A delightfully funny novel about what it's like to be the middle child of a big, raucous and loving family in a small house with only one toilet, from the CBCA shortlisted author of To and Fro.

Dad likes rules. Mum likes order. My siblings like breaking both.

Leon is having a bad time - his best friend Jacob has moved to Alaska, he's not allowed to look after Jacob's cat, he has to be a buddy to the weird new kid, and no one in his family listens to him. The only place he feels calm is under his bed, listening to cat-themed songs.

When Leon encourages his parents to help out the new kid, his problems get worse. Everyone in Leon's family seems to like Victor better than him. He tries to tell them how he's feeling, but how can a quiet person like Leon make himself heard in such a loud family?

'Perfect for fans of Andy Griffiths, Paul Jennings and Morris Gleitzman.' Books+Publishing
'A warm, laugh-out-loud funny, purring fuzzball of a book.' Sophie Beer, award-winning author of Thunderhead
'Perfectly captures the chaos of large-family dynamics with humour, warmth and compassion.' Nathan Luff, bestselling author of the Nerd Herd series
'Six siblings and one bathroom - it's a recipe for high drama!' RA Spratt, bestselling author of the Friday Barnes series

Perfect for:
- Readers aged 8-12 who love funny stories about friends and family set in the real world
- Fans of books by authors like Maryam Master or Morris Gleitzman
- Parents, teachers and educators wanting a funny contemporary story that has meaningful themes for discussion

Details

ISBN13: 9781761182709
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 288
Edition:
Publication Date: 04 Aug 2026
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication City, Country: Sydney, Australia
Dimensions (cm): 19.8(H)x12.8(L)218
Weight (gm): 218

Author Biography

Anton Clifford-Motopi's passion is writing funny and thought-provoking stories for children. His stories explore themes of self-identity, family relationships and friendship, drawing from his experiences of being black with light skin, growing up in a large adoptive family and raising four children. Anton's debut novel, To and Fro, was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and the Readings Children's Prize. He lives in Brisbane with his family. www.antoncliffordmotopi.com

Reviews

'Perfect for fans of Andy Griffiths, Paul Jennings and Morris Gleitzman, Stuck in the Middle will resonate with children navigating friendships, family dynamics and the feeling of not quite fitting in. It is a joyful and reassuring story that celebrates individuality, showing that even in the busiest, noisiest families, there is always a place to belong.' Books+Publishing

'A warm, laugh-out-loud-funny, purring fuzzball of a book. Family, friendship and kitty cats collide in ways that make you want to curl up and live within the cosy walls of Leon's zany, laughter-filled home.' Sophie Beer, award-winning author of Thunderhead

'Perfectly captures the chaos of large-family dynamics with humour, warmth and compassion.' Nathan Luff, bestselling author of the Nerd Herd series

'Six siblings and one bathroom - it's a recipe for high drama!' RA Spratt, bestselling author of the Friday Barnes series