New Releases by Hilary McKay

Trapped and alone on the salt marshes, Jodie is troubled by a haunting presence in this eerily atmospheric ghost story from multi-award-winning author Hilary McKay

Premio Andersen 2022: miglior libro oltre i 15 anni. Un romanzo stimolante, divertente, triste e commovente, che parla di Clarry e dei suoi amici ma anche di grandi temi universali. Clarry Penrose è bendisposta verso il mondo e verso tutti, anche verso suo padre che non ama i bambini, soprattutto non le bambine, e che non si preoccupa della sua educazione perché non serve. L'unica cosa importante per una ragazzina è comportarsi bene. Ma Clarry vuole una vita sua, vuole tuffarsi in mare dalla scogliera e nuotare, come suo fratello Peter e ancor di più come il suo affascinante e intrepido cugino Rupert. E vuole anche andare a scuola. Dopotutto ha sempre fatto i compiti per il fratello finché lui non è stato mandato in collegio. Tutto d'un tratto scoppia la Prima Guerra Mondiale, e niente è più come prima. Rupert si arruola e anche Simon, il miglior amico di Peter, con conseguenze devastanti. Clarry ne è sconvolta, ma entra così nel grande mondo reale, crudele ma pieno di opportunità.

“A triumph.” —Philip Pullman, bestselling author of the His Dark Materials saga Four young lives are forever changed at the dawn of World War II in this “stirring and unforgettable” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) novel from award-winning author Hilary McKay. In England, Ruby has no friends because of the speckled blotches on her face that kids say look like dirt. And Kate is sickly all the time, her older siblings each taking turns looking after her. Ruby and Kate’s first meeting is nearly disastrous, but the two lonely girls soon strike up a friendship. Their connection becomes all the more important when England joins the war against Germany and the blitz begins overhead. In Germany, Erik and Hans are best friends filled with plans for their future: Erik taking over their beloved local zoo, and Hans serving pastries right outside the gates. They never expected to be forced to join the national service, training as pilots and tasked with hurting people. And in London a mistreated dog roams the streets looking for handouts, and for a friend. All of these lives will cross in the most surprising ways in this heartrending tale of war and compassion, and hope that can be found in even the most unexpected friendships, brought to life by award-winning author Hilary McKay.

When Saffy discovers she's adopted, her life is turned upside down. Determined to learn the truth, she sets out on a journey to Italy to find the stone angel that her grandfather has bequeathed her, and unlock the key to her past...

It's Valentine's Day and everything's changing. Indigo's in love and wants to do something special to win over Sarah, Saffy has a strange new boyfriend who teaches her all about the stars and Caddy has fallen in love and is getting married... but not to Michael. With a wedding to plan, promises to uphold and hearts to protect, everything's a little crazier than usual in the Casson household.

“Possibly the finest writer of our time.” —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity All three of Hilary McKay’s “vivid and lively” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) books about the misadventures of Binny Cornwallis, together for the first time in one charming paperback boxed set. Mayhem, love, and laughter run riot in three heartwarming adventures from award-winning author Hilary McKay. Binny Cornwallis’s perfect world is turned upside down after her father dies, when money becomes tight and her horrible aunt gives away her beloved dog, Max. But Binny has the warmth of her busy and loving mother, her musical older sister, and her hilarious little brother, who is always busy with his experiments. And his wetsuit. And his chickens. And she never stops looking for Max. Life is never dull in the Cornwallis house, and Binny is also faced with crushes, frenemies, new schools, a case of missing chickens, a possible ghost, and a seriously witchy neighbor in this funny and endlessly endearing boxed set. This set includes: Binny for Short, Binny in Secret, and Binny Bewitched.

A Boston Globe Best Book of 2018 A Horn Book Best Book of 2018 “Vivid, hilarious, and heartbreaking.” —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity “The best children’s book I’ve read this year.” —Katherine Rundell, Boston Globe–Horn Book Award–winning author of Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms “A near-miraculous balance of light and joyous touch with sometimes serious and even heartbreaking material.” —BCCB (starred review) From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes a “wholly satisfying” (Booklist, starred review) story full of wit, heartbreak, and hope as a girl fights for her independence during World War I. Clarry Penrose finds the good in everyone. Even in her father, who isn’t fond of children, and especially girls. He doesn’t worry about her education, because he knows she won’t need it. It’s the early twentieth century, and the only thing girls are expected to do is behave. But Clarry longs for a life of her own. She wants to dive off cliffs and go swimming with her brother Peter and cousin Rupert. And more than anything, she wants an education. She helps Peter with his homework all the time, so why can’t she manage it by herself? When war breaks out, Clarry is shocked to find that Rupert has enlisted. Then he is declared missing, and Clarry is devastated. Now she must take a momentous step into the wide world—for if she misses this chance, she may never make it. This is an inspirational, funny, and heartwarming story about a girl who dares to open doors that the world would rather keep closed.

