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Stolen cakes, major explosions and an unforgettable cast of characters – dive into The Orphans of St Halibut's, a hilarious caper from debut author Sophie Wills and million-copy bestselling illustrator, David Tazzyman. Perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket. Life has been perfect ever since the orphans of St Halibut's buried their matron – don't look like that, it was an accident! Tig, Stef, Herc, and Pamela the goat just have to make sure nobody finds out they're on their own. Discovering that an Inspector is on his way, they'll need to convince him that everything is peachy or they'll be sent to the Mending House – where badly behaved orphans go, never to return. But the Inspector is not quite what he seems and things very quickly go from bad to spectacularly out of hand . . . Can these crafty kids outsmart the adults and save their home? 'This book reminded me of an old fashioned film caper – a little like St Trinians meets Oliver with a twist of Matilda thrown in' Year 6 Teacher and Parent ‘I would recommend this book to people that like spooky, funny and adventurous stories’ Reader, aged 8
NAMED ONE OF THE 100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TIME MAGAZINE “A cheerful, mischievous rebuke to all that spiritual sincerity and floaty nonattachment and sugary loving kindness” (The Wall Street Journal), this first and only comprehensive examination of the universal, but widely misunderstood, practice of grudge-holding will show you how to use grudges to be your happiest, most optimistic, and most forgiving self. Secretly, we all hold grudges, but most of us probably think we shouldn’t, and many of us deny that we do. To bear a grudge is too negative, right? Shouldn’t we just forgive and move on? Wrong, says prolific crime novelist and self-appointed grudge guru Sophie Hannah, ...
A gripping middle-grade story of a community in which birth order determines social status—until one middle child starts to question the founding truths of her society.
'What I love about this book is, firstly it comes from incredibly passionate people – they care about farming, they care about produce and they care about seasonality, which is something true to my heart. It also has some fantastic recipes that I think I’m going to steal!' Matt Moran For the love of fresh, seasonal food, nice farmers and their produce. Local is Lovely is a seasonal guide to the fruit, vegetables and meat that Australian farmers produce. Beautiful recipes, tips for the home and family, and stories and interviews with and about local producers – because local is lovely. Follow Sophie Hansen as she takes us on a journey with the farmers and producers she loves to cook with. From delicious, ripe stonefruit through to wholesome freshly milled flour, you'll learn everything you need to know about eating local, direct from the source. A gorgeously illustrated celebration of Australian rural life with a focus on fresh, local food and mouth-watering recipes.
The acclaimed debut novel from the author of The Pear Affair and The Accidental Stowaway! Abandoned children running wild on the moors, evil child catchers, cunning cats and mysterious ballet shoes abound in this incredible first novel. Clara has lived a life of solitude, home schooled under her mean uncle's strict regime . . . until now! The day that Uncle abandons Clara, leaving her with nothing but a wedge of 'guilt money' and a half empty, crumbling manor house, she is determined to do things her way for a change. And when streetwise Peter turns up, with his rescue cat and a surprising array of knowledge, she is sure that between them they have everything they need to survive. But the ho...
The international bestseller about life, the universe and everything. 'A simply wonderful, irresistible book' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'A terrifically entertaining and imaginative story wrapped round its tough, thought-provoking philosophical heart' DAILY MAIL 'Remarkable ... an extraordinary achievement' SUNDAY TIMES When 14-year-old Sophie encounters a mysterious mentor who introduces her to philosophy, mysteries deepen in her own life. Why does she keep getting postcards addressed to another girl? Who is the other girl? And who, for that matter, is Sophie herself? To solve the riddle, she uses her new knowledge of philosophy, but the truth is far stranger than she could have imagined. A phenomenal worldwide bestseller, SOPHIE'S WORLD sets out to draw teenagers into the world of Socrates, Descartes, Spinoza, Hegel and all the great philosophers. A brilliantly original and fascinating story with many twists and turns, it raises profound questions about the meaning of life and the origin of the universe.
Twelve-year-old Luke Smith-Sharma shovels coal under Battersea Power station. He keeps his head down, hoping to one day earn his freedom and return to his family, while avoiding the wrath of the evil Tabatha Margate. When he tries to help new girl Jess, Luke is punished and sent to clean the sewers of the haunted East Wing, a place from which few return. Whilst serving his punishment, Luke realises he can see things others can't in the Power Station: ghostly things. He befriends a ghost-girl called Alma, who can ride clouds through the night sky and bend their shape to her will. But when Luke discovers the terrible truth of why Tabatha Margate is kidnapping children and forcing them to work in the Power Station, Alma agrees to help him and his friends escape. Will Alma convince the Ghost Council to help their cause? Will Luke's discovery about who he really is threaten their plans for freedom? And can Luke find his voice, while trying to find a way home?
It's the eve of the recession, but who cares? For commodity trader Marcus, life is good. So what if he's a fantasist? So what if he wills his college sweetheart to death? So what if it's all falling apart? This isn't a crisis. Until it is. As misfortune strikes Marcus again and again, he finally has to change. But can this English psychopath ever change? Maybe he needs to find himself? Maybe he needs to travel? Maybe he needs to help others? Maybe he needs to change his medication? Another Justified Sinner is a literary black comedy about the fall and rise and fall of Marcus, a slippery sinner. How difficult is it to change? Sophie Hopesmith is a 2012 Atty Awards finalist and her background is in feature writing. Born and bred in London, she works for a reading charity. She likes comedy, poetry, writing music, and Oxford commas. All of her favourite films were made in the 70s.
First of 4 stories about Sophie, this follows the humorous adventures of four-year-old Sophie as she pursues her dream of becoming a farmer.
Garry Wills's Venice: Lion City is a tour de force -- a rich, colorful, and provocative history of the world's most fascinating city in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, when it was at the peak of its glory. This was not the city of decadence, carnival, and nostalgia familiar to us from later centuries. It was a ruthless imperial city, with a shrewd commercial base, like ancient Athens, which it resembled in its combination of art and sea empire. Venice: Lion City presents a new way of relating the history of the city through its art and, in turn, illuminates the art through the city's history. It is illustrated with more than 130 works of art, 30 in full color. Garry Wills gives us a unique view of Venice's rulers, merchants, clerics, laborers, its Jews, and its women as they created a city that is the greatest art museum in the world, a city whose allure remains undiminished after centuries. Like Simon Schama's The Embarrassment of Riches, on the Dutch culture in the Golden Age, Venice: Lion City will take its place as a classic work of history and criticism.