Lily at Lissadell


Book Description

When Lily is a young teenager, the time comes for her and her friends to leave school and find work; some are emigrating to America, some going to work in shops. Lily is going into service in the Big House – Lissadell. Lily's employers, the Gore-Booth family, are kind, but life as a young housemaid can be hard: Lily works long days, she has to learn to get along with the staff, particularly her roommate, the sullen and uncommunicative Nellie, and she misses her home and family. But when Maeve, daughter of Constance Markievicz and niece of the Gore-Booths, comes to visit and decides to paint a portrait of Lily an unusual friendship begins between the two girls from such different worlds. A warm and engaging story about friendship, life in the early 20th century and how the political world affects everyone.




Lily's Dream


Book Description

The further adventures of Lily: life as a maid in Lissadell House is always interesting, but with her friendship with Maeve under strain, a war in Europe starting and uncertainly about her future, she needs all her wits about her! This latest installment in the popular series also sees Lily finally on her way to realising her dream of becoming a teacher. Nellie's older sister, Johanna, starts walking out with Harry the footman, and is extremely worried when he enlists and goes off to fight in World War I. He send letters to the girls from the front and tells them all about the Christmas Day truce in 1914 ... but then a telegram comes. Harry is missing, presumed dead. Will he return to Lissadell, safe and sound? Meanwhile, when Isabelle, the children's nurse, becomes unwell Lady Mary asks Lily to work with the Michael and Hugh Gore Booth in the afternoons until they are ready to go away to boarding school. On a visit home, Lily meets the Master, who tells her that Miss O'Brien is courting a young man – and if she marries, there will be an opening for a Junior Assistant Mistress in the school. He assures her that her current level of education will be enough, and that once she is old enough, he'd be happy to appoint her.




Lily Steps Up


Book Description

From the author of Lily at Lissadell and the 'Alice & Megan', 'Eva' and 'Time After Time' series Lissadell House, Sligo, 1913 Friends Lily and Nellie work long hard hours as housemaids for the Gore Booth family in the Big House. And yet these are days filled with friendship, fun, and even madcap bicycle rides with Maeve, daughter of the famous Republican, Countess Marcievicz. But Lily knows there's an empty place in her friend's heart. Nellie is all alone in the world; she grew up in the workhouse, where she was separated from her sisters. Lily longs to help her, but could she end up losing all she has – even her livelihood. And what will happen to her hopes and dreams? Just how much would you give up for a friend ...? A story of friendship set in the changing world of early 20th century Ireland.




Lily and the Lissadell Ghost


Book Description

Strange things start to happen at Lissadell - odd noises, food going missing and rumours of a ghost - so Sherlock Holmes-fan Maeve is determined to lead an investigation. Can Lily, Nellie and Maeve solve the mystery of the Lissadell ghost? Friendship, history and mystery in early 20th century Ireland.




Time After Time


Book Description

Molly and Beth are best friends and love spending time together. But when their two families move in together, maybe they are a little too close for comfort! Out shopping one day they need to avoid the most embarrassing encounter ever with Molly's mum, and hide in a shop they had never noticed before. When they leave by the side door, they realise immediately that something is not right! Transported back to the past, where mobile phones don't work and the world feels very different, they realise that they have a chance to see the world through their parents' eyes. Before finding their way home, can they see what their own pasts looked like?




The Kidds of Summerhill


Book Description

In the spring of 1945 a mother dies, leaving four children to fend for themselves in a Dublin tenement. Nancy, the oldest, lives in dread of the family being split up. The power to send them all to industrial schools such as Artane and Goldenbridge lies with the 'Cruelty Men'. Their spy, the Pig Farmer, lives next door and holds a long term grudge against the family. Thankfully Nancy has loyal friends in Summerhill and the Diamond, among them Lilly, her brother Charlie Weaver, a Dublin newsboy, and their ma, Maggie. Through work, Nancy becomes friendly with Karla, a Jewish refugee from Prague. When Nancy accidentally betrays Charlie to the police, Charlie ends up in Artane industrial school. Desperate to keep her guilty secret and still help her friend, Nancy and Lilly come up with a plan to help Charlie escape on the boat to England. Just as her life begins to unravel, Karla steps in with a possible solution to Nancy's problems. Will Nancy succeed in keeping the family together? And at what cost?




Alice in the Middle


Book Description

The fourth book in the Alice and Megan series. Summer camp with your BFF should be the best time of your life, right? Weeks of fun activities, freedom from your mum's organic porridge and lots of hanging out. But what happens when a bully who has it in for you steals your best friend? Before you know it, she's prancing around in a tennis dress, going on double dates and spilling your deepest secrets. Could summer holidays get any worse? Can Alice and Megan's friendship survive a trip to summer camp? Join these BFFs as they face their biggest challenge yet . . . Look out for more books in the Alice and Megan series- Alice Next Door Alice Again Don't Ask Alice




Alice Next Door


Book Description

Best friends NEED to be together. Don't they? Poor Megan! Not alone is she stuck with totally uncool parents, and a little sister who is too cute for words, but now her very best friend, Alice, has moved away. Now Megan has to go to school and face the dreaded Melissa all on her own. The two friends hatch a risky plot to get back together. But can their secret plan work? 'engrossing story with a real insight into the world of pre-teen girls' Publishing News




Alice Again


Book Description

It's spring mid-term, and Alice has invited Megan to visit her in Dublin. Megan is hoping for a nice trouble-free few days with her best friend. No such luck! She soon discovers that Alice is once again plotting and scheming. It seems that Alice's Mum Veronica has a new boyfriend. The plan is to discover who he is, and to get rid of him. Alice (with poor Megan in tow) becomes totally horrible in an effort to scare the poor man away. Can this possibly work? Just how horrible can she be? And how can Megan stand by and watch while her best friend turns into a total monster? 'A must-read for girls aged 10 and up, this has the Jacqueline Wilson touch' Evening Echo




Leave it to Eva


Book Description

Fun, feisty Eva Gordon's never been one to shy away from helping her friends - whether they want her help or not! - but this time she might have found a problem that's too big even for her ... When Eva and her family head to Seacove for their summer holidays, she's looking forward to seeing Kate again, but it turns out things have gone very wrong for Kate. Her granny's in the hospital, and with no else to look after her, Kate's hiding out at home by herself, afraid she's going to be taken into care. Eva tries to be a good friend and help her out, but how long can a twelve-year-old manage by herself? It's not just Kate who needs Eva's help, though helping Ruby turns out to be a LOT more fun! Ruby needs Eva to keep her company on a trip to London where she's trying out for a scholarship. Is there any way the trip away with Ruby can help everyone sort things out? It seems impossible, but if you have a problem that needs solving, just leave it to Eva! Eva's third book from bestselling author Judi Curtin.