The Conroy sisters are back! In Hilary Mckay''s second book in The Exiles series, The Exiles at Home, the four delightfully troublesome siblings manage to get themselves into yet more mischief.When Ruth Conroy decides to sponsor a child in Africa, she is unprepared for the monthly monetary commitment and is shocked by how difficult it is to find £10 a month . . . In desperation, she enlists the help of her sisters - but Phoebe, Naomi and Rachel are only too eager to think up eccentric fundraising schemes, including wholly undisciplined and unsuitable baby-sitters, an unhygienic catering service and a fraudulent street artist. Whatever the scheme, their hilarious projects never fail to cause chaos and mayhem.

Love is in the air . . .The Exiles in Love is the third and final book in the award-winning The Exiles series, with Hilary McKay's trademark wit and warmth.Ruth, Naomi, Rachel and Phoebe Conroy are all struggling to deal with the trials and tribulations of first love(s). Ruth develops a crush on the school bus driver, but finds herself conflicted when she also develops feelings for Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre, the temporary English teacher (who Naomi is also smitten with) AND Alan Adair who works in the butcher's shop.Meanwhile, the younger two sisters have other things on their minds - Rachel is plotting to become May Queen at her school and Phoebe is in training to become an international spy. But when Big Grandma arranges for a French boy called Philippe to stay with the Conroy's, it's not long before all the girls fall head over heels for him as well . . .

“Ten old yarns cleverly ‘re-spun.’” —The Wall Street Journal “Abundantly magical.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) Award-winning author Hilary McKay reimagines classic fairy tales with humorous and heartfelt twists in this illustrated collection of short stories that Booklist calls “a real delight.” Imagine Hansel and Gretel’s story from their teacher’s point of view, when Gretel submits her report of, “What I Did in the Holidays, and Why Hansel’s Jacket Is So Tight.” Learn the story of how Rumpelstiltskin was used by a greedy girl who wanted to marry a prince in “Straw into Gold.” Find out what was really underneath all those mattresses the unlucky princess had to sleep on—and who the prince was really in love with—in “The Prince and the Problem.” Award-winning author Hilary McKay brings a modern sensibility and inventive quirkiness to this beautiful collection of ten classic fairy tales, reimagining them with emotional depth and lighthearted humor. Each story is also accompanied by delicate black and white illustrations. This sure-to-be treasured collection includes: Rapunzel Cinderella The Princess and the Pea Rumpelstiltskin The Pied Piper The Swan Brothers Snow White Red Riding Hood The Twelve Dancing Princesses Hansel and Gretel

I asked myself lots of questions, like what did Hansel and Gretel say to their father when they finally made it home? What I Did in the Holidays . . . is an imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. Originally featured in Hilary McKay''s Fairy Tales, this short story is sure to capture the imagination! From the Guardian Children''s Fiction Prize-winning storyteller Hilary McKay and featuring black-and-white line and tone illustrations from the talented Sarah Gibb.

Here is lovely Rapunzel, free from her tower, although perhaps not so free from her fears . . . The Tower and the Bird is an imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel. Originally featured in Hilary McKay''s Fairy Tales, this short story is sure to capture the imagination! From the Guardian Children''s Fiction Prize-winning storyteller Hilary McKay and featuring black-and-white line and tone illustrations from the talented Sarah Gibb.

I asked myself lots of questions, like how could Snow White have left those seven kind dwarves? Perhaps she never quite did. Chickenpox and Crystal is an imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Originally featured in Hilary McKay''s Fairy Tales, this short story is sure to capture the imagination! From the Guardian Children''s Fiction Prize-winning storyteller Hilary McKay and featuring black-and-white line and tone illustrations from the talented Sarah Gibb.

Often, I found things were not quite as they first seemed. Not all princesses are content to marry the prince, no matter how charming, or how carefully the queen arranges the peas. The Prince and the Problem is an imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Originally featured in Hilary McKay''s Fairy Tales, this short story is sure to capture the imagination! From the Guardian Children''s Fiction Prize-winning storyteller Hilary McKay and featuring black-and-white line and tone illustrations from the talented Sarah Gibb.

