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MYRA IN THE MIDDLE

Peter Cheong Seetha Cheong

A charming junior novel about finding your place in your family - and on the soccer field.
Seven-year-old soccer enthusiast Myra lives with her mum, dad, Muthashi (grandma) and big sister. Her world turns upside down when her family welcomes a new baby, making Myra a middle child. On top of that, Myra joins the school's soccer team, only to be put in the midfield. Nothing exciting ever happens there! What will it take for Myra to feel marvellous in the middle?

With lively humour and vivid depictions of Myra's Indian heritage, this junior novel is a sweet exploration of family, culture and adapting to change.

SEETHA DODD is an emerging children's author who loves wordplay, humorous rhyme and lyrical prose. Her fiction has been published in The School Magazine and in print and audio anthologies by Spineless Wonders and Hunter Writers' Centre. Drawing on her MalaysianIndian heritage, and themes of family, identity and belonging, Seetha writes stories that empower children to challenge stereotypes and to celebrate uniqueness in all forms. She lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches with her husband and three children.


Books have always been a vital part of PETER CHEONG's life. Growing up reading Roald Dahl and having adventures with Calvin and Hobbes, Peter was heavily influenced by the way Quentin Blake and Bill Watterson brought stories to life. After spending several years in the Australian Army, Peter decided to pursue his dream of a career in books. He is the illustrator of I'm a Hero Too, Nothing Alike and Anh Do's Pow Pow Pig series, and has written and illustrated his own children's books, Every Night at Midnight and Where We Can Hear the Giants Sing. Peter lives in Perth (Whadjuk Country), Western Australia, with his very understanding wife, sons and less understanding cat.
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Published 2026-04-01 by UQP

Comments

Myra in the Middle is such a sweet and beautiful story it brought a smile to my lips! The wonderful little Myra is funny and warm, and her voice shines off the page. With gorgeous family scenes and some excellent maths and animal facts sprinkled throughout!

A charming and heartwarming story of family and friendship, delicious feasts, and a delightful young heroine whose life is turned upside down by the arrival of a new baby. I absolutely loved it.

I first met Seetha at a children's literacy conference, where her insightful questions during my presentation gave me that unmistakable sense that she was an author to watch. When she later pitched Myra in the Middle, I was immediately drawn to its premise: a culturally rich, emotionally resonant story with a voice that sparkles from the very first page.

Seetha Dodd writes with compassion, humour and authenticity, crafting a delightful junior fiction story about finding your place in a family when everything changes.