World Book Day: stories that open safeguarding conversations
World Book Day is a chance to celebrate reading, but books can also help young people explore difficult subjects in a safer and more accessible way.
But It’s Not Fair
But It’s Not Fair by Aneeta Prem MBE is an educational novel that explores forced marriage, family pressure, friendship and the right to choose.
It can help readers discuss coercion and safeguarding through story rather than expecting a child to disclose personal experience.
Cut Flowers
Cut Flowers is an educational novel about female genital mutilation (FGM), friendship, safeguarding and prevention.
The story provides another route into a difficult subject and can support careful discussion with young people.
For schools
The books themselves are not described as PSHE-accredited. Freedom Charity’s separate forced-marriage and FGM lesson resources have received the PSHE Association Quality Mark.
Schools can use the novels alongside those structured resources and their own safeguarding procedures. See Freedom Charity’s PSHE Educational Resources and Book a Visit pages.
Get the books
Buy But It’s Not Fair
Buy Cut Flowers
Article reviewed 21 September 2026 to distinguish the novels from Freedom Charity’s separate PSHE Association Quality Mark lesson resources.