Most Popular Books by Hilary McKay

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.

Spurred on by his youngest sister, Rose, twelve-year-old Indigo sticks up for himself and an American boy who has replaced him as the primary target of the school bullies.

The twins, Ant and Perry, vegetable loving Beany, Sun Dance and their scruffy mongrel, Old Blanket, specialize in creating mayhem. They attempt to entice guests in to Mrs Brogan''s Bed and Breakfast, teach Robin how to be brave, and, most importantly, help him work out how he can keep the abandoned dog he finds on the beach ...

The four Conroy sisters'' efforts to raise money in order to sponsor a ten-year-old boy in Africa get them into one difficult situation after another.

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.

“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

Young Saffron, known as Saffy, discovers that she is adopted. So she sets out in search of all she remembers from her youth--a stone angel in a garden in Italy.

While trying to reconnect with her friend Tom, who has returned to the United States without leaving a forwarding address, eight-year-old Rose inadvertently discovers the identity of her adopted sister Saffy''s father.

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.

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

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.

Relates what becomes of Ermengarde and the other girls left behind at Miss Minchin''s School after Sara Crewe leaves to live with her guardian, the Indian gentleman.

From the author of "Indigos Star, Permanent Rose," and "Saffys Angel" comes the fourth delightful adventure of the irresistible Casson family.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

While getting bullied at school, twelve-year-old Binny investigates the disappearance of her brother''s chicken and tries to save an endangered lynx.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

This tender, sweet, and hilarious novel about growing up with a loving family and a perfectly rambunctious dog “balances moments of hilarity with poignancy” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). When she was eight, Binny’s life was perfect: She had her father’s wonderful stories and Max, the best dog ever. But after her father’s sudden death, money is tight, and horrible Aunty Violet decides to give Max away—he is just too big for their cramped new life. Binny knows she can’t get her dad back, but she never stops missing Max, or trying to find him. Then, when she’s eleven, everything changes again. Aunty Violet has died, and left Binny and her family an old house in a seaside town. Binny is faced with a new crush, a new frenemy, and…a ghost? It seems Aunty Violet may not have completely departed. It’s odd being haunted by her aunt, but there is also the warmth of a busy and loving mother, a musical older sister, and a hilarious little brother, who is busy with his experiments. And his wetsuit. And his chickens. You’ll delight in getting to know Binny and her hilarious, heartwarming family in this charming novel, which received three starred reviews.

When Binny finds some money left behind at an ATM—and then loses it—she unleashes an adventure full of “funny, poignant chaos” (The Wall Street Journal). Binny Cornwallis is not a thief. Or is she? In one greedy moment, she snatches some bills left behind at an ATM. After all it’s her mother’s birthday, and just think of what she could do with some cash in her never-quite-enough-money household. But of course she has to hide the money—she can’t explain it. And in her tiny house, every hiding place is in danger of discovery. After a few tries, Binny hides it so well she can’t find it again, even after she decides to give it back! Now, Binny must team up with her best enemy Gareth, who sets out to play detective and figure out who might have taken the money. Meanwhile the next-door neighbor is doing odd things like presenting Binny with a little doll that looks just like her—with her hand in her pocket, just as Binny’s was when she pocketed the cash. Is the witchy neighbor woman putting a spell on Binny? There’s plenty more going on, as Binny’s older sister Clem has a secret of her own, and her little brother James is having a kung fu clash with his best friend. Mayhem, love, and laughter run wild in this new hilarious Binny adventure.

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.

Pudding Bag School is an ordinary kind of school but extraordinary things seem to happen there. When Miss Gilhoolie, 4b''s mysterious teacher is ill, she sets her pupils a special competition which has more than a touch of magic about it!

Danny, Anna, and Nathan live in the flats of Paradise House, but they are far from angelic and get up to all sorts of mischief. Nathan moves into the cupboard under the stairs to escape his sister''s wailing, but he doesn''t expect to find a clue to buried treasure. What will he unearth in the garden?

When Lulu finds a duck egg that has rolled out of its nest, she takes it to class to keep it safe. Lulu isn''t allowed to bring pets to school. But she''s not really breaking the rules because it''s just an egg. Surely nothing bad will happen...

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?

It''s December, and Robin, his friend Dan, and Sun Dance are laid low with chickenpox. To keep them amused, Robin''s mother entertains them with memories of the summer when she was eleven and Nick and Charley stayed at her house. When they met Harriet, a strange, shabbily dressed girl who seemed full of surprises and magic, but remained a mystery, until Sun Dance solves the riddle with a small amber cat . . .

Pudding Bag school is an ordinary kind of a school. But this year class 4b has the rather magical and mysterious Miss Gilhoolie teaching them and suddenly school isn''t as boring as it used to be€¦

Finalist 2013 Cybils Award: Early Chapter Books Capitol Choices 2014 2014 Stellar Series, The Bulletin of The Center for Children''s Books 2014 Notable Children''s Book - ALSC 2014 Gryphon Honor Book 2015 Elementary Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award nominee The Best Children''s Books of the Year 2014, Bank Street College Lulu loves animals. When Lulu goes on vacation, she finds there''s a stray dog living on the beach. Everyone in the town thinks the dog is trouble. But Lulu is sure he just needs a friend. And that he''s been waiting for someone just like her. The second book in this early chapter book series for young animal-lovers.

Love is in the air Romantic love enters the lives of the four Conroy sisters when Ruth develops a crush on the school bus driver. Next she finds herself pining for Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, smitten with the Temporary English teacher (to whom sister Naomi is attracted as well), and infatuated with Alan Adair from the butcher''s shop. Meanwhile, the younger girls have other things on their minds as Rachel longs to become May Queen and Phoebe practices to become an international spy. But when Big Grandma arranges for Philippe, a French boy, to stay with the Conroys, will all the girls fall head over heels for his charms?

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! Rocket Boy The new boy at school says his dad is on a rocket, flying to a star. Charlie knows Zachary is lying. No one has a dad that cool - do they? Great Escape Fed up of being picked on by his family, Charlie runs away - to Henry''s house. The only problem is, Charlie forgot how QUIET runaways need to be . . .

From the winner of the Costa Children''s Book Award 2018. Meet Saffy, Indigo, Rose and Caddy Casson. This colourful and hilarious series will make you wish you were part of the family! Best friends, boyfriends, problem parents, pink hair. Brothers, sisters, fireworks and unexpected babies. Welcome to Caddy''s World. Travel back to when Caddy was a young girl and Rose had not been born, in this moving and comical prequel to the award-winning Saffy''s Angel. ''Full of warmth, vitality and irrepressible good humour'' Guardian Saffy''s Angel won the Whitbread Children''s Book Award, and book 3, Permanent Rose, was shortlisted for the same award, celebrating McKay''s talent for conveying the anarchic bedlam of family life.