Ruth Thomas

Julia and Nathan have no friends to speak of. They're misfits of Mrs Henrey's class - awlays the last to be picekd for the team, and always without a partner. Then they discover a stash of money in a deserted house and suddenly, instant popularity seems just around the corner. But so is trouble, in the shape of the adults who start asking difficult questions. There is only one thing the pair can do now, and that is to run away!

The Runaways

Three children are kidnapped and driven across the country and dumped right in the middle of Dartmoor. Here in the wilderness they must learn to survive against a backdrop of desolate country and mounting personal conflict. By the author of The Runaways, Guilty and The New Boy.

Hideaway

Introducing a range of characters and themes, from childhood to old age, from family loyalties to communication breakdowns, and from loss to love and freedom, her stories buzz with insouciant humour as characters address contemporary dilemmas and classic situations. With settings ranging from Britain to Spain, to Greece and the United States, this is a cosmopolitan and engaging collection. Thomass ability to capture the smallest detail with characteristic humour and bite make her stories a joy to read.

The Dance Settee and Other Stories

When Mrs Lloyd leaves teaching to have her baby it's the signal for Sean Adams and his gang to run riot - they reduce every teacher to a tearful, quivering wreck. Class 4L build up the reputation for being the most unruly class in school and Gillian starts to get worried about her twin brother, Joseph, whose mixing with hard core of the trouble-makers - but it may be too late to do anything to stop him.

The Class that Went Wild

Having found an enormous sum of money and been threatened with punishment by their parents for not turning it in to the police, gawky eleven-year-old Julia and her bad-tempered friend Nathan flee London for Brighton and the open countryside.

My autobiography which includes 32+ years in the Philippines as a career cross-cultural worker, describe challenges and blessings of life and ministry in a third world country.

Purposeful Living

For This I Was Created

South Wales

Mum knew she shouldn't have left the children alone. That was why she was hurrying home, running to catch the evening train. She was so worried about Nicky and Roy that she didn't hear the thief come up behind her; she didn't look carefully when she dashed across the road . . . Back at home Nicky is findingit harder and harder to reassure her younger brother Roy. Soon the children are running out of money and the neighbours are getting suspicious. But whatever happens, Nicky is certain of one thing - she will NEVER tell.

The Secret

Ruth Thomas''s debut collection of stories bu zzes with insouciant humour. She addresses herself to contem porary dilemmas and classic situations such as disastrous da tes, irritating girlfriends and obscure longings for escape. '

And Other Stories

Sea Monster Tattoo

Stasiland Insight Text Guide has highly visual Character Map with notes on each character and their relationships; in-depth and comprehensive background and context notes; excellent notes on genre, style and structure; a chapter-by-chapter/scene-by-scene analysis; discussion of characters and relationships; highly informative section on themes, issues and concepts; discussion of different interpretations - which has come into most English courses around Australia recently; sample exam questions and answers for students to use for essay writing practise on the text; a comprehensive References list.

Anna Funder's Stasiland

There's been a spate of break-ins lately in the area and everyone in Kate's class is saying that the burglar is Desmond Locke's dad because he's just come out of prison. Everyone, that is, except Kate. She's sure that Mr Locke is innocent and turns to her Secret Seven books for inspiration - they always find the real thief. Kate and Desmond become detectives to find out the truth and prove Desmond's dad is innocent. But the truth isn't always what you would like it to be and Kate is horrified when she discovers who really is... GUILTY.

Guilty!

Edinburgh, 1991. Having flunked her exams, eighteen-year-old Luisa McKenzie finds herself back at school - this time working as a classroom assistant. Instead of leading a new 'sophisticated' life as a student in London, she spends her days trundling to and from her childhood home, sitting on the outside of the 'Home Corner' in a class full of five-year-olds.A chance encounter one afternoon with Stella, a former schoolfriend who has, herself, gone on to 'greater' things, wakes Luisa up to her disappointments. With a school trip and a magic show on the horizon , Luisa's hold on reality slowly begins to unravel .

The Home Corner

At fifteen, Sally Tuttle and Rowena Cresswell were firm friends, until a shocking event changed their lives. Now in their late thirties, they are estranged, both single mothers, both haunted with memories of their intense friendship. Sally is an embroiderer, a needlewoman ("the homelier sister of Wonderwoman"), who works at In Stitches, a repairs shop in East Grinstead. When she wins an embroidery prize and is invited to a conference in Edinburgh to deliver an embroidery lecture, she has to leave her teenage daughter Pearl alone and step into a new role - lecturer, prize-winner. Rowena Cresswell is in Edinburgh too, helping her son move out of his student accommodation. This beautifully woven, perfectly pitched story of two women caught in the shadow of their teenage years will stay in the hearts of readers long after they put it down.

Things to Make and Mend

Everyone knows you just don't go into strange people's cars but Jack's curiosity and quest for excitement gets Leah and Charlie into big trouble when he leads their gang into the campervan, Hideaway. Leah is nervous about the situation and her instincts are proved correct when George and Lil zoom off with the three of them trapped in the back - kidnapped!

Edward is the school wheeler-dealer with dreams of becoming a millionaire by the time he's twenty. When he finds a mysterious package in the park, he ropes two school-mates into a daring scheme, one that catapults them into an adventure of secrets and intrigue - and his wish seems very close to becoming a reality.

The Paper Bag Baby

Hidden within the confines of The Royal Institute of Prehistorical Studies, Sybil is happy enough with her work - and her love life. Then to her dismay, her old adversary, assertive and glamorous Helen Hansen, is appointed Head of Trustees. To add insult, Helen promptly seduces Sybil’s boyfriend. Betrayed and broken-hearted, Sybil becomes obsessed with exposing Helen as a fraud, no matter the cost.

The Snow and the Works on the Northern Line

Anna Funder

Stasiland Insight Text Guide has highly visual Character Map with notes on each character and their relationships; in - depth and comprehensive background and context notes; excellent notes on genre, style and structure; a chapter - by - chapter/scene - by - scene analysis; discussion of characters and relationships; highly informative section o...

Insight Text Guide

Insight Study Guides are written by experts and cover a range of popular literature, plays and films. Designed to provide insight and an overview about each text for students and teachers, these guides endeavor to develop knowledge and understanding rather than just provide answers and summaries.

Ruth Thomas

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