Books published by publisher Pokey Hat

What if nature fights back? Still in a daze, I take it all in: the wind, the leaden skies, the churning moody sea. And, far in the distance, a misty outline. Skelsay. Wilderness haven. Building-site. Luxury-retreat-to-be. And now, home. When her father’s construction work takes Em’s family to the uninhabited island of Skelsay, she is excited, but also a little uneasy. Soon, Em and her friend, Zac, realize that the setbacks, mishaps, and accidents on the island point to something altogether more sinister: The wilderness all around them has declared war. Danger lurks everywhere. But can Em and Zac persuade the adults to believe it before it’s too late?

Unlock the secrets of the unsinkable ship…Bertha Watt, tree-climber and would-be polar explorer, is excited to be on RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage, as she leaves Aberdeen behind for the glamour of a new life in America. But Bertha quickly realises that some passengers are behaving strangely, and she determines to unravel their secrets. With new friend, Madge, Bertha sets up her own detective agency to try and solve the mysteries onboard, but they have no idea that disaster is looming for Titanic.Can they help Johan find the hidden treasure and unmask the identity of the enigmatic Mr Hoffman before time runs out on the ‘unsinkable’ ship?

An old promise. A mysterious tiger. A magical adventure. Fly into the night with this enchanting tale of friendship, family, and what it means to find home.Lal and his brother Dilip miss home. They don’t like drizzle, midges, or the tiger skin rug in theircreepy new house. All they want is to leave Scotland and go back to India. But that’s before theymake friends with Jenny, and before the tiger comes back to life. The tiger tells them it will take them home in return for their help: it cannot rest until it fulfils an old promise. Can Lal, Dilip and Jenny help it on its quest? Who is trying to stop them? And will they get back home?"The Tiger Skin Rug is such a charming story, full of magic, hope and friendship. It will fly (like a tiger) off the shelves." Melvin Burgess"A vivid and warm-hearted tale that draws the reader in to a world where the familiar meets the magical. From a Scottish village to an Indian mountain, from the back streets of London to the palaces and sewers of Mumbai, Joan Haig explores the power of legends and stories, families and forgiveness. A new voice you will want to hear more of!" Joan Lennon

Enemies within.Enemies without.Nowhere to hide.Caerlaverock Castle, Scotland in the year 130012-year-old Ada is a laundress of little consequence, but the new Castle Commander Brian De Berclay has his evil eye on her. Perhaps she shouldn’t have secretly fed the prisoner in the Murdoch Tower...When the King of England crosses the border with an army over 3000 strong, Ada, her friend Godfrey, and all at Caerlaverock suddenly find themselves under attack—with only sixty men for protection.Rocks and flaming arrows rain over Castle Caerlaverock, and Ada has a dangerous choice to make.What a wonderful book! I love this period, and The Siege of Caerlaverock brings it to life.Catherine Gilbert MurdockAuthor of The Book of Boy

Enemies within.Enemies without.Nowhere to hide.Caerlaverock Castle, Scotland in the year 130012-year-old Ada is a laundress of little consequence, but the new Castle Commander Brian De Berclay has his evil eye on her. Perhaps she shouldn’t have secretly fed the prisoner in the Murdoch Tower...When the King of England crosses the border with an army over 3000 strong, Ada, her friend Godfrey, and all at Caerlaverock suddenly find themselves under attack—with only sixty men for protection.Rocks and flaming arrows rain over Castle Caerlaverock, and Ada has a dangerous choice to make.What a wonderful book! I love this period, and The Siege of Caerlaverock brings it to life.Catherine Gilbert MurdockAuthor of The Book of Boy

Would you be brave enough to fight back?When 12-year-old Janet’s village is under threat– she decides to take action. It’s a split-second decision that could cost her everything: her home, her family – even her life.Can Janet save her village from being wiped out? Or will her family and friends be forced from their homes to face an uncertain future?Based on real life events, Fir for Luck is a tale of the brutal Highland Clearances, when land owners cared more about sheep than people. ‘Steeped in atmosphere, tension and the lyric cadences of the Highlands, Janet’s tale lights a fire of courage and hope in a shameful and tragic period of Scotland’s past. Henderson’s debut is brave and beautiful.’Elizabeth WeinAuthor of Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire

