Best Selling Books by Natasha Farrant

What makes a princess excellent? Eager to learn the answer, an enchantress casts her magic mirror into our universe. Reflected in it are princesses from around the world and across centuries who refuse to be pretty, polite, and obedient. Princess Leila of the desert protects her people from the king with the black-and-gold banner; Princess Tica takes a crocodile for a pet; Princess Ellen explores the high seas; Princess Abayome puts empathy and kindness above royal beauty; and in an apartment building, a girl named Princess saves her community’s beloved garden from the hands of urban developers. These girls are fierce, brave, and determined to do the rescuing themselves. Connecting their stories is the magic mirror, which reveals itself when each girl needs it most, illuminating how a princess’s power comes not from her title or looks, but from her own inner strength. These beautifully imagined stories, complemented by vibrant and inviting artwork, are by turns charming and bold, familiar and surprising.

Winner of the 2020 Costa Children''s Book Award A Kirkus Reviews Best Children''s Book of 2021 A Times and Sunday Times Best Book of the Year In the aftermath of World War One, everyone in the small town of Barton is rebuilding their lives. Ben needs to find his brother, Sam—who was wounded in action and is now missing—if he wants to avoid being sent to the orphanage. Lotti’s horrible aunt and uncle want to send her away from her beloved home to boarding school, just when she has successfully managed to get expelled from her last one. When a chance encounter brings the two children together, each recognizes the other as a kindred spirit. But just as they’ve found their feet, disaster strikes, and Ben and Lotti must run away. They hatch a plan to cross the English Channel on Ben’s narrowboat, the Sparrowhawk, and track down Sam in France. But there’s something in France that Lotti is looking for, too. . . . Funny, heartwarming, and wise, Voyage of the Sparrowhawk is full of high stakes, twists and connections, and—most of all—adventure.

The Gadsby family will capture your heart yet again in this heartwarming sequel to Indie Next List Pick After Iris Life with the Gadsby family is always chaotic, but now things are spinning of control. Blue''s parents are back home, alternating between rekindling their romance and wondering why they’re still together, and Zoran, the au pair who used to keep them all sane, has moved out. What''s more, he has taken in a reclusive teenage boy, which leaves Blue and her siblings feeling utterly abandoned. Naturally, Blue is determined to bring Zoran home—and to document every moment of her family’s trials and tribulations. Fans of The Penderwicks and Counting By 7s will find an insightfully funny narrator in the irresistible Blue Gadsby.

A 19th century house, clinging to a windswept hill in Dorset once grand and beautiful, Is now falling to pieces. it has been hometo Bella Langton for years and she cannot bear to part with it. The only person able to rescue it is her granddaughter.

Twelve-year-old Bluebell Gadsby''s written and video diary chronicles life in a rowdy London family, and how Zoran, the new au pair, and Joss, the troublemaking boy next door, help to pull her out of her shell and cope with the loss of her twin three years before.

Arianne knew Luc before he went away, of course she did. Everyone in Samaroux knows each other. When he returns after five years, the spark between them reignites and becomes something more, but will the war let them be together? As the two teens fall deeply in love, their world starts to crumble around them. German forces, reeling from defeats in the east, are closing in, and Luc, desperate to atone for his family''s past, wants to join the resistance. Arianne will do anything to keep him safe, but in such a small village, Luc is not alone in his love for Arianne. And Luc''s rival just might be a traitor. How far will they go to protect what they believe in? And what will they do for love?

France: February, 1944. Arianne knew Luc as a child, of course she did. Everyone in Samaroux knows each other. But he''s been away, and five years really makes a difference to a boy. A young man.As they fall headily into love - first love - their world starts to crumble around them. German forces are closing in, and the village is torn between cooperating to save themselves or putting up resistance and entering unknown danger.Arianne will do anything to make Luc stay. Luc wants to prove he is a man. And Romy, who has loved Arianne all the time that Luc has been away, can see a way of removing his rival, at any cost. How far will they go to protect what they believe in? And what will they do for love?

Originally published: London : Faber & Faber Limited, 2018, as Children of Castle Rock.

In the tradition of Longbourn, Mr. Darcy''s Diary, and Prom and Prejudice... Lydia is the youngest of the five Bennet girls. She''s stubborn, never listens, and can''t seem to keep her mouth shut--not that she would want to anyway. She''s bored with her country life and wishes her older sisters would pay her attention . . . for once! Luckily, the handsome Wickham arrives at Longbourn to sweep her off her feet. Lydia''s not going to let him know THAT, of course, especially since he only seems to be interested in friendship. But when they both decide to summer in the fasionable seaside town of Brighton, their paths become entangled again. At the seaside, Lydia also finds exciting new ways of life and a pair of friends who offer her a future she never dreamed of. Lydia finally understands what she really wants. But can she get it? A fresh, funny, and spirited reimagining of Jane Austen''s beloved Pride and Prejudice, The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet brings the voice of the wildest Bennet sister alive and center stage like never before.

