We were thrilled to include the page-turning debut The Girl Who Raced The World by Nat Harrison in our kids' book subscription box for confident readers recently - it's a heartfelt and rip-roaring adventure of travel, treachery and trust! Born on Ascension Island in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, Nat studied Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing for Young People. The Girl Who Raced The World has been longlisted for the 2026 Branford Bose Award and nominated for Stanford's Children's Book Of The Year. We were so excited to have the opportunity to ask her a few questions; read on to find out what she shared with us...
What is your favourite city that you have ever travelled to?
It’s impossible to pick just one favourite city so I’ll give you three! I love Hong Kong, it still feels like home because I grew up there. New York, because there is always something exciting happening. And Annecy in the French Alps, with its beautiful lake, peaceful mountains, and incredible cheese!
If you could pick one place in the world to visit, that you have never been to, where would it be?
I have always wanted to visit Patagonia in South America. It has everything I love; glaciers, mountains, hiking, wonderful wildlife, and it meets the mighty South Atlantic Ocean where I was born. I cannot wait to go!
What inspired you to build upon the story of Phileas Fogg's famous journey?
Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days is one of the most rip-roaring adventure stories of all time, but I always felt like the adults in the original story were missing all the best bits about travel! So, when I reimagined the story, I put a young girl at the heart of the action because who better to marvel at the wonder of the world than a young person with fresh eyes and a curious mind?
Did you have to do a lot of research in order to write this book?
I did have to do a lot of research because, even though I’ve been lucky enough to visit most of the places in the story, things looked very different in 1872. I needed to research what life would be like more than one hundred and fifty years ago, back when there was no Eiffel Tower or Golden Gate Bridge. Bicycles, toothpaste and even toilet paper didn’t exist as we know them today! I spend a lot of time making sure the details were right.
Which character in the book do you relate to the most?
I relate to Maggie’s character because I know how it feels to suddenly find yourself a long way from home. When I was the same age as Maggie, we moved halfway around the world to Hong Kong, and it was like stepping through a magic door into a completely different world. Much of the wonder and excitement, and sometimes fear, that Maggie feels in the story comes from my own experience.
What is your favourite mode of transport - train, ship, motor, aeroplane, or something else?
I absolutely love trains. There is something magical about stepping aboard a train and watching the world go by the window. I had so much fun writing about racing across continents on steam trains, it was a dream come true! I enjoyed it so much, I’m planning to do many more train journeys in the future.
What do you hope readers will learn from Maggie's story?
From the very beginning of the story, Maggie must dig deep and be brave. I think the most incredible things happen when you believe in yourself and find your courage – it’s a special kind of magic that only you can create. I hope readers find a courageous friend in Maggie and are inspired to be brave themselves.
What is your favourite genre to read?
I read across a lot of different genres because I love to experience new ways of telling a great story. But my favourite genre is adventure, because there’s nothing better than being whisked away on a high-stakes, action packed, heart-pounding adventure where anything can happen.
What inspired you to be a writer?
Reading inspired me to become a writer. I had very bad asthma as a kid and was in and out of hospital for a while. To keep my mind off things, Mum and Dad got me hooked on great adventure stories and it was a wonderful way to disappear into a different world when things weren’t going so great. I understood how words had the power to change people’s lives, in both small and monumental ways and that made me want to be a writer.
If you weren't an author, what else would you choose to be?
I feel like I chose to be a lot of things before becoming an author! Over the years I’ve been a burger flipper, ice cream whipper, bingo caller, sweet seller, hotel cleaner, summer camp counsellor, and a swim coach. I also worked for really big companies like Airbnb and Apple, travelling all over the world. I’ve learned so much from every job I’ve had, but being an author really is the best one of all.
Do you have any tips for aspiring young writers?
Make a mess. When you’re at the very beginning of your story, don’t worry about your writing being neat, being good, or being right. Just start scribbling – crazy thoughts, bonkers ideas, wild imaginings, don’t be afraid to play around and have fun. There’s time to be neat and tidy later, but first you have to get all the ideas out on to the page.
Find out more about Nat Harrison and her books at her website: https://www.natharrison.com/ or follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natharrisonauthor/
