Yvonne Coppard

Jan McCafferty

Alexandra Bond is, in essence, an ordinary ten-year-old girl. She goes to school, she has an annoying younger brother (Evan), she has a best friend (Rosie), she has an arch enemy (Pearl), she has a pet dog (Bear). But she is EXTRAORDINARILY ambitious and determined (in the nicest way). But the road to success (she's aiming for Mensa, the Oscars, or possibly Nigella Lawson's shoes) is not smoothly paved and Pearl (whose life goes like clockwork) is determined to trip her up, plus did I forget to mention 'disaster' is Alexandra Bond's middle name? Luckily, her sidekicks are always rooting for her - and her fantastic imagination somehow means Alex the Great always comes out on top.

Alex and the Ice Princess

Alex is off on on holiday to Wonderland Holiday Camp and it's going to be brilliant Her best friend Rosie is coming along and they're both going to be in the Kool Kids Club - free of boring parents and also free from Alex's mischevious younger brother, Evan that this is her chance of the stardom she is so obviously destined for - her talents are sure to be spotted by a big talent scout Tragically Alex's sworn enemy, Pearl Barconi (aka Macaroni ) gets the part and Alex's dreams of being discovered begin to fade. But when Pearl has a slight accident with a bottle of her mum's tanning cream and has to drop out of the play, it looks like Alex might just get that star role after all

Alex in Wonderland

Linda Newbery

Full of both inspirational and practical advice, Writing Children's Fiction: A Writers' and Artists' Companion is an essential guide to writing for some of the most difficult and demanding readers of all: children and young people. Part 1 explores the nature, history and challenges of children's literature, and the amazing variety of genres available for children from those learning to read to young adults. Part 2 includes tips by such bestselling authors as David Almond, Malorie Blackman, Meg Rosoff and Michael Morpurgo. Part 3 contains practical advice - from shaping plots and creating characters to knowing your readers, handling difficult subjects and how to find an agent and publisher when your book or story is complete.

Yvonne Coppard

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