The Whispering Road

Joe and Annie are orphans in early 19th century Manchester, with only the faintest memory of their long lost mother. After swapping the workhouse for a farm run by a sadistic couple, whose cruel treatment causes them to rebel, they run away.

On the run, they take to the Whispering Road, where they meet a host of travelling characters ranging from Travis, a freewheeling animal trapper, to Dog woman (half-dog/half-woman), who roams the forest with her pack of wolves, to Honest Bob and his travelling fair - where Joe, on impulse, sells Annie for a shilling.

Afterwards, Joe ends up in the city of Manchester, where he experiences not only the luxury of the moneyed classes, but also the appalling conditions of the urban poor, and begins to grow up.

This is a long, action-packed novel, which starts off in mid-action and never stops running until its dramatic, emotional climax. It covers a wide historical canvas, taking in issues of literacy, industrialisation, radical politics, philanthropy - and above all, poverty - on the way.

A challenging, exciting and rewarding journey for confident readers, this title was shortlisted for the 2005 Nestle Children's Book Prize (9-11 Years category).