Books with author Geraldine Mccaughrean

When M.C.C. Berkshire comes into Ailsa and her mother's antiques shop, he turns their lives upside down. He moves in, sleeps on the old bed in the shop (for sale), and corners every potential customer with a specially made-up story about an item in the shop. At the end of each tale the customers are so entranced that they buy the item! Suddenly the shop is a success, with M.C.C. telling a pack of lies to suit every taste. There's a whodunnit, a spoof on Dracula, a Victorian fantasy, and nine other funny and fascinating stories. Soon Ailsa and her mother start wondering whether they should encourage M.C.C.'s lies, and without realizing it, Ailsa begins to fall in love with the magical stranger. But who is this amazing character? At the end of the book, we suddenly find out...or do we? GERALDINE MCCAUGHREAN is the winner of the 1987 Whitbread Children's Novel Award for A Little Lower than the Angels, also published by Oxford.

Ever since the magnificent Miss Loucien gave up teaching to join the Bright Lights Theater Company, school days have lacked a certain . . . drama . . . especially for Cissy, who longs for a life in show business, and Kookie, who craves adventure. But when a diphtheria outbreak interrupts the dull routine, Cissy and Kookie are evacuated to the doubtful safety of the Bright Lights’ summer home—a shipwrecked paddle steamer on the flooded Missouri River.Thus begins a wild and unpredictable journey downstream serving up grand performances, aggrieved river gamblers, irate lawmen, and perilous races. And when at long last Cissy steps into the limelight, the stakes are higher than she ever imagined.Renowned storyteller Geraldine McCaughrean weaves a rip-roaring adventure in this funny tale that’s chock-full of humor and heart.

I have been in love with Titus Oates for quite a while now—which is ridiculous, since he's been dead for ninety years. But look at it this way. In ninety years I'll be dead, too, and the age difference won't matter. Sym is not your average teenage girl. She is obsessed with the Antarctic and the brave, romantic figure of Captain Oates from Scott's doomed expedition to the South Pole. In fact, Oates is the secret confidant to whom she spills all her hopes and fears. But Sym's uncle Victor is even more obsessed—and when he takes her on a dream trip into the bleak Antarctic wilderness, it turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival that will challenge everything she knows and loves. In her first contemporary young adult novel, Carnegie Medalist and three-time Whitbread Award winner Geraldine McCaughrean delivers a spellbinding journey into the frozen heart of darkness.

A splendid retelling of the greatest legend of all time, by Geraldine McCaughrean, winner of the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Award, and the Guardian Prize."Who pulls the sword from out this anvil is the true and rightful King of England." In this skillful retelling of King Arthur and the Round Table, multi-award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean weaves a dramatic and powerful spell of Arthur, his knights, Merlin, and the sword in the stone—Excalibur. Among Geraldine McCaughrean's retellings are The Canterbury Tales and One Thousand and One Arabian Knights; her other books include My Grandmother's Clock.

When Pepper Roux was born his aunt foretold that he would not live past 14 years of age. Throughout his childhood his parents haven't bothered with him much, knowing that his life would be short-lived. So when Pepper wakes up on his 14th birthday he knows this will be the day that he'll die.But as the day wears on, and Pepper finds himself still alive, he decides to set off to sea in an attempt to try and avoid death for as long as possible. As time goes on Pepper steps into many roles and personas and has numerous outrageous adventures. But can he stay one step ahead of death? Orwill fate catch up with him? And, if he does live, which of his many lives will he choose to adopt?This riot of a story is a wonderful adventure, and Pepper is an unforgettable character who stays with you long after his story has been told.

Inez and her brother are amazed to find a huge hole being dug right outside the front door of their father's shop. Then suddenly more holes appear all over the main street and before long the cars can't use the road and everyone has to walk around balancing on planks of wood. It can only be a matter of time before the foundations give way and the whole town collapses. People are travelling from all over the country - the word on everyone's lips is GOLD. A fast-paced tale of a South American gold rush, told with all Geraldine McCaughrean's usual skill and verve.

"In this attractive book, ten of the world's best-known ballets, including The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Cinderella, are introduced to young readers. The essence of a ballet production is successfully captured by the full-color illustrations, which exuberantly portray each story's setting, and the writing style, which maintains the original flavor of both the tales and ballets. Children who love to attend ballets, take ballet lessons, or like to read fairy tales will delight in this treasury."--Booklist There is no more elegant or comprehensive introduction to the ballet than this enchanting book.