James is sent away to live with his mill-town relatives in this nostalgic, coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of Dundee during WW1. Some summers were made for growing up…Dundee, 1917. When his father goes to fight in the war, 11-year-old James is sent to live with his mill-town relatives and his cousin, Billy. At first, James feels lost and alone: his cousin hates him, the school bully is after him, and he is worried about his father’s safety.Gradually, he finds a new world of friendship, freedom, fun, and The God of All Small Boys, in a summer that will change his life forever...

Unlock the secrets of the unsinkable ship…Bertha Watt, tree-climber and would-be polar explorer, is excited to be on RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage, as she leaves Aberdeen behind for the glamour of a new life in America. But Bertha quickly realises that some passengers are behaving strangely, and she determines to unravel their secrets. With new friend, Madge, Bertha sets up her own detective agency to try and solve the mysteries onboard, but they have no idea that disaster is looming for Titanic.Can they help Johan find the hidden treasure and unmask the identity of the enigmatic Mr Hoffman before time runs out on the ‘unsinkable’ ship?

A lonely girl. A wild beast. An unforgettable friendship.12-year-old Talorca is a Pictish girl living in North-east Scotland in 799 AD.When Gaelic-speaking Dalriadans arrive in her village, her world is turned upside down. Her only friend is the mythical Pictish Beast, who has been injured by the Dalriadans.Talorca decides to take a stand against the intruders and hatches a plan to drive them out. But she can only do that with the help of the wild beast on the broch…'A compelling tale steeped in magic and myth'Abi ElphinstoneAuthor of The Shadow KeeperCover illustration by Dawn Treacher

Down by the coast, black water swirls and hides its secrets...Dumfries, 1792. Henry may only be thirteen, but he has already begun his training in the Excise, combatting smuggling like his father does. But when a large smuggling schooner is stranded nearby, the stakes are high—even with reinforcements, and the newly recruited officer, a poet called Robert Burns. Musket fire, obstructive locals, quicksand and cannonballs—it is a mission of survival. As it turns out: Henry has a crucial part to play...‘A glittering, real-life adventure swirling with secrets, suspense and nail-biting action.’ Ally Sherrick

An old promise. A mysterious tiger. A magical adventure. Fly into the night with this enchanting tale of friendship, family, and what it means to find home.Lal and his brother Dilip miss home. They don’t like drizzle, midges, or the tiger skin rug in theircreepy new house. All they want is to leave Scotland and go back to India. But that’s before theymake friends with Jenny, and before the tiger comes back to life. The tiger tells them it will take them home in return for their help: it cannot rest until it fulfils an old promise. Can Lal, Dilip and Jenny help it on its quest? Who is trying to stop them? And will they get back home?"The Tiger Skin Rug is such a charming story, full of magic, hope and friendship. It will fly (like a tiger) off the shelves." Melvin Burgess"A vivid and warm-hearted tale that draws the reader in to a world where the familiar meets the magical. From a Scottish village to an Indian mountain, from the back streets of London to the palaces and sewers of Mumbai, Joan Haig explores the power of legends and stories, families and forgiveness. A new voice you will want to hear more of!" Joan Lennon

The worlds of rich and poor collide in this gripping Victorian adventure as Jim and Jessie unravel the past and its pattern of secrets…Paisley 1876. 12-year-old Jim has escaped from the Poorhouse and now he must save his little brother from the same fate. His only hope lies in a mysterious family heirloom—a Paisley patterned shawl that has five guineas sewn into its hem—the price of freedom.Jim must find the shawl and break into the big house to steal it back. But the girl with the dark hair is always watching...‘A tapestry of kinship, loss and compassion with poignant resonances for today.’Robert J. Harris