Anne Fine

'I don't think my mum's fit to be a parent, really I don't.'How would you feel if your mother had royal-blue hair and wore lavender fishnet tights? But Minna's whole family (including her mum's punk boyfriend, Crusher Maggot) is a bit unusual. Being the only sensible one is not easy for Minna...

The portrait of a beautiful girl with tumbling red hair takes on sinister undertones in this unnerving tale from much-loved, multi-award-winning author Anne Fine. Jess’s mum is furious when she discovers a muddy, football-shaped splodge on her bedroom wall and sends Jess on a mission to find something to cover it up. Luckily, Jess manages to bag a bargain in her local charity shop: a beautiful portrait of a girl with tumbling red hair in a frame exactly the right size. But when she hangs it in her room, Jess is plagued by disturbing nightmares featuring the young Araminta from the portrait. At first Jess’s mum and her friend Tina think that she is making it it up, but they’re soon in for a shock when they experience the power of the painting for themselves … Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 7.

Can you find happiness anywhere? Anywhere at all? Amid the chaos of breaktime, Finley Tandy sits peacefully on the wall. Mr Goodhew, watching from the staffroom, is in awe of the boy's gift for stillness, and his seemingly cast-iron happiness. But tranquility may be catching. Because gradually everyone in the school comes to appreciate what Finley's long silences can offer. Even Juliet finds answers to her crushing worries when she's close to Finley, up on the wall. A warm and witty novel, with a lot to say about the value of silence and self-acceptance, this new young teen story from Anne Fine is the perfect 'transition read' for those approaching the new challenges and joys of the first year of secondary school.

Ms Willowby wants to introduce Class 4W to an exciting new topic. They are eager to hear about it. But, from a lost eraser to a dead pet, events conspire against Ms Willowby's lesson plans. Will 4W ever learn anything? With deft humour, Anne Fine depicts the everyday joys and frustrations of the classroom and the empathetic bond between students and teacher.

A change in classroom seating arrangements challenges old habits and leads to a new friendship in this funny new school story. At first Ben doesn’t want to sit next to Alice in the classroom. She’s scary and tells him off for his squiggly drawing and poor handwriting. She even points out his bad table manners. But when Ben starts to take Alice’s advice, he realises that she might have a point and discovers that sitting next to her isn’t so bad after all. Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.

Accompanying his engineer father on a work trip, Louie is stranded by an earthquake in an isolated world peopled by ghostly figures. Overwhelmed by the misery of the silent Endlanders and grieving the loss of his own brother, Louie realises there is something he can do to help them all face the future again. But will he find the courage to do it?

A family mix-up means Louie has to tag along with his engineer father and his team as they head for a routine job in the farthest flung and most neglected province of the Federation. A massive earthquake, with ensuing tsunami, devastates the entire isolated coastal region, laying bare the other-worldly manner in which the silent and strange Endlanders deal with life, death and the hinterlands of memory and loss. Their curious and unsettling ways raise ghosts for Louie, who has recently lost his own brother. This modern fable – part ghost-story, part coming-of-age novel and part astute social and family observation – explores the ways in which grief can affect not only individuals, but communities at large.

When Mum gives her the notebook, Scarlet should be happy. It's beautiful, with its shiny scarlet cover and its blank pages full of promise. But Scarlet is absolutely NOT in the mood for a peace offering. Does Mum really think she can tear their family apart and expect Scarlet to be happy about it? Scarlet decides there's only one thing she can write in the notebook. The truth, about everything . . .

Grön eller blå tröja? Mata änderna eller gunga i parken? Oliver avskyr att behöva välja och vet inte vad han ska ta sig till. Men så får han ett konstigt klot som kanske kan vara lösningen på hans problem ...DET MAGISKA KLOTET är en bok om hur svårt det kan vara för barn att välja, och om att hitta strategier för att göra det lite enklare, skriven av författaren till UNDER SÄNGEN.Boken ingår i Läskråkan, nivå 3.

Kindness is key in this funny family drama from perennial bestseller and award-winning author Anne Fine. There are many reasons why Tansy dreads Aunt Emma coming to visit. She’s rude, she’s boring, and Tansy has to give up her room so Aunt Emma can sleep there. And every year Dad makes Tansy promise to be nice – even when Aunt Emma is awful. But this year, when Tansy is left alone with Aunt Emma, she decides she’s going to be the nicest she’s every been – so sickly sweet that it’ll drive Aunt Emma crazy! Let the games begin … Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

A special teacher helps Will to face his fears and embrace his natural gift for the violin in this touching, musical story of patience, practice and courage. Everyone's always telling Will to stop making so much noise. That is, until he meets music teacher Mr Brand. He thinks Will's not just noisy but that he has a gift and must learn to play the violin. But Will doesn't feel special . He can never find peace to practice at home and carrying a violin around school is too embarrassing. There's also the small matter of his stage fright … Can he really become the star Mr Brand believes in? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

A delightful collection of stories about friendship from the award-winning former Children's Laureate Anne Fine.Once best friends, always best friends. Nothing can come between Jamie and Angus - a boy and his toy Highland bull. Join them as they tackle a lively play mate, get muddled in a pretend game, and discover that playing isn't fun unless they are doing it together.These heartwarming stories for young readers are filled with playful adventures and lessons in just how wonderful friends can be. They are brought to life with enchanting black and white illustrations from the celebrated author-illustrator Sam Usher.

Warm, timeless and humorous illustrated stories about a boy and his soft toy companion by the former Children's Laureate, with new illustrations by celebrated artist Sam Usher.When Jamie sets eyes on Angus he knows they will be the best of friends. On Christmas morning, they’re finally united and soon the toy Highland bull is Jamie’s constant companion. Jamie and Angus. Angus and Jamie.These heartwarming stories for young readers are filled with playful adventures and lessons in just how wonderful friends can be. They are brought to life with enchanting black and white illustrations from the celebrated author-illustrator Sam Usher.

Tim kan inte sova. Han är säker på att det finns ett otäckt monster under hans säng. Varje kväll ropar han efter pappa, mamma, mormor och Harry, men de behöver också få sova! Det är dags att försöka komma på några smarta lösningar på problemet ...Ingår i Läskråkan, en serie börja-läsaböcker i olika svårighetsgrader. "Under sängen" har nivå 3, anpassad för barn som har lärt sig läsa mer obehindrat.

The classic award winning story from Anne Fine. Kitty Killin is not just a brilliant story-teller, but also the World's Great Expert when it comes to mothers having new and unwelcome boyfriends. So it's no surprise that she's the one chosen to sort out classmate Helly, who's gone into meltdown. Kitty decides to share her story about old Goggle-eyes - possibly one of the worst episodes in her life...

Every old object can find a new home in this cheerful and quirky tale about the wonders of reusing and recycling, from award-winning author Anne Fine. Mr Frost's classroom is always in a mess, and now his class are on a mission to send all the things they don't need off to a charity shop – including the rubbish bin that falls over at the slightest touch! From books to old toys, they bring in all sorts of items to send away in the bin, but little do they know that what one person doesn't want might be just the thing someone else has been looking for. Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.