The Mystery of Wickworth Manor

Description

Paige Owens, bright, cheeky, confident, cannot wait to go to secondary school. Curtis Okafor, wary and new to Paige's school, is much less sure. The only thing they share in common is the first letter of their surnames - which ensures they are forced into each other's company on a school trip to Wickworth Manor, the local stately home. Then Curtis finds a portrait in his bedroom of a young black servant dressed in livery. But why is the portrait hidden in the bedroom, and not in pride of place alongside the other portraits in the manor? And then Paige finds an intriguing letter, written over 200 years ago by Miss Verity Burton, who used to live at the Manor, that mentions the portrait. There is a mystery begging to be unravelled! And Paige and Curtis, in their very different ways, start work to find out what happened all those years ago . . . A funny, pacy and informative adventure, from a much loved author, that will also give some background to the slave trade.

Elen Caldecott graduated with an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University and was highly commended in the PFD Prize for Most Promising Writer for Young People. Before becoming a writer, she was an archaeologist, a nurse, a theatre usher and a museum security guard. It was while working at the museum that Elen realised there is a way to steal anything if you think about it hard enough. Elen either had to become a master thief, or create some characters to do it for her - and so her debut novel, How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant, was born. Kirsty Jenkins was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Prize and longlisted for the 2010 Carnegie Award. Kirsty Jenkins was followed by How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini and Operation Eiffel Tower. Elen lives in Bristol with her husband, Simon, and their dog. www.awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.com

Praise for How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant: 'The bright narrative proceeds unerringly and often hilariously to the climax ... [Elen Caldecott] handles the tricky subject of death superbly. It's a central theme, but it never overpowers the light breeziness of the yarn. The iron clamp of realism is unshackled to allow a primary colour world to peek even into Mr Thomas's rude and grumpy heart' * Western Mail * Praise for How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini: 'Its ingenious ideas, humour and clear, unfussy style keep the pages turning speedily to the feel-good conclusion, which is moving without being mawkish' * Sunday Times * 'Creating novels that engage children and at the same time show how books can help them explore difficult questions about their own experience is perhaps the ideal of children's fiction, but it's a difficult balancing act . . . Elen Caldecott has achieved this balance beautifully' * Observer * Praise for Operation Eiffel Tower: 'Perfect for Jacqueline Wilson fans' * The Bookseller *