Yip’s Guide to Life, written and illustrated by Sue Cheung, winner of the Diverse Book Award for Chinglish, is the story of Maddy, a girl who is perfectly happy until she realises that everyone she knows has a talent but her! With the help of her grandad and best friend she decides to change that, but after failed attempts at breakdancing, playing the recorder and baking, and a disastrous magic trick that disappears the school guinea pig, will Maddie ever find her true calling?

Maddy Yip’s Guide to Life is published by Andersen Press on 5^th August and is available to preorder in bookshops now.

Author Sue Cheung said of her book’s selection, “I was super excited to hear that Maddy Yip’s Guide to Life was chosen as the Children’s Book of the Month for August. I love our independent bookshops because they provide that extra mile personal service and unique community hub that you really won’t find anywhere else. Keep on thriving indies and thank you for your support!”

Independent bookshops around the UK and Ireland will be promoting Patience and Maddy Yip’s Guide to Life throughout August on social media and instore. The Booksellers Association will be supporting the promotion of the Indie Books of the Month through social media and promotional material.