Kingsmead Book Fair 2026 - Teen and Young Adult Programme
Unleashed
‘Unleashed is filled with empathy, depth and a charming touch of humour at the perfect moments.’ – SYLVESTER CHAUKE ‘An effortlessly comedic and deeply moving tale of a vet finding her feet and purpose. Venniker is that rare guide who’s honest, witty and relatable.’ – ALASTAIR MCALPINE ‘Fascinating, funny and poetically heartbreaking. Who knew the secret life of a vet would be a page-turner?’ – DION CHANG ‘Unleashed is a book that celebrates life.’ – MIKE NICOL** Unleashed is the hilarious, intensely honest memoir of Caitlin Venniker’s journey from Onderstepoort, the only veterinary training institution in South Africa, into the heart of private practice, with a few stops in the United Kingdom and Middle East along the way. It’s a story of growing up, juggling owners with high expectations and animals with big opinions, bluffing confidence, quirky colleagues, cows with anger issues and midnight emergencies. It’s about navigating the challenges of dating, using coffee as a crutch, finding humour in dark moments, and the immense joy and grief that come with loving animals.
R 370.00
Boss Your Money
Boss Your Money is a no-fluff guide to building wealth in South Africa, written by someone who has asked all the same questions you have about work, salary negotiation, saving and investing, buying your first car or home, and more.With honesty, humour and hard-won insights, Nokuhle Kumalo unpacks the money habits we inherit from our parents, the mistakes we make and the steps we can take to break the cycle. This isn’t about quick tips or flashy flexes; it will help you understand money and finally take control of how you earn, spend, save and build your wealth. If financial freedom is your dream, this is your starting point to mastering the wealth creation formula.
R 350.00
A Pawfect Life
Your pet runs your life. You just haven’t admitted it yet. From booking a seat on Bark Air to planning a pet-friendly holiday, A Pawfect Life is packed with practical advice for modern pet parents – along with a hilarious deep dive into just how far we’ve gone to pamper our furry overlords. Dion Chang unpacks the latest trends, from CBD treats for anxious dachshunds to birthday pawties as well as pawternity leave for new pet owners, while also tackling the trickier side of pet parenting. Speaking to animal behaviour expert Leigh Shenker, Chang explores why we spend small fortunes on our pets – and whether treating them like tiny humans is actually a good idea. As a trained pet doula, he also delves into the complexities of pet loss, grief and saying goodbye. Equal parts insightful and absurd, this book will make you laugh, rethink your pet’s power over you, and finally figure out how to navigate an airport pet relief zone like a pro.
R 360.00
Falls the Shadow
Who polices the police? A cop murders his family and then turns the gun on himself. In the shed behind his cottage is a cache of weapons: Russian automatics, handguns, 9mm, .38s. You don’t need forensics to work out what’s gone wrong. This is a cop with a side racket. Which gets the attention of Captain Zara Dewane of the Internal Crime Unit. A single mom, known among cops as the Jackal. What Zara uncovers about the family murder puts her in the firing line. There are cops running guns stolen from the police armoury. There are cops selling guns to gangsters. Thing is, the money chain goes deep into the police hierarchy. Even fingers the political bosses. Close her down, comes the order from on high. Kill her, in other words. Making Zara and her family targets. With only one way out.
R 370.00
All the Saints
Move over, John ‘Spud’ Milton! We’re in the Eastern Cape now, where the gale force winds have nothing on the chanting gees of the boys at the prestigious local school. Isaac ‘Izzy’ Kingston, a recent matriculant and newly minted varsity dropout, has several straw hats’ worth of hilarious and harrowing school memories to share with a sympathetic audience. Isaac’s nostalgic first-person confessional, peppered with tongue-in-cheek observations, takes readers from the testosterone-fuelled excitement and high drama of the rugby field on Reunion Weekend to near-death encounters on overnight excursions in Cradock. With Isaac’s overachieving dreams imploding, interhouse plays gone awry, and his queerness firmly parked in the closet, All the Saints is the tragicomic coming of age tale for our time.
R 290.00
The Sad Boy's Starter Pack
In this intimate and modern poetry collection, Zubayr Charles seeks healing amidst the shocks of personal and social rejection, navigating the paradoxes of identity and love. Vivid, brave and witty, the sad boy’s starter pack is a reclamation of the self and a homecoming for the lonely and estranged. Invoking a strong sense of place, Charles’ Cape Town shapes what it means to be queer and Coloured. With a deft hand, the poet shapes the city in turn. Charles’ poems explore the tension between desire and detachment, longing and all-consuming love. This volume takes familiar, timeless themes by storm, forging them anew with luminous self-possession.
R 187.00
Some Unspoken Thing
In the shadows of friendship, can love illuminate the way? Maryam, a 16-year-old girl from Cape Town, has always been the quiet observer, content to let her vibrant best friend, Tauhier, take the spotlight. But when Fuad, the charismatic heartthrob of their friend group, begins to notice her, Maryam finds herself caught in a whirlwind of curiosity, fear, and excitement. Each interaction with Fuad feels like an insurmountable challenge—until Tauhier steps in to help. Set against the backdrop of 1990s Cape Town, Maryam must navigate the complexities of first love, cultural expectations, and her own insecurities. As she grapples with her feelings, she must decide if she has the courage to let her heart lead the way, even if it means stepping out of the shadows and into the light.
R 300.00
