December 2016 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month November 2016 Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo’s short story is a small gem. Part adventure, part ghost story it slips easily between past and present as a little girl, determined to collect all the shells she needs for a giant necklace she is making, gets caught on the rocks by an unexpected storm. Cherry thinks she can keep above the powerful waves and make her way home safely especially when she finds an old mine shaft and some kindly miners. But has she really beaten the sea? Michael Morpurgo’s ability to hold an audience spellbound is displayed at its best here. ~ Julia Eccleshare
Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for November 2016
A thrilling ghost story that revisits Cornwall's industrial past. Short-story-telling at its very best, from the UK's most beloved writer for children.
A tense and thrilling ghost story from the internationally acclaimed author of War Horse. It all began with a necklace, made of glistening pink cowrie shells. A long, long necklace that had taken Cherry days - weeks - of careful, painstaking work. It was nearly complete, and Cherry was determined it would be the longest necklace she had ever made; that it would be fit for a giant! But the end of the holidays had arrived. "You've only got today, Cherry," said her mother. "Just today, that's all." Cherry didn't mind, a day would be enough - she only needed a few more shells. So, amidst the taunts of her older brothers, she set out to search for them. Then the clouds grew dark and the waves grew large, and as the storm blew in, Cherry realized, to her horror, that she was cut off from the shore. From then on, events began to take a decidedly dark turn. One from which there was no turning back