Awards

• Short-listed for Carnegie Medal 2016
• Shortlisted for Carnegie Medal 2016.

Overview

A bold and brilliant novel about love, lies and redemption, from award-winning author, Jenny Valentine – one of the greatest YA voices of her generation. Iris's father, Ernest, is at the end of his life and she hasn't even met him. Her best friend, Thurston, is somewhere on the other side of the world. Everything she thought she knew is up in flames. Now her mother has declared war and means to get her hands on Ernest's priceless art collection. But Ernest has other ideas. There are things he wants Iris to know after he's gone. And the truth has more than one way of coming to light.

Full Product Details

9780007512362

Table of Contents

Reviews

Praise for Jenny Valentine: 'Valentine has the essential storyteller's gift of making you want to read on - and to know more even after the book is finished.' Guardian 'The award-winning Valentine has a keen eye for the idiosyncrasies of young children, and the rhythms of family life.' The Bookseller '[Valentine] has a wonderful ability to take readers right into the hearts and souls of her central characters, and reading her is always a truly vicarious experience.' The Bookbag Praise for Fire Colour One: 'A beautifully written story, soaked in love and important things.' Steven Camden, author of TAPE. 'This latest creation is her most spectacular yet.' Guardian '[An] unforgettable story of grief and love.' Metro 'Wise, brilliantly plotted.' The Sunday Times 'Stunning. Rich in prose, with a profound depth to the characters and themes. Extremely moving.' Sarah Lean, author of A DOG CALLED HOMELESS 'One of the very best books I've read all year. I finished this and immediately turned back to the beginning again.' Robin Stevens, author of MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE

A beautifully written story, soaked in love and important things. Steven Camden, author of TAPE. Stunning. Rich in prose, with a profound depth to the characters and themes. Extremely moving. Sarah Lean, author of A DOG CALLED HOMELESS. One of the very best books I've read all year. I finished this and immediately turned back to the beginning again. Robin Stevens, author of MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE. I loved the unconventional nature of this book. Each character is vivid and unique; intriguing and intricate. Guardian Children's Books review.

A beautifully written story, soaked in love and important things. Steven Camden, author of TAPE. Praise for Jenny Valentine: Finding Violet Park: A wonderful debut for many reasons... the book is astute... full of bitter-sweet observations. The plot is so well controlled that you never anticipate the clever ending. Guardian Broken Soup: Rich in sympathetic, unconventional characters and precise observation, the book has a lightness of touch that belies its skill... it is most enjoyable: a life-affirming, witty, romantic read. Sunday Times The Ant Colony: [Valentine] has a magical narrative voice that instantly engages, and her tale... is riveting. [She] writes so beautifully and so convincingly that you're instantly swept into the mystery of these people's lives. Amanda Craig, The Times The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight: Trust and treachery blend into a suspenseful, satisfying story about the choices that we make. The Times

Praise for The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight: Trust and treachery blend into a suspenseful, satisfying story about the choices that we make. The Times' Christmas Roundup A contemporary thriller so brilliantly written that for two hours I almost forgot to breathe. Amanda Craig, The Times An enthralling variation of the 'Who am I' theme. Irish Times Praise for The Ant Colony: [Valentine] has a magical narrative voice that instantly engages, and her tale... is riveting. Valentine writes so beautifully and so convincingly that you're instantly swept into the mystery of these people's lives. Amanda Craig, The Times [Valentine] writes with increasing assurance, and The Ant Colony has all the makings of another award-winner... Valentine's observation and language is both unexpected and refreshing, Nicolette Jones, Children's Book of the Week, Sunday Times Culture [Bohemia] is a wonderful, three-dimensional character who woos and captivates the reader. Valentine... has produced a story that is both witty and entertaining... it is charmingly written. Daily Telegraph This is a fine piece of slice-of-life fiction, warm but not cosy, neatly structured and credible. FT Weekend A moving narrative of belonging, love and redemption. School Librarian I think [Valentine] really is getting better and better with everything she writes. The Ant Colony has a very raw emotional honesty about it that is tempered past heartbreak by a vivid imagination and wonderful sense of humour. [It's} completely gorgeous, utterly charming, funny, sweet, sad, and underneath it all, very, very real. TheBookBag.co.uk

Praise for Jenny Valentine: `Valentine has the essential storyteller's gift of making you want to read on - and to know more even after the book is finished.' Guardian `The award-winning Valentine has a keen eye for the idiosyncrasies of young children, and the rhythms of family life.' The Bookseller `[Valentine] has a wonderful ability to take readers right into the hearts and souls of her central characters, and reading her is always a truly vicarious experience.' The Bookbag Praise for Fire Colour One: `A beautifully written story, soaked in love and important things.' Steven Camden, author of TAPE. `This latest creation is her most spectacular yet.' Guardian `[An] unforgettable story of grief and love.' Metro `Wise, brilliantly plotted.' The Sunday Times `Stunning. Rich in prose, with a profound depth to the characters and themes. Extremely moving.' Sarah Lean, author of A DOG CALLED HOMELESS `One of the very best books I've read all year. I finished this and immediately turned back to the beginning again.' Robin Stevens, author of MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE

Author Information

Jenny Valentine moved house every two years when she was growing up. 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. In 2007, Jenny won the Guardian Prize for Children's Fiction with her debut novel Finding Violet Park.

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