The Runaway Girls

Nov 16, 2024 11:35 AM

Author:Jacqueline Wilson,Mandeep Dhillon

The Runaway Girls

Brought to you by Penguin.

The must-have new Victorian novel from bestselling, much-loved children's author, Jacqueline Wilson.

Victorian London, 1851. Queen Victoria is on the throne and the Great Exhibition is about to open!

Lucy Locket lives with her father, the New Mother and the New Baby. They sent away her beloved Nurse and replaced her with a horrid governess. Lucy desperately wants someone to be kind to her, and to have some fun - there's very little of that in her house.

Kitty Fisher is a street performer who earns tin for her supper by tumbling. She has always lived on the street and on her wits, with only the kind Gaffer to help her. But now Gaffer is gone, and Kitty is all alone.

When Lucy runs away from home, Kitty shows Lucy how to survive - where to find the best picnic leftovers in the park, and which trees makes the best beds. Lucy learns quickly and shows Kitty her own skills - befriending families to get free meals and singing beautiful melodies for the crowds.

But the streets of Victorian London are dangerous and soon the girls find themselves under threat from thieves - and even worse, the Workhouse!

"The narrator really brings the characters alive, you have an image in your head if you've already read the story but the characters are so much more alive in your mind with the audiobook. Highly recommended." - NetGalley reviewer

Reviews

This cheery, highly illustrated diary story, more rooted in contemporary reality than Liz Pichon's Tom Gates books, is the first in a series that's sure to find devoted fans.

—— The Guardian

A sparky, funny new series perfect for fans of Diary of A Wimpy Kid.

—— Daily Mail

Ideal for fans of Tom Gates, or Pamela Butchart's books . . . a wonderful new series.

—— The Week Junior

I really enjoyed reading the adventures of Billie Upton Green (not Bug!!)! Billie is a delightful and relatable character, and her escapades are both funny and heart-warming. I particularly enjoyed the inclusivity in the text, and it's a real joy to see such positive LGBTQ+ representation in children's books. Jen has written a real treat for younger readers, and the artwork is fabulous, too!

—— L. D. Lapinski, The Strangeworlds Travel Agency

Readers will love Billie's adventures, and her funny, doodle-filled way of sharing them, as much as they love the Dork Diaries or Wimpy Kid stories, and it's great too to see such a warm celebration of diverse family life.

—— Andrea, LoveReading4Kids

For any child or parent that has ever had a fit of anger (so one for everyone, then)... Nadia Shireen is one of those rare illustrator-writers who can do both equally well.

—— The Times

Laugh-out-loud funny (with a great guide to grumpy moods . . .)

—— Daily Mail

Carney's lively, upbeat Billie is a welcome inclusive addition to the world of illustrated diaries. Her two mums feel like people I know, her weariness at explaining their existence just as familiar - and Billie herself is a treat, from her passion for biscuits to her determined pursuit of the school thief. Fun, funny, and deceptively clever.

—— Susie Day, author of Max Kowalski Didn't Mean It

The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. is immense fun and is the first book I have read in a single sitting in a long time! It's warm, funny and has the best joke involving childbirth that you could put into a children's book!

—— Louie Stowell, author of Otherland

A brilliant, hilarious and heartwarming book! I'm pretty sure if I'd read this as a child it wouldn't have taken me quite so long to understand and accept my own queer identity. Amazing for normalising same-sex parenting and adoption, completely laugh-out-loud funny and a feast for the eyes with lots of fun and engaging doodles. I loved it!

—— Abigail Balfe, A Different Sort of Normal

Previous Article：The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.: Sister Act Next Article：Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball (Book 14)

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