New Releases by Geraldine McCaughrean

I have been in love with Titus Oates for quite a while now--which is ridiculous, since he''s been dead for ninety years. But look at it this way. In ninety years I''ll be dead, too, and the age difference won''t matter. Sym is not your average teenage girl. She is obsessed with the Antarctic and the brave, romantic figure of Captain Oates from Scott''s doomed expedition to the South Pole. In fact, Oates is the secret confidant to whom she spills all her hopes and fears. But Sym''s uncle Victor is even more obsessed--and when he takes her on a dream trip into the bleak Antarctic wilderness, it turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival that will challenge everything she knows and loves. In her first contemporary young adult novel, Carnegie Medalist and three-time Whitbread Award winner Geraldine McCaughrean delivers a spellbinding journey into the frozen heart of darkness.

"This bound proof contains an extract from the universally acclaimed Peter Pan in scarlet. It also contains extracts from four other best-selling, award-winning McCaughrean titles, which are full of the same incredible storytelling, excitement, and the same spirit of swashbuckling adventure."--Blurb on back cover.

The adventures continue for the three Darling children and Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up.

Geraldine McCaughrean retells the Christmas story by imagining how Joseph felt on the first night with his new son.

Cyrano de Bergerac is a flamboyant character and a skilled swordsman, not in the least afraid of drawing attention to himself in public-for he can be highly amusing, even at his own expense, with jokes about his enormous nose. But he has a weakness: he has fallen in love with his beautifulcousin Roxane, and because of his own appearance is too ashamed to declare his love. Meanwhile Roxane is besotted with a handsome, but foolish young man, Christian, in the same company of guards as Cyrano. Cyrano is devastated by this, and horrified by her request that he should protect the youngman and encourage him to write her love letters. Writing letters is something Christian can''t do-but Cyrano generously offers to help, even if it means breaking his own heart. Soon Cyrano pours out his feelings in the most romantic letters ever. The question is will Roxane ever discover the truth?And if she does will it be too late for Cyrano?

Nothing bedazzles quite like a jewel in a Tiffany setting. This elegant 12-month engagement calendar features photographs, sketches, and drawings of antique and contemporary jewelry from the archives of Tiffany & Co. Covered in velveteen, the slipcase is designed to resemble a classic jewel box.

The adventures continue for the three Darling children and Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up.

This version of Edmund Spenser''s classic tale is retold in an accessible manner, bringing stories of knights, dragons, sorcerers and princesses to a new generation.

In the 1920s, as Neverland chafes against the Here and Now, holes are worn in the fabric that lies between, allowing nightmares to leak out and causing Wendy and the Lost Boys to return to help Peter Pan save Neverland.

A collection of 16 Greek myths, capturing all the magic stories for today''s young readership. It includes the adventures of Jason, Icarus, Theseus and Odysseus, and King Midas whose magic touch turns everything to gold.

On his journey to the City of Gold Christian meets an extraordinary cast of characters, such as the terrible Giant Despair. Together with Hopeful he survives the traps but must find the courage to cross the final river to the City and his salvation.

To liven up her creative writing lessons, Mrs P has got Class Five to write a story on a roll of wallpaper. Each child must add a sentence to make it the longest story ever. Soon we are swept along in the tale of King Fred, who narrowly escapes death at the hands of pirates and attempts tosave mermaids from the monstrous Wugblammer. (But he fails - it ate them all.) While Ecky Thump indulges his imagination, Noah Mount, who hates English, keeps trying to kill everyone off. Little does he or anyone else realize that in a parallel fantasy world all their characters come to life, in thewhirlwind of action that is the story. It''s when the children make spelling mistakes or forget what''s happened that things get interesting. The ''holey'' archbishop finds himself in tatters, fluttering along like a ghost, while an army of ''nights'' has plunged the kingdom into complete darkness. Thestory twists and turns with ever more hilarious consequences. Fully illustrated in black and white line and tone this is a truly original and captivating book.* Highly illustrated insides (in black and white line and tone) from an exciting new and sought-after illustrator, Jago, whose first picture book Fig''s Giant is also written by Geraldine and will be published by OUP in autumn 05

It''s started. The secret''s out. People are coming from all over the country. Their hopes are high. The word on everyone''s lips is - GOLD. A rich tale of the lust for money that undermines an entire Brazilian town.

