Winner of the Guardian Children's fiction prize 2007. Told with a delightfully light touch, this thoughtful and introspective novels for teens tells how hearing the story of Violet Park, leads Lucas on a moving and thought provoking mission that helps him to understand much more about his own life.
Narrated by the most compelling voice since Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, this is a quirky and original voyage of self-discovery triggered by a lost urn of ashes.
"A wonderful debut for many reasons … What marks this book out is not just its charm, warmth and wit, but also the skill with which Valentine braids together the threads" The Guardian
“A captivating novel from a compelling new voice in teen fiction…hilarious and dramatic in turns.†Liverpool Echo
"Has the originality of Mark Haddon, the immediacy of Jacqueline Wilson and the emotional connection of Kevin Brooks. It really does work." Jill Murphy, The Book Bag
Author
About Jenny Valentine
Jenny Valentine moved house every two years when she was growing up. She has just moved house again, probably not for the last time. She worked in a wholefood shop in Primrose Hill for fifteen years where she met many extraordinary people and sold more organic loaves than there are words in her first novel. She has also worked as a teaching assistant and a jewellery maker. She studied English Literature at Goldsmiths College, which almost put her off reading but not quite. Jenny is married to a singer/songwriter and has two children.
