New Ya Author Makes Herself Invisible
A new YA novel has been released based on the author’s experience of working with adolescents with mental health issues.
It is Sylvie the Second by Kaeli Baker.
Kaeli Baker is the pen name of a young Auckland writer who has worked in the area of youth psychiatric care, so she
prefers to write without using a name her patients are familiar with. Sylvie the Second is Baker's first novel for young adult readers (suitable for 15–21 years), and it deals with issues such as overdosing
and self-harm.
Despite the serious nature of the material, the novel is a warm and engaging story of a young woman who feels she always
comes second to the needs of a sister with precarious mental health. Sylvie has to figure out a way to carve a space for
herself in a world where she feels invisible. Baker says she has seen how difficult it is for those siblings, and felt
such a character would be the basis of an interesting story.
Mākaro Press editor Anna Golden says the novel is sensitively written, and makes good use of affection and humour.
‘The author clearly knows what she's talking about, and yet she manages difficult scenes with a light touch. Not preachy
or condescending, Sylvie the Second is a compelling and well-crafted story. To balance the heavy stuff, there’s a lot there too about hanging out with
friends, meeting boys and eating pizza,’ she says. ‘I wish this book had been around when I was younger.’
Sylvie the Second by Kaeli Baker is the fourth YA title released by the Submarine imprint of Mākaro Press, coming hard on the heels of the award-winning The Book of Hat by Harriet Rowland (recently aired on Radio NZ) and The Red Suitcase by Jill Harris, and this year’s Nanotech by Denis Wright.
ENDS