The Books

The Fights that Make Us

by Sarah Hagger-Holt

ISBN: 9781839942730

An unputdownable read about LGBTQ+ history and standing up for what you believe in, from award-winning author Sarah Hagger-Holt. Maybe there was a place in history for people like me, not on the edges of the story, but right in the centre. Jesse has recently come out as non-binary, and is struggling to find their place at school, and ideas for their project on lost stories from history. Thirty-five years earlier, Jesse's cousin Lisa is falling for her best friend, but with new laws being introduced to restrict LGBT people's rights, they'll have to fight for the world to accept who they are. Now it's Jesse's turn to find a way to shine a spotlight on a history that mustn't be forgotten.

Reviews

Diana - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I liked how passionate this book was - it sounded like Jesse really cared about the cause she was fighting for. I also liked how the chapters flit back and forth between decades. Things I didn't enjoy as much were the way that Lisa's diary just ended, relying on the other characters to tell it, but overall it was a good book.

Elizabeth - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

This book was very well written and I enjoyed reading it. Personally, I think this topic might be a bit too sensitive and grown up for children's book of the year. Still quite interesting though!

Zoe - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

It wasn't really the book for me, but the history was interesting and the charaters had interesting stories.

Charlotte - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

An amazing book, I never knew that I was so interested in the history of LGBTQ+. I learnt so many things, the life lessons in the book were ones I had never thought about before. I really enjoyed it.

Susan - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I personly didn't like this book but I would recomend it to people who want to know the older sides of the LGBTQ+ comunity, I loved the storyline, the strugles in the book and the detail!

Tabi - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

The Fight That Makes Us was very inspirational and very eye opening. I have given this 3 stars because I would not normally pick a book with real facts in it but it was a amazing book overall.

Jenny - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I enjoyed this book. I really liked learning about LGBTQ+ people and how some people do not appreciate them. The reason I gave the book a 4 not a 5 was because I sometimes got Lisa's story and Jesse's story mixed up. Sometimes thinking Kayleigh was Simran's mum. I would love to learn more about LGBTQ+ people.

Erin - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I really enjoyed this book, as it shows the cruelty of the real world. I would definitely recommend it. A good read!

Annie - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

Personally I liked this book, because it showed the struggles of lots of communities, while still being fun and relatable for kids our age. Although I don't usually read this style, I found it very interesting. Great read!

Emma - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I found this book very interesting and found it very fun but the change between the caracters perspectives were a bit confusing at times. This is why I prefer their book Proud Of Me.

Temi - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I don't usually read these types of books but it was quite interesting on seeing the perspective of someone that is part of the LGBTQ+ community and what they may have to go through in everyday life.

Bethan - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

Brilliant! Funny and kind of relatable. I loved it. Would highly recommend

Milena - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I really loved the power and the story within the book. It also showed how many people are close minded and how we need to open their minds. It was an awesome book overall!

Emily - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I quite liked the story of the book and how it's about what happened to LGBTQ+ people and what is still happening now. The story of it was very easy to understand and so was the meaning.

Hareem - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I don't normally read books on this topic, but seeing the experiences LGBTQ+ people go through was very moving. I would recommend this to people who are interested in the topic. It was well written.

Maria - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

It wasn't the book for me however at the same time I found it incredibly interesting and I learned a lot about LGBTQ+ from it.

Yishan - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

The book is good, but it is not for me, I still learnt lot about LGBTQ+

Jocelyn - Nottingham Girls High School - 2025

I really enjoyed the book and I feel like it was a good book for me. I liked the backstory of Lisa and Jesse as a character. It inspired me to protest for LGBTQ+ rights just like Jesse.

Ralfs - Outwood Academy Kirkby - 2025

Exciting yet emotional book. The idea of including Lisa's diary as some of the chapters is brilliant and really kept me engaged.

Shelby - Outwood Academy Kirkby - 2025

A brilliant book that I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to read it. I would read it again.