Hilary McKay''s Fairy Tales is a classic fairy-tale collection to treasure. Featuring Hilary McKay''s imaginative retellings of key favourites, this ten-story collection includes the much-loved tales of Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Princess and the Pea, Rumpelstiltskin, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, The Swan Brothers, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Red Riding Hood, The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Hansel and Gretel. This gorgeous collection features black-and-white line and tone illustrations throughout from the talented Sarah Gibb.

Lulu is all boxed up—literally! Featuring all six of Lulu’s adventures, beginning readers will love this brand-new, boxed set in a handy carrying case. Join Lulu and her friends as they work together to save animals in their neighborhood. A fun, breezy series for youngsters starting to read chapter books. The boxed set includes Lulu and the Duck in the Park, Lulu and the Dog from the Sea, Lulu and the Cat in the Bag, Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door, Lulu and the Hedgehog in the Rain, Lulu and the Hamster in the Night, and a limited-edition sticker sheet.

From the winner of the Costa Children''s Book Award 2018. It''s tough being the youngest in the Casson family! It is nearly the end of Year 6, and Rose is preparing for Big School. With absent siblings, a perpetually-in-the-shed mother and finally-here-again-father, Rose''s Blog reveals what happens to the Cassons - and Tom, of course. Hilary McKay''s Casson family was first brought to life in the Whitbread Award-winning Saffy''s Angel. Fierce as a small tiger, Permanent Rose has her own way of seeing the world. After Forever Rose (the last of the books following the Casson family), the eponymous Rose continued to grow up. Hilary posted entries from a blog Rose was keeping on her website, chronicling the further adventures of the Cassons. They are available here as one collection for the first time.

I Was There... is a perfect introduction for younger readers into stories from the past. I Was There... Roman Britain is a fast-paced and fascinating account of a young girl in the Iceni tribe as Queen Boudica, the fearless leader of the Iceni, rallies her people to march on Roman-occupied Colchester.

Lulu loves animals. She knows that the hedgehog she rescued isn't really a pet, but Lulu does want to make sure she's all right. And so the Hedgehog Club is born. Everyone on the street agrees to keep an eye on the little hedgehog and keep it away from the road. But come wintertime the hedgehog disappears! Where could she have gone?

When Lulu's next-door neighbor doesn't seem to be looking after his rabbit properly, Lulu and her cousin Mellie devise a scheme to make him pay more attention to his pet.

Charlie is an irresistibly funny little brother who manages to get into all kinds of scrapes. Whether he's trying to hinder or help his brother Max and best friend Henry, trouble is guaranteed! Haunted Tent Charlie sees his chance to be a hero when he finds out Max is scared of Aunt Emma's spooky house. Those ghosts had better watch out . . . Big Snow Charlie has waited his whole life for it to snow, but now it has no one will let him play in it! First no one wakes him up, then he has to go to school . . . Will he ever get to build his snowman?

When a mysterious bag is left on Lulu's doorstep, the last thing her grandmother expects to be in it is a cat—a huge, neon orange cat. But Lulu knows this cat doesn’t mean any harm. In fact, it needs a lovely new home.

An enchanting sequel to Frances Hodgson Burnett''s A Little Princess, written by the award-winning Hilary McKay.

"Tom and Ellie (and Whiskers the cat) have to go and live with Aunt Tab. That's bad. Everything in her house is sticky with treacle. That's worse (and really yucky). Then they find out she's a witch. Will Tom and Ellie come to a sticky end? "--Back cover. Suggested level: primary.

There are no pets allowed in Paradise House. So when Kathy arrives with a secret rabbit there are big problems for everyone. Nathan and Anna do their best to help, but in the end it is Danny who comes up with a plan for Keeping Cotton Tail that just might work!

The children are saved from the dreaded School Holiday Club in the nick of time!They owe their escape to the elderly Miss Kents who live in the basement of Paradise House. The Miss Kents have agreed to look after them. How can the children thank their rescuers enough? They hatch a plan that they think will appeal to old ladies. But things don't go quite as planned. Will the surprise be spoilt?

As Christmas approaches, eleven-year-old Rose, the youngest member of the eccentric Casson family, discovers that life is filled with both catastrophic problems and wonderful surprises.

Being snowed in at school is bad enough, but being stuck with the horrible dinner ladies who cook up the most revolting food is a catastrophe! Can Bagdemagus, the magical school cat, help Class 4b escape?