Showing results by narrator "Charlie Sanderson" in All Categories

Adopted at birth, for years Lu has secretly dreamt of finding her birth mother, but childhood bullying has left her with a lack of confidence. When a tragic accident changes her life forever, it sets her on a mission to get in contact with her birth mother and find out the reasons behind her adoption. When she tracks down her mother in Cornwall, there is an emotional reunion, and the pair begin to form a relationship. But is everything as wonderful as it appears, or has Lu walked into a nightmare?

Shy girl Tom Ginger is the world’s unlikeliest hero – until she discovers that her new braces have the power to act as radio transmitters, allowing her to tune into the conversations of her new super-evil head teacher. Suddenly it’s up to Tom to save the school from Miss Fortune’s dastardly plans. Can she do it? Perfect for fans of Sam Copeland’s Charlie Changes into a Chicken and Danny Wallace's Hamish series.

During the First World War, as men were sent to fight, women and girls took their place in munitions factories. Football became a favourite pastime, and before long they were creating all-female sides. When Polly Nabb's brother Joe is called up, all she wants to do is kick a ball about and forget the war. Mam has other ideas and makes her stay at home to help with endless chores. But football is something Polly is prepared to fight for - it's her life! She's determined to do whatever it takes to fulfil her dream and show the world that football is not just for boys.

A charming and evocative tale of family and fortune from the queen of the West Country saga, Linda Finlay. Isabella Carrington has been brought up in a life of privilege in London. Her life seems perfect until her father suddenly announces bankruptcy. To save Isabella from destitution he sends her to stay with family she has never met, far away on a violet farm deep in Devon. Isabella is horrified to find her uncle expects her to work for her keep, packing up the flowers and selling them in the nearby market.

When she was 16, Diana left her unhappy family and set out to make a new life. Twenty-five years later, she has arrived. Recently married to Edmund, she lives with him at his family's historic country home. But when Diana hears that her mother has died, she impulsively asks estranged half-sister Valerie and her nine-year-old son to stay. The night of the funeral, fuelled by wine and years of resentment, the sisters argue, and a terrible accident occurs. The foundations of a well-ordered life start to crack, and the lies begin to surface.

Bella Bright has invited her three best friends to visit her new cottage, which stands in the shadows of a ruined manor house. As they explore, Bella thinks she catches a glimpse of a pale face in one of the empty windows. Who could it be? Things go from spooky to scary when they get lost in a hedge maze, and find themselves hurled back in time by the mysteriously burnt willow tree growing at the centre. Now trapped in 17th century England, Bella must uncover the mystery of how the manor was destroyed, find out whose face she saw at the window, and try to get herself and her friends back home.

Ten-year-old Zac has never met his dad, who allegedly did a runner before he was born. But when his mum lets slip that he's the only man she's ever loved, Zac turns detective and, roping in his best friend, hatches a plan to find his father and give his mum the happy ever after she deserves. What he doesn't realise, though, is that sometimes people have good reasons for disappearing....

Eleven-year-old Norah lives in temporary accommodation, relies on foodbanks for dinner, and doesn't have a mum. But she's happy enough, as she has a dad, a pet mouse, a pet spider, and a whole zoo of rescued local wildlife to care for. Eleven-year-old Adam lives with his parents in a nice house with a big garden, a private tutor, and everything he could ever want. But his life isn't perfect. He's recovering from leukaemia, and questioning his dream of becoming a champion swimmer. When a nest of baby birds brings them together, Norah and Adam discover they're not so different after all.

Skipton House Community Centre may look ramshackle, but it is soon at the heart of Erin's life - especially the cooking club. When the building is suddenly threatened with closure, Erin and her new friends, Tanya, Frixos and Sam, form The Cooking Club Detectives. Can they, and their four-legged assistant, Sausage, uncover who the mystery culprit is and save Skipton?