After surviving a plane crash in the jungle, Flash, a photographer, is taken to a remote village where his instant camera works magic for those who have never seen a photo.

The Bright Lights Theatre Company and the Junker Boys arrive in Darksville on the same train. The Bright Lights came to entertain, whereas the Junkers came to rob the bank.

A wonderful retelling of the story of Odysseus, from Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by Jason Cockcroft.* Geraldine McCaughrean is one of the most highly-acclaimed living children''s writers, and is particularly renowned for her masterly retellings of traditional tales* Geraldine McCaughrean is the winner of the Carnegie Medal, Guardian Children''s Fiction Award, Whitbread Award (twice) and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award* Perfect for fans of adult authors such as Mary Renault, or for readers of Adele Geras''s Troy

Gabriel has no idea what the future will hold when he runs away from his apprenticeship with the bad-tempered stonemason. But God Himself, in the shape of playmaster Garvey, has plans for him. He wants Gabriel for his angel...But will Gabriel''s new life with the travelling players be any more secure? In a world of illusion, people are not always what they seem. Least of all Gabriel. Geraldine McCaughrean is considered an exceptional writer of our time. She has won the Carnegie Medal, the Guardian Children''s Fiction Award, the Whitbread Award (twice) and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.

Hercules is one of four Greek Hero retellings from Geraldine McCaughrean, with cover illustrations by Jason Cockcroft.* Geraldine McCaughrean is one of the most highly acclaimed living children''s writers, and is particularly renowned for her masterly retellings of traditional tales* Geraldine McCaughrean and Jason Cockcroft reunited - the prize-winning team behind the Blue Peter Book of the Year winner, A Pilgrim''s Progress

Theseus is one of four wonderful Greek Hero retellings from Geraldine McCaughrean, with cover illustrations by Jason Cockroft.* Geraldine McCaughrean is one of the most highly-acclaimed living children''s writers, and is particularly renowned for her masterly retellings of traditional tales. She is winner of the Carnegie Medal, Guardian Children''s Fiction Award and the Whitbread Award (twice)* Geraldine McCaughrean and Jason Cockcroft are reunited - the prizewinning team behind the Blue Peter Book of the Year winner, A Pilgrim''s Progress* Perfect for fans of adult authors such as Mary Renault, or for readers of Adele Geras''s Troy* Myths and legends are required reading for the Natioanl Curriculum

A retelling of the Greek tale of how Perseus, a good and brave young man, is helped by the gods to cut off the head of the monster Gorgon Medusa. Suggested level: primary.

It''s 1893 and for Cissy and her family, a new life beckons on the prairies of Oklahoma. Along with other settlers, they travel to Florence - a town yet to be built - and prepare for business alongside the Red Rock Railroad track. But the railroad company has other ideas. It wants to buy the land for itself - and when the settlers refuse to sell, the railroad boss swears his trains will never stop in Florence again. Without the train, there is no way the town can survive. So Cissy, her friends, family, and neighbours resolve to stop that train, come what may - by fair means or foul...

A child, wondering why Grandma doesn''t have the grandfather clock in her house repaired, learns that there are many ways to measure time, from the moment it takes to blink an eye to the years shown in gray hairs.

Greek myths are high priority in schools and Geraldine McCaughrean¿s brilliant idea of turning them into short plays for children to perform should be a winner. These twenty-five favourites include King Midas, Perseus and Andromeda, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Theseus and the Minotaur. They can be performed singly or several in one performance, for which a dramatic framework has been supplied. They are easy to stage, with casts that can be expanded or contracted, and there are notes and suggestions for simple props and costumes. Enhanced by Richard Brassey''s line drawings, these plays are as much fun to read as they are to perform.

In this funny story a family become marooned in a hotel called Forever Xmas. They celebrate Christmas all year round, complete with dinner, presents and Father Christmas. Things are not the same when Mr Angel lands in a tree and the police arrive!