Secret Friends

by
Elizabeth Laird
Illustrator: Jason Cockcroft

At her new school, Rafaella suffers daily name-calling from her peers. Lucy feels partly responsible, having herself invented the nickname 'Earwig' as a result of Rafaella’s prominent ears.

The two girls form a secret friendship, but Rafaella’s insecurity about her appearance eventually leads to tragedy. A moving story, with beautiful illustrations.

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Elizabeth Laird

Elizabeth Laird is the award-winning author of many highly acclaimed novels. She was born in Wellington, New Zealand, but is of Scottish descent and was educated at Croydon High School. She spent a year teaching in Malaysia, before studying languages at Bristol and Edinburgh universities. Elizabeth has spent much of her life living and working abroad, including long spells in Lebanon, Ethiopia and India. She now lives in Richmond and Edinburgh with her husband.

Elizabeth has written over 30 books for children on a broad range of subjects, from historical adventures to real life stories, picture books to retelling of folk tales. She has won many awards, including the Children's Book Award for Kiss the Dust, the Smarties Young Judges Award, and the Lancashire Book Award. Elizabeth has been shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal five times as well as every other major children’s book award.

http://www.elizabethlaird.co.uk/

Photo: Macmillan