About the story
Sofia and Vinny are sisters who live in the East End of London. Vinny, 15, loves school. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Sofia, 10, loves bling and celebrities and wants to be on the cover of all the glossy magazines.
Sofia thinks most things in life are just ‘not fair’. She doesn’t have a laptop or even a mobile phone, and she has to share a room with Vinny. Vinny’s safe world is turned upside down when Abby Kambi and her very traditional family move into the neighbourhood. Vinny and Abby quickly become best friends and Vinny starts to see how different life could be for her. Abby and her family go abroad to her cousin Sarina’s wedding in the summer holidays and Abby doesn’t return to school.
Vinny, and even spoilt brat Sofia, realise that there are far bigger issues than makeup, Facebook and getting your homework in on time. What would you do if your best friend went on holiday and didn’t come back again? Would you turn a blind eye or would you stand up and shout ‘but it’s not fair’ until somebody listened?
This publication makes an important contribution to the ongoing campaign to eradicate all forms of violence and ill treatment of young people”.
Ms Chris Keates, former General Secretary, NASUWT The Teachers’ Union
“This book was a non-judgmental, fictional account of different perspectives on forced marriages, giving the background to the views of the traditional family and the families arriving to settle in this country. At the same time it showed the horrors of girls of 14- 16 being taken abroad against their will, forced to marry, and often being beaten and badly treated by the new husband’s family and with little prospect of any contact with their families here. The repercussions on families and school friends are described, together with ways in which fellow pupils and adults can be alert and know what action they could take. It is a complex situation which requires careful handling. I think the book is essential reading for school children, teachers and all those involved in dealing with the wider situation.”
Sheila Eaton, President, National Council of Women
But It's Not Fair
But It’s Not Fair by Aneeta Prem MBE is Freedom Charity’s educational novel about forced marriage, coercion, consent and the difference between arranged and forced marriage.
Current standard edition: third-edition paperback · ISBN 978-0-9569751-3-3 · Prem Publishing · £6.99.
The novel can be used alongside Freedom Charity’s separate forced-marriage lesson resource, which has received the PSHE Association Quality Mark and is hosted by the PSHE Association.
Choose your copy
Standard edition — £6.99
Buy the standard third edition for individual reading, home learning, libraries and school stock.
Signed limited edition — £9.99
View the signed limited edition.
Schools and organisations
For a 34-copy class set, buy the discounted school class pack directly. For other quantities, staff copies, invoices, bulk orders or use within training, use Freedom Charity’s contact form and begin your message with Book order.
Free earlier-edition PDF: Read But It’s Not Fair at no cost through the official GOV.UK publication. This is an older edition, not the current third-edition paperback. For up-to-date safeguarding advice and contact details, use Freedom Charity’s current help page.
Explore the story: Read a preview, see original illustrations and find information for readers and teachers on the official But It’s Not Fair website. Buy your copy through Freedom Charity to support its charitable work.
Why Buy This Book?
Access the PSHE Quality Mark lesson plans: PSHE Educational Resources.
Arranged marriage and forced marriage
An arranged marriage requires the free and full consent of both people. Forced marriage involves coercion, pressure, threats or control. Teaching this distinction clearly can help young people recognise risk and know when to seek help.
Who the book is for
Individuals and families can use the novel as a starting point for discussion about forced marriage, consent and coercion. Schools, safeguarding teams and professional resource libraries can use it alongside appropriate safeguarding procedures and Freedom Charity’s education resources.
What your purchase supports
Purchases support Freedom Charity’s charitable work on safeguarding, education and prevention.
FAQs
Does the book itself have the PSHE Association Quality Mark?
No. The Quality Mark applies to Freedom Charity’s separate forced-marriage lesson resource, which can be used alongside the novel. Access the lesson resources.
Is it suitable for school safeguarding education?
It is an educational novel designed to support carefully facilitated discussion about forced marriage, consent and coercion. Before using it with a class or group, an adult should review the book, consider pupils’ age, maturity, lived experience and safeguarding context, prepare learners for sensitive content, and ensure that a clear route for questions or disclosures is available. Schools should use it alongside their safeguarding procedures and age-appropriate teaching.
Can we order class sets?
Yes. Schools, colleges and organisations can ask about bulk orders, invoices and delivery by emailing Freedom Charity.
What is different about the signed limited edition?
The story is the same. The signed edition is from a separate print run capped at 400 copies and has a limited-edition inside cover.
I am worried someone may be at risk. What should I do?
If there is immediate danger, call 999. Otherwise follow relevant safeguarding procedures and seek specialist advice. See Freedom Charity’s helpline page for support routes.
Published endorsements
