This novel tells the story of Julia and the difficulties she faces being a gifted and talented student who is accelerated to secondary school even though she is barely twelve years old.

The story follows her fortunes and is told by Krista Bell in a manner that will particularly appeal to upper primary students.

The reader sees the way in which other students tease and bully someone who is different. It is on the school’s music group visit to Tasmania to perform in the National Music Festival that a greater understanding and tolerance finally comes about.

Through a series of events that unfold, the reader is able to comprehend something of the behaviour of others. By the conclusion of the novel much has changed.

Many issues are covered in No Regrets, but they come up as a natural part of the story and as such, much is learned in the course of the novel. Some of these are: the importance of friends, family and good teachers; multiple sclerosis; bullying; gifted and talented students; and many other things that will be of interest to children at this level.

Krista Bell is a full-time writer of books for young people and she lives in Glen Iris, Victoria, with her husband and three boys. She travels around Australia giving writing workshops at schools and libraries. Krista has reviewed books on ABC radio and in print, run literary weekends and written for literary journals. She is the author of Read My Mind! and Get a Life! No Regrets is her thirteenth book.

Find out more about Krista Bell at her website http://www.kristabell.com/