Two Northampton schoolgirl sisters launch monthly book subscription boxes after publishing their debut novels

Two school girl siblings have started a monthly book subscription service after publishing their debut novels in 2020.

Sisters Kirsten, 13, and Aiyven Mbawa, 11, who attend Northampton High School in Hardingstone, turned their love of reading into a new successful business by launching 'Happier Every Chapter' - a monthly book subscription box that aims to promote literacy and diversity for children aged eight to 14 years old.

Each box contains "a monthly box of bookish bliss and treats" including two books, two short stories, activity sheets and a host of other surprises.

Kirsten and Aiyven, speaking about their love for writing books, said: “We think writing is like having a third eye, a super power almost where one gets to stretch the imagination to build worlds and decide not only who gets to be in those worlds but what happens in them. It’s also a way of taking readers on that journey with you and showing them round the world you’ve imagined."

Their journey into the world of writing began when they entered the '2019 BBC 500 Words' writing contest and the competition sparked an idea for the literacy lovers to develop their passion of reading into writing books of their own.

The schoolgirls then began putting pen to paper and launched a successful kickstarter campaign that raised over £5,000 to fund the publication of their debut novels, 'Sagas of Anya' and 'Land of the Nurogons'.

Kirsten and Aiyven, after selling their books all over the world, decided to expand their growing business to offer the subscription service. They made appearances on BBC Look East, the Daily Mirror, The Week Junior Magazine and even Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch to promote their new specialist service.

The 'Happier Every Chapter' subscription offers plenty of options to suit all budding bookworms and it is the perfect opportunity for pupils to join an engaged community of readers in a book club style format. It even includes a 'sibling plan' for fiction fanatics like Kirsten and Aiyven!

Head over to the Mbawa Books website for more information, to buy one of the books or to subscribe to a box. Subscribers to the service get 50 per cent off the first box when they sign up to the six or 12 month plans.