Every year on the same day, on the anniversary, I receive a single black rose. Thirteen years of dark petals, jagged thorns, dredging up memories I’ve tried to forget. I’ve packed up my life. All my belongings are carefully sealed, my suitcases ready for my big move. I’m just days away from a new life abroad with my boyfriend, Ben. No one knows the real reason I’m desperate to leave. My best friend, Lena, is throwing me a leaving party. A celebration, to say goodbye. Champagne to toast my farewell. Speeches, full of fond memories. No one knows what I’m running from.

In the early '90s, newlywed Ruth Flint arrives at Echo Hall to find an unhappy house full of mysteries that its occupants won't discuss. When her husband, Adam, is called up to the Gulf War, her shaky marriage is tested to the core. During World War II Elsie Flint is living at Echo Hall with her unsympathetic in-laws. While her husband, Jack, is away with the RAF, his cousin Daniel is her only support. But Daniel is hiding a secret that will threaten their friendship forever.

Nina has the most magical job in the world, matching customers with their perfect Christmas tree. Working at Christmas Tree Farm is always fun and full of laughter but the weight of past tragedy bears down on her. Her admirer is a great distraction, but is he the right man for her? Holly is just trying to be a normal teenager, having to deal with the mean girls in her class. But then the most handsome boy at school takes an interest in her. Have all her Christmases come at once?

Flick is a magician out of tricks. Every attempt to find her father has so far failed. Now the police have accused him of stealing the Crown Jewels—and they want Flick's help to work out how he did it. Flick and her best friend, Charlie, travel to Cornwall, where they believe her father may be hiding in an abandoned museum of magic. There they find master illusionist the Great Fox, also hot on the trail. But something else is hidden at the heart of the museum—the Bell System, the most dangerous magic trick the world has ever seen.

The first book introducing loveable dog detective Monty! You might think that dogs can't understand us...but you'd be wrong. Apart from an obsession with cheese, Monty is a perfectly rational animal. So when his beloved master is stabbed to death, Monty decides to use his formidable nose to track the killer down. Luckily he manages to find a home with Rose Sidebottom, the young policewoman who's investigating the case.

Kyoto, Japan. Mina is on a bus. Everything is strange and beautiful. Mina watches as a woman folds a piece of paper into an origami boat, then floats it over to her. As Mina discovers the magic of origami, her eyes are opened to the wonders of the real city around her.

At her dull Victorian academy, fourteen-year-old Winnie dreams of becoming a top inventor like her father. When he mysteriously vanishes, she is determined to find him—but how? Help comes unexpectedly from her headmistress. Turns out, her school is recruiting remarkable young women to guard Her Majesty the Queen. Soon, Winnie is not only protecting royalty—but developing the spy skills she needs to save her beloved Papa.

Alice, Nina and Jules have been best friends for 20 years. They met in Paris and return there once a year, to relive their youth, leave the cares and troubles of home behind and indulge in each other's friendship and warmth. But this year, aged 35, the cracks in their relationships are starting to show. After their weekend together in Paris, the three women never speak again. Each of them claims the other two ghosted them. But what really happened that weekend?

Ellie used to love watching the hares leap and play on the common with her mum. But since Mum passed away, it’s getting harder to remember those happy memories. Until one day, Ellie finds an injured baby hare. The poor animal looks so scared; she has to do something to help. Nursing the hare back to health will be a big responsibility, but could it be Ellie’s chance to feel close to her mum again?

Harmony 'Harry' Loveridge is growing up on a farm in post-war Kent. With a Gypsy for a father, she has had a somewhat unconventional, yet happy life. But Harry has always hoped for more. And with ambitions to go to university, and a scholarship in sight, it looks as though she is about to get what she wants. That is until one fateful night, during the yearly hopping, when something happens to Harry. Something that could take everything away from her.

The Complete Trilogy: Join Tessa, Ash, and Calder on an epic journey in these award-winning YA fantasy novels. In Book 1, Dreadmarrow, sixteen-year-old Tessa Skye, a locksmith’s apprentice, loves to shapeshift into a sparrow using a windrider—a forbidden magical amulet. During one of her outings, she accidentally reveals herself to the Conjurer Lord Fellstone.