For tre år siden døde Bluebells tvillingesøster Iris, og hendes familie har ikke været den samme siden. I en blanding af almindelig dagbog og udskrift af de små filmklip, Blue har optaget på sit kamera, tegner hovedpersonen et skarpt og humoristisk billede af sin kaotiske familie, som den ser ud minus Iris. Resultatet er en hjerteskærende sjov og bevægende fortælling om en familie i opløsning, der langsomt finder fodfæste igen. Og om usynlige Blue, der har så travlt med at filme alle andre end sig selv. Gemt bag sit kamera optager midterbarnet Blue sin melodramatiske storesøster, som hele tiden skifter hårfarve; sine yngre søskende, der er helt besatte af deres kæledyrsrotter, som på mystisk vis har fået unger; begge forældre, som rejser rundt med deres arbejde og konstant skændes, når de endelig er hjemme; og derfor også familiens au-pair, som forsøger at holde sammen på flokken, mens han skriver på sit speciale. Men så dukker naboens barnebarn Joss op, og alt tager en endnu mere kaotisk drejning.

Inspired by Jane Austen''s Pride and Prejudice! Lydia can''t stand her country life - but adventure is just around the corner. Soon, she''s swept off her feet by dashing Wickham, following him glamorous Brighton. Here, a pair of intriguing siblings offer her the life she thinks she seeks. But can she find out what she really wants - and get it?

Alice adoră să citească, dar cel mai mult îi place să-și scrie propriile povești. Ajunsă, fără să vrea, la o școală cu internat, nu știe că o așteaptă o aventură pe care nici ea nu și-ar fi putut-o imagina: o expediție alături de prieteni de nădejde, plină de primejdii și mistere, în care principala confruntare va fi cea cu temerile lăuntrice.

Expédiée dans un pensionnat au milieu de nulle part, Alice a du mal à trouver sa place. Ici, les élèves ne parlent que du Grand Challenge d''Orientation : quelques jours de liberté loin des professeurs. La jeune fille compte bien en profiter pour partir à la recherche d''une île abritant un chateau mystérieux... Il ne lui reste plus qu''à convaincre ses deux seuls amis, Jesse (qui respecte toujours les règles) et Fergus (qui transgresse les règles respectées par Jesse), de l''accompagner dans sa quête.

Moi, c’est Bluebell. J’ai 13 ans et c’est dans ma folle vie que vous vous apprêtez à entrer. Attention, préparez-vous, je suis entourée par une vraie famille de fous ! On commence avec Jasmine et Twig. On les appelle les petits chéris, alors que ce sont plutôt de sacrés diablotins. Leur jeu préféré, c’est de faire rouler leurs rats domestiques sur des voitures télécommandées. Il y a aussi Flora, ma grande sœur. Avec elle, on a le droit à un défilé de mode quotidien : elle change de couleur de cheveux encore plus souvent que d’humeur. Papa et maman sont rarement à la maison, ils travaillent tout le temps et voyagent beaucoup. Du coup, ils ont engagé Zoran comme garçon au pair. Il est étudiant et joue parfaitement du piano, mais il est nul en cuisine : pour nous maintenant, c’est saucisses purée midi et soir. Depuis peu, il y a Joss, le nouveau voisin. Joss a un super sens de l’humour et un sourire à tomber. Et puis il y avait Iris...

France, 1944 . Arianne et Luc, deux jeunes habitants du petit village de Samaroux tombent éperdument amoureux l’un de l’autre. Mais comment s’aimer quand la guerre fait rage alentour ? Est-ce que ces amants purs, au seuil de leur vie d’adulte, peuvent résister à l’Histoire et aux troupes allemandes aux portes de leur village ? Luc désire redorer l’image de sa famille entachée par la collaboration de son grand-père avec la Gestapo ; il décide de s’engager dans la Résistance. Arianne, elle, va tout faire pour protéger celui qu’elle aime, sans un regard pour cet autre qui est secrètement amoureux d’elle. Quelqu''un est prêt à tout pour séparer les amants de Samaroux à jamais...

”Lille spejl på væggen der, det bedste og viseste i landet her, hvad gør en prinsesse fantastisk?” En troldkvinde sender sit spejl ud i verden på en rejse gennem tid og rum for give hende svar på spørgsmålet. I spejlets refleksioner møder vi otte meget forskellige prinsesser, som har det til fælles, at de er fulde af vovemod og handlekraft. Alle nægter de bare at være pæne og lydige, men kan i den grad klare at redde sig selv. Her kommer otte historier om prinsesser til generationen, der elskede Rebelske pigers godnathistorier! Otte eventyrlige fortællinger om hvad der i virkeligheden gør én til en ægte prinsesse - og det er ikke bare at blive gul og blå af at ligge på en ært.

Printemps 1919. La Grande Guerre s''achève et la vie reprend... sauf pour Ben, qui vit seul à bord de sa péniche, l''Épervier, depuis la disparition de son grand-frère Sam sur le front en France ; et Lotti, qui s''est enfuie du manoir de son oncle odieux après la mort de ses parents. Bientôt poursuivis par les autorités locales et menacés d''être envoyés à l''orphelinat, les deux fugueurs échafaudent un plan rocambolesque : partir à bord de l''Épervier, traverser la Manche et gagner les côtes françaises à la recherche du frère de Ben...