Tomatoes in My Lunchbox

Written by Costantia Manoli and Magdalena Mora

Narrated by Costantia Manoli

This audiobook is read by the author.

Tomatoes in My Lunchbox is a moving audiobook from a debut author about the first day of school, layered with themes about the immigrant experience and the universal experience of feeling out of place.

A child, newly arrived in another country, feels displaced, lonely, and a little scared on her first day of school. Her name doesn't sound the way she's used to hearing it. She knows she doesn't fit in. And when she eats her whole tomato for lunch, she can feel her classmates observing her—and not quite understanding her.

But sometimes all it takes is one friend, one connection, to bring two worlds together, and gradually the girl, her tomato, and her full name, start to feel at home with her new friends and community.

This emotionally sweeping debut audiobook by Costantia Manoli, with vibrant art by Magdalena Mora, artfully captures feelings of displacement and the joy that comes from forging new friendships.

A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jun 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781250855985

Costantia Manoli

Costantia Manoli was born in the United Kingdom to Cypriot parents and spent the picture book period of her life in London contending with a name that even she has difficulty pronouncing in English! After spending her middle grade and young adult years in Cyprus, the USA and the UK (and then back round again), she now lives amid almond and olive trees on the outskirts of a hot, dusty village in Cyprus. Her two daughters, hubby, lioness-dog Luna and hyperactive doggo Woody keep her busy in a tangle of story ideas, new characters and constant interruptions.

Reviews for Tomatoes in My Lunchbox

[Jennifer Burns · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautiful story about how a girl’s name connects with her homeland, her people, and her heart. The tomatoes represent her old life, living back in her former country.
Poetic. It’s gorgeous.