There is not much that twelve-year-old Chance Callahan is uncertain about. She draws a hard line between true and false, and values honesty over everything else. Chance’s mother has kept detailed diaries of their lives from the moment she was born, and she knows the notable parts like the back of her hand.

So, when a reality TV show arrives at her home and reveals the holes in these stories, Chance’s world is shaken. At the same time, Chance’s Year 7 class is at the centre of a social media bungle that helps her see there is a difference between what is true and what has been manufactured.

Sue Whiting’s protagonist is a sensitive and whip-smart pre-teen who can teach us a lot about the truth and the importance of family. With a gripping mystery at its core, readers might find it difficult to put this one down.

The Book of Chance is a story with a big heart and an even bigger twist. For readers aged 11+.

Kealy Siryj works as a bookseller at Readings Kids.