Finding Violet Park

Description

A stunning new look for Jenny Valentine's debut novel, winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize The mini cab office was up a cobbled mews with little flat houses either side. That's where I first met Violet Park, what was left of her. There was a healing centre next door, a pretty Sixteen-year-old Lucas Swain becomes intrigued by the urn of ashes left in a cab office. Convinced that its occupant - Violet Park - is communicating with him, he contrives to gain possession of the urn, little realising that his quest will take him on a voyage of self-discovery and identity, forcing him to finally confront what happened to his absent (and possibly dead) father...

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. Finding Violet Park is her first novel.

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 Finding Violet Park: "Finding Violet Park is a wonderful debut." Guardian "Ultra-original and brilliantly written, this will have you laughing and crying, too." Mizz "Clever and totally assured, it is hard to believe that this is a first novel from a new author... [an] ingenious novel from a writer who already has much to offer. *****" Nicholas Tucker, Books for Keeps "Memorable and well-paced, this is a book to help young people grow in spite of adversity." Carousel "This is terrific stuff and quite unlike anything else I've come across.... a powerful and compelling story." Inis "First-time author Jenny Valentine has an original and exciting voice." Writing Magazine