by Susie Bower Publisher: Pushkin Press
Pushkin Children's Books
A Sarah Odedina Book
Cover Design & Illustration by Thy Bui
Imagine not knowing your real name or who you are until you're 10 years old? Sounds crazy, doesn't it? 'Claudia' was stuck living with Claude & Sonia & knew she didn't fit in their posh world. She had an eye-roll moment every time she heard Claude say things like *Pootlekins* to Sonia & called them 'vomity names'!
Creating her own joy in a secret patch of garden & a tree as a best friend - that's all she had but Claudia made some shocking discoveries & her life would change forever.
A single red balloon with a message opened up a world of mystery even Claudia's vivid imagination struggled to embrace.
Where would Claudia end up after her three well-planned acts of mischief? Could she follow 3 rules?
Crazy meals of chunky chips dipped in porridge. Is this Claudia's new real-life or a VERY bad dream?
In a decrepit school controlled by Miss Cruet (who had 'the sort of face you didn't argue with') & misfit school mates known by nicknames Antsy, Saddo, Feral, Custard & Rule Boy, this could never be an ordinary tale.
Claudia had to try so hard to keep sight of her ultimate goal but what she found was truly magical. For one moment in the mirror, she saw herself as 'a beautiful stranger'
but she knew she couldn't hide under greasepaint forever. Claudia's future would be very different.
Susie Bower puts together such astonishingly intriguing characters & explores the magical wonder of being different in the world. We see how even the most unlikely people can navigate impossible situations with unexpected outcomes. The writing style keeps me eager for the next surprise or mystery every page & chapter. I wasn't ready for this book to end!
Bravo, Pushkin!
Comments