Queen Minji craves a smartphone. She is missing out on the social media frenzy that her friends are enjoying. The gadget is a status symbol that opens up a world of possibilities and mischief. Using her friend’s phone, Queen befriends a smooth-talking handsome man, Bon. He takes her on an emotional roller coaster that shakes her world. Will Queen manage to get herself out of the grip Bon has on her?

Beyond the Shadow is a story about use, misuse and abuse of social media and technology. It is also about teenage love escapades, parenthood and mental health.

StarLit Readers is a series targeting lower secondary school students. The series is also recommended for other readers looking for entertaining modern stories told in a powerful and highly refreshing fashion. The readers in this series will certainly keep you turning the pages

Of Pawns and Players is the story of Tomas Karamu, a mutura vendor who is trying to make ends meet. His involvement with the daughter of a rich and prominent man traps him in a betting syndicate. Tomas is in a dilemma between what is morally right and what will keep him out of trouble. What will he choose?

In a fne work of contemporary literature, Kinyanjui Kombani highlights the plight of today’s youth in a country rife with corruption, exploitation and poverty without sounding depressing

Chifu Abdullah anaingia katika kazi ngumu kuliko zote alizowahi kuzifanya katika maisha yake, kazi ya kuisaka kanda iliyopotea katika kasri yake. Kanda yenyewe inatembea kutoka mkono mmoja hadi mwingine, huku pande mbili zinazoisaka zikitumia nguvu, pesa na akili kuitafuta.

Msako wa kanda unakutanisha watu wenye tajriba pana katika mambo ya uhalifu. Wapo wanaojeruhiwa, wapo wanaoumizwa, wapo wanaokufa kwa sababu ya kanda, hali inayoitia jeshi la polisi katika kibarua kigumu cha kuwasaka wahalifu hao.

Je, polisi watafaulu kuwapata wahalifu hao. Je, kanda yenyewe itapatikana? Hivi, ndani ya kanda kuna nini?  

Mabandia ni tamthilia inayopiga kurunzi ubandia unaojificha na kujifichua kwa sura mbalimbali maishani. Maisha ni kama karata. Wahusika sita wanajitokeza katika maonyesho sita wakifululiza hadi barazani kucheza duru sita za mchezo maarufu wa Wahedi wa Sitini. Mchezo huu huchezwa hasa katika maeneo ya pwani ya Afrika Mashariki.

Kupitia vitendawili vinavyoibuka katika maonyesho mbalimbali, mwandishi anagubika hoja kadhaa za ubandia. Hoja hizi zinalenga kutafakarisha jinsi ubandia huo unavyoathiri mitazamo ya binadamu katika nyanja mbalimbali za maisha.

Ali Attas ni mwandishi mtajika wa vitabu kadhaa vikiwemo kamusi, vitabu vya lugha na vilevile vya hadithi. Kama mhariri wa vitabu vya elimu, mtangazaji, mwandishi habari na mwalimu wa lugha na fasihi mwenye uzoefu mkubwa, amebugia tajriba pana na za kipekee katika ukumbi wa kukikuza Kiswahili.  

Essential Life Skills is a new series that fully meets the objectives of the Life Skills Education syllabus for secondary schools.

The series is aimed at equipping the students with skills that will enable them perform well academically as well as overcome the various challenges that they may face in or outside school. It employs a learner-centred practical approach to the acquisition of the various life skills.

Essential Life Skills Form 1 contains:

• numerous activities to ensure the full participation of the students.
• simple and straight forward explanations to help the students clearly understand the skills and values presented.
• clear photographs and illustrations to enable the students appreciate various life situations.

Other books in the series:

• Essential Life Skills Form 2
• Essential Life Skills Form 3
• Essential Life Skills Form 4

Teachers’ books for all levels are also available.