Karen McCombie

Seth learns some important life lessons when he's transported back to Ancient Egypt in this absorbing time-slip adventure. While awaiting punishment in his headmaster’s office for his latest piece of mischief, prankster Seth picks up an Egyptian amulet from the desk and is whisked back in time to Ancient Egypt. In a village by the Nile, Seth finds a place...

A smashed china dragon helps Tyra to bond with her new classmates in this touching tale from bestselling author Karen McCombie. Tyra gets off to a tough start at her new school. She’s loud and different, and nobody seems to be particularly friendly. So when her nan gives her a beautiful china snow dragon, Tyra decides to take it to...

Pioneering aviatrix Dolly Shepherd comes alive in this thrilling reimagining of her death-defying exploits from bestselling author Karen McCombie. When sixteen-year-old Dolly Shepherd is offered the chance to take to the sky in a hot-air balloon, there’s no way she’s going to turn it down. Even though the pilot actually plans for her to jump out of the balloon and...

Cousins Yasmin and Ruby have always been rivals, but both sides of the story are exposed in this cleverly composed clean-teen novella from Karen McCombie. My Perfect Cousin follows Ruby, who can’t stand her "perfect" cousin Yasmin. Yasmin is pretty, popular, and has a gorgeous boyfriend, Max. She's set to get excellent grades in her GCSEs, and her parents won’t...

A story of family, friendship and mystery from one of the UK's best-loved writers. When Scarlet's grandma goes into a retirement home, she must sort through her belongings in the cramped flat above a shop in Crouch End, north London. Here Scarlet comes across a real treasure: a novel that Gran wrote, imagining the life of a girl just like...

London, 1914. Fred Müller’s life is turned upside down when his dad is taken away by the police - suddenly his family are the enemy because of where they come from. A thrilling coming of age tale about World War One, perfect for fans of Emma Carroll and Hilary McKay. Fred Müller is very popular at school – his mum...

Alfie and Kat’s school trip takes an unexpected turn when they’re whisked back to a Viking village in this exciting time-slip adventure from bestselling author Karen McCombie. Things take a weird turn for Alfie and Kat when they get separated from the rest of their group on a school trip to the Viking Museum. The models around them start to...

Fagin’s infamous gang comes to life once again in this exciting Oliver Twist-inspired adventure from bestselling author Karen McCombie. Orphan Ettie Shaw is penniless and homeless on the streets of London when she is spotted by her older brother, Joe. Joe has fallen in with a notorious pickpocket gang run by a man called Fagin, and Ettie has to disguise...

Granny’s hunt for the perfect pet brings some unexpected results in this goofy adventure of family, mudlarking, and mayhem. Zac and Essie have been helping their Granny Mo in her search for the perfect pet. She’s tried everything from cats to axolotls and just can’t find the right one. But when the trio go mudlarking in the riverbank, they find...

Can Meg find her sunshine smile again? A wonderfully warm and wise story about new families and new relationships from bestelling author Karen McCombie. Meg is the girl with the sunshine smile. That's what they call her at the wedding fairs where she models her mum's dresses. But then Mum meets Danny. Danny, with the grotty houseboat, four sons and...

Karen McCombie explores identity, friendship and fresh starts in this touching tale perfectly pitched for struggling teen readers. Ketty doesn’t remember anything about the accident, or much from before. The doctors say her memories will come back, but in the meantime school is a frightening and confusing place. Otis seems to be her only friend – he’s kind and caring,...

Who said friends have to match to matter? When the Star Boy's space-pod crashes in the grounds of Fairfield Academy, he knows he must seek shelter. Taking refuge in the school's boiler room to await rescue, he discovers that the room's small window is the perfect place to watch humans go by. The Star Boy knows about humans from his...

Life isn’t easy, especially if you’re from another planet… With his space-pod destroyed, the Star Boy is adapting to life on Earth with help from his friends Kiki and Wes. However, Kiki's long list of don'ts is a constant reminder of how hard it is to pass for a convincing human. More troubling for the Star Boy are the strange...

A wonderfully warm and touching story of friendship, identity and kindness from top-notch teen author Karen McCombie. Being at home is hard for Hannah. With Mum, Dad and Vix always fighting they've got no time for her or her worries, she might as well be invisible.But when she finds an abandoned diary in the park containing snippets and photographs of...