New Releases by Hilary McKay

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Award-winning Hilary McKay brings the childhood of Victorian heroine Grace Darling to life in this heartfelt reimagining of her life up to and including the Forfarshire shipwreck.

From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes an enchanting illustrated middle grade novel in the spirit of Matilda about a lonely orphan who dreams of escaping her ghastly aunt and uncle. Rosa has always believed there is magic in the world. Or at least, she hopes there is. She lost her parents when she was four, and her aunt and uncle moved into her home not long after, transforming it from a messy place of love and warmth to a cold world of business. Their approach to family is as phony as the plastic grass they sell, keeping Rosa at arm’s length and tucking her in at night by locking her in her room. Now eleven, Rosa’s loneliness threatens to overwhelm her. Her only solace is the magic she sees around her, particularly in a cat named Balthazar who comes to—and through—her window. When all the teachers at her school win the lottery and quit their jobs, Rosa’s aunt and uncle seize the opportunity to put an evil plan into action. They whisk Rosa away to Venice, intending to abandon her there. Luckily for Rosa, there are cats in Venice—and a laughing boy in a gondola and a family making sure she is fed. In Rosa’s darkest hour, can the magic she’s never lost faith in save the day?

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

"Originally published in Great Britain in 2021 by Pan Macmillan."

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.

Five starred reviews! “An instant classic.” —The New York Times Book Review “Possibly the finest writer of our time.” —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes a beautiful, enchanting story about a girl adjusting to her new family and their new house—which just might be magical. When Abi’s father marries Max and Louis’s mom, their families start over together. Abi suddenly finds herself the middle child, expected to share far too much—especially with grubby little Louis. Then they move into an eerie, ivy-covered house, big enough for all of them. But for the children, strange things start to happen in that house. Abi reads alone, and finds herself tumbling so deep into books, they almost seem real. Louis summons comfort from outdoors, and a startling guest arrives—is it a cat or something else? Max loses his best friend…and falls in love. Meanwhile, Louis’s secret visitor is becoming much too real. Now Abi, Max, and Louis must uncover the secrets of their new home—for there can be danger in even the most beautiful magic. From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes a story that is at once enchanting and thrilling—if you don’t get lost in it first.

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 Exiles was the winner of the 1992 Guardian Children''s Fiction Prize and is the first novel in Hilary McKay''s wonderfully witty and warm The Exiles series. Ruth, Naomi, Rachel and Phoebe Conroy love reading and having fun more than anything else. So the sisters are horrified when they learn that their parents are sending them away to Cumbria for the summer, to stay with their fearsome grandmother: Big Grandma. Big Grandma is strict, makes them do chores and doesn''t let them have any fun – but worst of all, she refuses to let the girls read any books. Determined to enjoy their summer, the sisters decide they aren''t going to put up with their grandmother''s tough regime, and in doing so they somehow manage to cause inordinate amounts of chaos . . . But as the girls search for alternatives to Big Grandma''s way of life they slowly start to understand its appeal, just as she starts to understand them. Are the two generations more alike than they think?

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

A rich and truly heart-warming story set during the First World War. Perfect for fans of War Horse, The Camomile Lawn and Cogheart Clarry and Peter live in a tall, narrow, lonely house in London. With no mother and an uninterested father, they entertain themselves with old books and an atlas of the stars. Each year, Clarry eagerly awaits their summer trips to Cornwall, with its purple moor and glittering sea. But best of all, it''s where they are reunited with their Cousin Rupert. As new friendships are made and promises are formed, those hot summers soon become distant memories. The First World War arrives and Clarry discovers for the first time that knowing nothing is sometimes better than knowing too much. Desperate to keep those summer memories alive, Clarry can only hope that her friendships survive the war ...

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.

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 why did the Piper’s son steal the pig? Over the Hills and Far Away is an imaginative retelling which weaves together two classic stories in the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood and the nursery tale of Tom, Tom, the Piper''s Son. 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.

Here is brave, loyal Elsa, who wove the nettles in silence for seven long years. Sweet William by Rushlight is an imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale ''The Swan Brothers''. 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 Cinderella, who so much deserved her fairy godmother. The Rose Round the Palace is an imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella. 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 what happened in Hamelin after the children vanished? The Fountain in the Market Square is an imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale The Pied Piper of Hamelin. 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 are the twelve dancing princesses, who drove the Old King to distraction by wearing through their slippers every night. (Which sounds like something he could have made less fuss about, until you do the maths: well over four thousand pairs of slippers a year. Satin slippers too!) Things Were Different in Those Days is an imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. 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.

When she takes money accidentally left behind at an ATM, a guilty Binny decides to return it but discovers it has gone missing, leading her to team up with her frenemy, Gareth, to figure out who might have taken it.

Warm, magical and funny family tale from an award-winning author. A new edition now available with additional artwork.

"First published in Great Britain in 2014 by Hodder Children''s Books"--Copyright page.

HUMOROUS STORIES (CHILDREN''S / TEENAGE). This is a funny and charming new story from bestseller Hilary McKay, perfect for children learning to read. Tilly never has time to tidy her messy bedroom because she is always too busy helping other people. So when she leaves home to visit her far-flung relatives, how will her family cope without her? The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It''s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 3 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for fluent readers who are beginning to read exciting, challenging stories independently. This title includes varied sentences; detailed illustrations to enjoy; chapters; interesting characters and themes; and a rich range of vocabulary. It includes more complex storylines to stretch confident readers. Ages 5+

Lulu adopts a hamster, but she can''t tell Nan about it because Nan doesn''t care for most animals—especially not hamsters. It''s her birthday this weekend and Lulu and Mellie are staying the night. Lulu doesn''t want to leave her new hamster behind, but can she and Mellie keep it a secret from Nan over the weekend?

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.

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.

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?