Joanne Owen

After an accident at her grandmother's house, Rosie is transported to a strange and sinister world populated by a cast of carnivalesque characters who reside in the Circus of the Unseen. Reigning over them is an old woman called Mother Matushka, who guards the threshold between life and death and has extraordinary powers over all around her. This is an in-between world, a bizarre and trapped existence, but Rosie is not like the others here. She seems to be hovering between the world of the living and the world of the dead, and even seems to have the power to challenge Mother Matushka. Can Rosie escape Mother Matushka's formidable rule and a world in limbo? And can she solve another mystery - one that lies at the heart of her grandmother's life?

Circus of the Unseen

From riches to rags, Milena is growing up in the city of Prague at the turn of the twentieth century. Her parents' once prosperous theatre lies in disrepair and her life seems to be in ruins, and has been since that fateful night her father died in a tragic accident and Milena's beautiful, talented Mother went missing. No trace of her has been found. But Milena has never lost hope that she will come back. The day she meets the flamboyant Puppet Master and his menacing protégés, the twins Zdenko and Zdenka, under the shadow of Prague's famous Astronomical Clock in the Old Town square is, coincidentally, the date of her mother's birthday. And it's the day Milena's grandmother chooses to reveal to her the story of her ancestors... and of her legacy. Or perhaps it's not such a coincidence. Joanne Owen's debut novel skilfully mingles the legends of Bohemia in a story rich in the traditions of circus, theatre and magic, all set in a city waiting to lay bare a myriad of secrets. Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2009 and the Carnegie Medal.

Puppet Master

Jan is an alchemist,s apprentice. His quest for the elixir of life will take him to the plague-ridden streets and hidden houses of Prague. He also meets a mysterous girl. Zuzana is known as the Angel of the Ghetto, but she has another name, another life.

The Alchemist and the Angel

Everything changes for orphaned Jan when his beloved uncle, Gustav - anatomist, natural scientist and aspiring alchemist - enlists his help in a quest to create a life-generating serum. To test the serum, they must follow a set of ancient instructions and play a dangerous game of bringing the inanimate to life... When Gustav dies suddenly, it's up to Jan to continue his work - little does he know that his beautiful, calculating aunt dreams of using the serum for her own purposes - eternal life. Under the façade of her grief, she convinces Jan they must move from Vienna to Prague, and when she mysteriously disappears, Jan searches for her. In the plague-ridden ghettos and the court of the mad Emperor Rudolf, he must pit his wits against an extraordinary cast of characters and events. His only ally is Zuzana, a girl with secrets of her own. Set against the vivid backdrop of 16th century Prague and the equally breathtaking Vienna, a magical, historical adventure from a talented author.

This is the story of a little fuzzy white dog named Suzi, her human, JoJo, Mr. Bluebuttons, and a possum. On this cold January night in the blue hills of Virginia, it begins to snow, and they all have a night they will never forget! This is Suzi's great adventure, "Possum, Possum, Possum!"

Possum, Possum, Possum!

It's Martha's birthday and the village has planned a surprise party for her – but grumpy witch Griselda Gritch ruins the surprise! Not to worry – Martha's biggest birthday wish comes true when her mum and dad return from their tropical trip especially for her party. Everyone is delighted (apart from grumpy Griselda) and excited to have fun with Martha's present: the Mysterious Mask of Truth, brought back from her parents' far-flung travels. Fun, that is, until the truth starts causing everyone quite a lot of embarrassment.

Martha Mayhem and the Barmy Birthday

A laugh-out-loud magical story featuring witches and fun, the first in a series of three books by Carnegie and Branford Boase long-listed author, Joanne Owen. Martha Mayhem (real name Martha May) is always causing chaos! She just can't help it, somehow chaotic things just happen to her. Martha lives in the small village of Cherry Hillsbottom with her eccentric grandfather, Professor Gramps and her small pet hog Elvis. Life gets really exciting though when, on her way to school one day, she discovers a rather bedraggled-looking witch in a ditch. Griselda Gritch (the witch) tells a thrilled and alarmed Martha that she has accidentally let loose a ghastly ghoul that Griselda was trying to catch - and Martha is going to have to help her to get it back again! Griselda, though, is a rather grumpy and difficult accomplice. Can Martha, with the help of Gramps, Elvis and her best friend Jack (AKA Scrambled Egg Head), retrieve the ghoul and prove herself to Griselda? A brilliantly funny magical story, full of energy and action! With fantastic illustrations from internationally-renowned illustrator, Tony Ross.

Martha Mayhem and the Witch from the Ditch

The second in a fantastic funny younger series from Carnegie and Branford Boase long-listed author, Joanne Owen. Martha is still causing accidental mayhem in this second book in the series. She accidentally drops a nutmeg into a "grow and move" potion concocted by grumpy witch, Griselda Gritch . . . and mayhem unfolds, including an even-grumpier-than-Griselda-Gritch magical nutmeg lady, the village hall being accidentally knocked down by a herd of cows, and a VERY eventful and catastrophic village fete and football match. Everybody blames Martha - again!

Martha Mayhem Goes Nuts!

Hilarity and magic on Martha's birthday in the third book in this young series by Carnegie and Branford Boase long-listed author Joanne Owen It's Martha's birthday and the village has planned a surprise party for her - but grumpy witch Griselda Gritch ruins the surprise! Not to worry - Martha's biggest birthday wish comes true when her mum and dad return from their tropical trip especially for her party. Everyone is delighted (apart from grumpy Griselda) and excited to have fun with Martha's present: the Mysterious Mask of Truth, brought back from her parents' far-flung travels. Fun, that is, until the truth starts causing everyone quite a lot of embarrassment . . .

Orphan Jan pursues his beloved Uncle Gustav's dream of creating a life-generating serum after Gustav dies, which leads him from Vienna to Emperor Rudolf II's court in Prague.

Joanne Owen

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