olivia levezHello, and welcome to my website. I'm Olivia Levez, the author of 'The Island' and 'The Circus', which are both published by Rock the Boat at Oneworld.
My books for teens have been described as contemporary, page-turning and a little bit heart-breaking. My first novel, The Island, is the castaway story of Fran, who finds herself fighting to survive on a desert island. Emotionally charged and suspense-filled, if you like survival books like Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins, then this one's for you. Authors whose books I love are Sarah Crossan, Tanya Byrne, E. Lockhart, Sally Nicholls and Lisa Heathfield. |
Praise for The Island
'Through short chapters, Levez effortlessly balances Frances’s past, present, and imagined future... Echoing O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins, Levez’s story will keep readers riveted as determined, hard-edged Frances fights to survive.' PW Starred review
'This right-of-passage story has a vigour that will grip the reader from the first page and carries on to the last. Told by Fran as she faces present dangers while remembering the circumstances leading this point, the narrative has a powerful immediacy. It will not be easy to forget Fran, and Olivia Levez is a talent to watch.' Books For Keeps |
'It’s strong, raw, harsh and filled with the kind of uncut emotion that will leave you stunned and feeling it all.'
The Guardian 'A book you can’t put down…. Fran’s story is one that is relatable. She has a depth; she isn’t perfect. Due to the harshness of life she has built a wall and become ‘a rock.’ But once she reveals all the intricate pieces of herself-—she is a character worth loving. This is one book that should be on everyone’s radar. Fast-paced and incredibly written, readers will be captivated by Fran and her desire to just survive.' YABooksCentral |
ABOUT
I'm an English teacher with over twenty years' experience.
I binge write in school holidays in my caravan by the sea.
I am interested in characters that transform, characters that survive and characters that escape.
I like dogs, yoga and real ale.
I like to 'method write'. When writing The Island, I foraged like my main character, and lived mainly on coconut water, porridge and Cuppa Soup. I found many weird and wonderful survival tips when researching this book.
Here's me, explaining how to make a bra shoe:
I binge write in school holidays in my caravan by the sea.
I am interested in characters that transform, characters that survive and characters that escape.
I like dogs, yoga and real ale.
I like to 'method write'. When writing The Island, I foraged like my main character, and lived mainly on coconut water, porridge and Cuppa Soup. I found many weird and wonderful survival tips when researching this book.
Here's me, explaining how to make a bra shoe: