|
|
|
|
|
|
Grown ups don’t believe you can be in love when you’re only thirteen. Not properly in love. My mum calls it calf love, meaning that it’s something you grow out of, like puppy fat or spots. When I tell her that love is FOR EVER, she just laughs and says, “For ever is a mighty long time!” Published by Orchard ISBN: 9781846169595 For age 10+ Can their love survive? I couldn’t tell them lies about Priya, and I wasn’t going to pretend I’d done it with someone else. Priya was special. Sam and his mates enjoy boasting about their success with girls, until Sam meets Priya and everything changes. Suddenly, girls are not just sex objects or trophies. He and Priya are in love. But their happiness is shattered when Priya discovers she’s pregnant. Will their unborn baby bind them together or tear them apart? Published by Orchard ISBN: 9781843629405 For age 12+ A new comedy drama all about the ups and downs of seeking fame. Carmen is in Year 9 and has serious ambitions to be a rock star. She has a great voice, has taught herself to play the guitar, and with one of her best friends, Josh, actually writes her own songs. The school is having a Top Spot contest for would-be pop stars, and Carmen eagerly puts her name on the list. But when Carmen hears a spiteful girl at her school make comments about her weight, she bunks off school and swears she is never going back! Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0007224613 For age 9+ Available from Amazon.co.uk Extract from Star Crazy Me The day Marigold Johnson called me a fat freak was the day I started bunking off school. That is a fact. It is absolutely one hundred per cent true. But is it a good way to begin? I thought that it was, but now I am not so sure. I mean, in one sense it was what set things in motion, as they say, cos if it hadn't been for me bunking off school - well! Certain things would never have happened. Meeting Mrs P, for one. On the other hand, lots of really significant stuff had gone on in my life before Marigold went and called me a freak. So now I'm feeling a bit confused and don't quite know how to begin. Trouble with girls... Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0007224605 For age 9+ Available from Amazon.co.uk Extract from Hunky Dory I am having terribly trouble with girls. They won’t leave me alone! This morning in geography this girl in my class, Amy Wilkerson, deliberately came and sat next to me. I mean, like, out of about three zillion empty seats she came and parked herself next to me. Why did she do this? It was extremely embarrassing, especially when she started getting all cosy and leaning up against me so she could talk to her friend Sharleen on the other side of the gangway. Why didn’t she go and sit next to Sharleen? That’s what she normally does. Why does she want to come squashing herself all over me??? Running away is the easy part... Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0007224591 For age 10+ Available from Amazon.co.uk Extract from Gone Missing “You know what?” I said. “What?” “We both ought to get out. Not just me! Both of us.” Honey hooked her hair back over her ears. I remember her eyes went all big and apprehensive. “You mean - ” “Leave home!” “Like … run away?” “Yes. Absolutely! Why not?” Honey whispered: “You’re not serious?” I told her that I was in deadly earnest. I really meant it! This wasn’t just one of my fantasies. Looks aren’t everything … a hard lesson to learn. Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0007164645 For age 10+ Available from Amazon.co.uk Extract from Over The Moon Life is so weird; nothing but ups and downs. I can’t keep track of it! One minute it’s like whoosh, whiz, sizzle! You’re over the moon. And the next, back down to earth with a huge great thump. Down into a pit, full of gloom and despondency and deep dark despair. Which is where I was last night. I just didn’t see how Mum could be so mean. So utterly without any sympathy or understanding for my plight. Life almost didn’t seem worth living. Whereas today – wheee! All of a sudden, I’m back over the moon. Half way to Venus! Practically out of sight. I can go to the party after all!!! No thanks to Mum. But hooray for Dad! He is THE BEST. I can always rely on Dad to stick up for me. Everyone at school is just so envious of us! Meg Hennessy couldn’t believe it. "All on your own?" she kept saying. "It must be such fun!" Daisy Markham was the only one that seemed doubtful. She said, "I can’t imagine my parents leaving me to look after myself." I told her that Mum knows she can trust us. "Yes, and it’s good training," said Tash. Daisy said, "But you could get up to anything!" "Like we might have orgies," I said; and me and Tash went off into a fit of the screaming giggles. Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0007161387 For age 10+ Available from Amazon.co.uk Extract from Boys Beware 'I wouldn't want you having boys up there,' said Mum. 'Boys?' I shot a sideways glance at Tash, out of the corner of my eye. Tash shot one back at me. We managed - just - to stifle our giggles. 'Mum!' I said. 'As if we would!' 'As if you would,' said Mum. This time we couldn't help it. I clapped a hand to my mouth to stifle the squeaks, Tash buried her face in one of the sofa cushions. The fact is, me and Tash are into boys in a BIG WAY. It is just something that seems to come naturally to us. We look at a boy and we go all gooey, like oo-er, mushy peas and soft icecream, and help, help! I'm going to meltdown! Only if the boy is worth it, of course; we are not indiscriminate! Even at twelve years old, when we were just getting started, we knew better than to go for geeks or cave men. Mum's problem was that she didn't think we were old enough to get started at all... 'Shay was totally drop-dead gorgeous. Why would a person that looked like a model want to sit next to me - an insignificant weed with a brace on her teeth? And glasses?' Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0007161379 For age 11+ Available from Amazon.co.uk Extract from Sugar and Spice "Ruth! Time to get up." Time to get up. Get yourself dressed. I’m not telling you again! "Did you hear me? Ruth?" Yes, I did! I heard you. "I’d like some kind of response, please!" And then she’ll go, I hope you haven’t gone back to sleep? "I hope you haven’t gone back to sleep?" Every morning, same old thing. Get up, get dressed. How many more times? "Do I have to shout myself hoarse? Get yourself up this instant!" Mum suddenly appeared like a tornado at the bedroom door. "And get your sisters up, as well. For goodness’ sake! It’s gone seven o’clock." Boo hoo! So what? "Do you want to be late for school? Because you will be!" Don’t care if I am. Sooner be late than get there early. "All this big talk," said Mum. "Going to be a doctor. Going to pass exams. You’ll be lucky to get a job in Tesco’s, you don’t shift yourself and make a bit of an effort!" Mum had no idea. She didn’t know what it was like. She didn’t know how much I hated it. Hated, hated, HATED it! 'Last year I did this reallly dumb thing. I got into a car with someone I didn't know...' Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0007161360 For age 11+ Available from Amazon.co.uk Ure skilfully turns a well-used formula into a thoughtful, thought-provoking novel. ~ Books for Keeps Extract from Is Anybody There? Last Christmas, when I was in Year 9, I did this really dumb thing. The dumbest thing I have ever done in all my life. I got into a car with someone I didn't know. OK, so I was only just turned thirteen, which in my experience is an age when you tend to act a bit stupid, thinking to yourself that you are now practically grown up and don't need to obey your mum's silly little niggly rules any more. Also, I have to say, it wasn't like I'd never met the guy. I mean, I knew his name, I knew who he was. I even knew where he lived. But I'd only met him just the one time, just to say hallo to, and even that was enough to tell me that he was a bit - well, different. Definitely not the same as other people. In any case, thirteen is way old enough to know better. We're all taught back in Reception that you don't go off with strangers. "And that," as Mum was always drumming into me, "means the man next door, the man over the road, the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker ... you don't go with anyone. Got it?" And out loud I would say, "Yes, Mum!" while inside I would be thinking, "This is just so too much." Annie's arranged the coolest birthday present ever for her best friend, Megan. She's surfed the Net, made the contacts, and it's all sorted! Now they just need to escape from Annie's bossy older sister. 'Cos a secret meeting wouldn't be the same if it wasn't, well, secret ... Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0007156200 For age 11+ Available from Amazon.co.uk Extract from Secret Meeting My friend Annie is completely bonkers. Loopy, wacko. Seriously doolally, as my nan would say. She does the craziest things! Like in biology, one time, we were supposed to be dissecting plums, and when Miss Andrews said, "Annabel Watson, where is your plum?" Annie said, "Oops, sorry, miss! I ate it." "Ate it?" said Miss Andrews. "Ate your plum?" She couldn't believe it! I could, 'cos I know Annie. She drank some paint water once, when we were in juniors. She said it looked so pretty, like pink lemonade. Some people think she does it to show off, but it's not that at all. She just happens to be a very zany sort of person. She is always getting us into hot water! The only times I ever have my name in the order mark book are when Annie's told me to do something and I've gone and done it, even though I know it means trouble. Like, for instance, hiding ourselves in the stationery cupboard when we should have been playing hockey. I knew it would end in disaster. I only did it 'cos I hate hockey - well, and because Annie said it would be fun. What she didn't realise was that Mrs Gibson, our head teacher, was due to take a special sixth form study group in our classroom. With us still in the cupboard!!! Mrs Gibson was quite surprised when someone opened the cupboard door and we fell out. We were quite surprised, ourselves. That was two order marks. One for missing hockey, and one for damaging school property (trampling on the stationery). ***** But with Annie around, there are more surprises to come. Especially Megan's birthday surprise ...
|
