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Winner for the Singapore Book Awards 2025 - Best Young Person's Fiction Title

Talking plants, evil scientists, and mobile book vans—Maizey doesn't know where to start!

Imagination loss has hit everyone over 35, but 11-year-old Maizey Lee has bigger problems that that. Her life is turned upside down when her father disappears in a fire and mother decides to take them globe-trotting in a library on wheels. She has to get back to Singapore in time to sit for PSLE, or she'll be stuck in primary school forever! But with her mother determined to visit the world book capital to keep her Imagination alive, her plant friend Curie causing havoc with her powers, and an sinister pharmaceautical company chasing after them, will she ever be able to get her normal life back?

In this first foray into the world of travelling libraries, talking plants and scientific espionage, it's up to Maizey to save Imagination. As she goes swimming with turtles, plucks coconuts with monkeys and races across Bangkok on a far-too-small scooter, Maizey is about to learn that every encounter she picks up along the way will guide her to understand the power of stories and the importance in keeping Imagination alive.
“The Travelling Library Chronicles of Maizey Lee will take you on a journey you are not likely forget. In Salleh's story, Maizey seeks to restore the imaginations lost to many across the world, but along the way, she discovers the key is far more than just her late father's research. With unlikely friends and even unexpected enemies, this twisty and fun adventure is one bound to resonate with every reader. I cannot wait to see where Maizey and her family will take us next!”
—George Jreije, author of the Shad Hadid series

“A fun and delightful story about courage and dealing with change. I’m rooting for Maizey Lee!”
—Vivian Teo, author of the My BFF is an Alien series
Erni Salleh started writing stories at the age of twelve and has never looked back. Her first novel, The Java Enigma, was shortlisted for the 2020 Epigram Books Fiction Prize. Originally from Singapore, Erni spent many years working as a librarian before moving to the United Kingdom. She currently works at the museum where she combines storytelling with history and public engagement. Erni finds inspiration for her stories in the diverse cultures of both her home countries and regularly disappears into a magical Welsh book town called Hay-on-Wye, on one of her many secret literary quests.

Series

The Travelling Library Chronicles of Maizey Lee: The Road to Bangkok