'Il-Proġett ta' Qalb Tajba'

Author: Deborah Abela

Maltese translation: Clare Azzopardi and Leanne Ellul

Publisher: Merlin Publishers / 2026

Pages: 340

In stories, superheroes save the world with capes, masks and spectacular displays of power. In Il-Proġett ta' Qalb Tajba, however, the greatest superpower is a quiet, gentle one available to each and every one of us: kindness. As author Deborah Abela reminds us, we don't need to fly or leap off tall buildings to change the world. We simply need to be kind.

Merlin Publishers are delighted to bring Il-Proġett ta' Qalb Tajba to Maltese bookshelves. This Maltese edition of Australian author Deborah Abela's novel The Kindness Project has been beautifully translated by Clare Azzopardi and Leanne Ellul. As the translators aptly describe it, the book is "a hug in narrative form". Written in free verse with short lines and generous white space, the book offers a light, flowing reading experience that draws readers from one page to the next - making it an inviting, accessible read, even for those who might otherwise find reading in Maltese a bit daunting.

The story follows four children who could hardly be more different: Nicolette, Rand, Layla and DJ. Their teacher, Miss Skye, assigns them a group project with a simple but ambitious aim: to do something that will make the world a better place. The only problem is that these four are not friends - in fact, they can barely stand each other. Yet as their project gradually takes shape, they begin to discover that they have far more in common than they ever imagined, and that each of them is carrying a burden of their own. Nicolette worries constantly about her grandmother, who lives in a residential care home. Rand's mother is in hospital. DJ's father is away overseas doing voluntary work, while Layla feels pushed aside after her mother remarries and has a new baby. When one of them is in need of help, these four "non-friends" come together to create the most wonderful kindness project imaginable.

Through gentle humour and many tender moments, Il-Proġett ta' Qalb Tajba delivers a powerful message without fanfare: that every one of us carries worries of our own; that those worries become lighter when shared with someone we trust; and that even a single person, through one small act of kindness, has the power to change the world.

Abela shares that the novel was inspired by one of her childhood memories. One afternoon at school, her teacher gently touched her on the shoulder and said, "Deb, I think you're going to be an author one day". Abela says that those few words gave her permission to believe that her dream could one day become a reality.

Today, Abela is an internationally-acclaimed and award-winning author with around 30 books to her name. Among them are The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee, Teresa and Bear in Space, as well as The Kindness Project, all of which are now available in Maltese. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a teacher and as a producer for a national children's television programme. Her stories are rooted in a deep affection for ordinary people - families, friends, neighbours and teachers - whose quiet, everyday acts of kindness make the world a gentler, more compassionate place.

For translators Azzopardi and Ellul, two of Malta's foremost writers, translating this book was a particularly rewarding experience. "Deborah Abela's books always fill me with joy, and this story in verse is no exception," says Ellul. "It reminds us of the beauty of our shared humanity. I truly believe it is a much-needed book for our times." Azzopardi shares the same sentiment: "I always love translating Deb Abela because her writing goes straight to the heart. It really does."

Il-Proġett ta' Qalb Tajba is a warm, entertaining and deeply moving story for children from middle-grade age upwards - and for adults no less. It is especially suited for anyone who has ever wondered whether one small act of kindness can really make a difference ...

Yes, for you too, Il-Proġett ta' Qalb Tajba is available from bookshops across Malta and Gozo, or directly from the publishers at www.merlinpublishers.com