LoveReading4Kids Says
Winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2009.
This is an enchanting and at times terrifying debut that's beautifully written. 13 year old Tanya and her mother have an uneasy relationship so for part of the summer she is despatched off to her grandmother who lives in a rickety old house. While there, she sees a bookcase revolve and in front of her is a narrow stone staircase leading way down beyond the bowels of the house. She steps down them and what she sees brings a scream to her mouth but nothing come out. The long lost girl she sees carries something that for the briefest of moments morphs into something else and they each realise they both have the ability of second sight - of seeing fairies. Mysteries and secrets abound in this superb debut and Tanya is put in terrible danger in this sinister tale. Can Tanya's ability of second sight help her unravel the mystery?
A word from the editor:
As the publisher of The Spiderwick Chronicles, we know a good faerie tale when we see it… and we believe that this novel makes the perfect next step for fans of that bestselling series. Classic in its telling, but modern in its setting, The Thirteen Treasures is a novel that is destined to enchant. Michelle Harrison has woven a bewitching tale that sucks you in and doesn’t let you go, and surprises you all the way – rather like the faerie world that draws our heroine Tanya closer and closer to a terrifying fate in The Thirteen Treasures.
LoveReading4Kids
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About Michelle Harrison
Michelle Harrison is a full time author who lives in Essex. Her first novel, The Thirteen Treasures, won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and is published in sixteen countries including the UK. It was followed by The Thirteen Curses and The Thirteen Secrets. Michelle has since written Unrest, a ghost story for older readers and One Wish, a prequel to the Thirteen Treasures books. The Other Alice is her sixth novel.
Michelle's path to becoming a writer was inspired by stories told by her sisters as she was growing up, one of which was so vivid it prompted her to dig in the garden looking for evidence of a dead fairy. (She didn't find anything.) Since becoming a published author she still does strange things like asking people to shut her in the boots of their cars – all in the name of research, of course – like Alice.
Michelle has a son called Jack and two black cats. She suspects one of them is a mischief, but hasn't caught her drinking tea . . . yet.
Q&A with Michelle Harrison
Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
A. I'm a 'glass half-full' type of person.
Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
A. Elvesden Manor.
Q. What’s your best quality?
A. Optimism, or at least I like to think it is!
Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
A. I sometimes think I'd like to be a cat, just for the sheer amount of sleeping they do.
Q. What trait is most noticeable about you?
A. My Essex accent.
Q. Who is your favourite fictional villain?
A. Beatrice Lacey in Wideacre by Philippa Gregory.
Q. If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
A. It would be Jack the Ripper. I like to think I'd demand to know his identity, but in all honesty I'd probably run.
Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
A. People who look down their noses at others.
Q. What is your favourite occupation, when you’re not writing?
A. It depends on my mood, but drawing/painting, reading or watching a film.
Q. What’s your fantasy profession?
A. Being an author and an illustrator!
Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
A. Loyalty, a sense of humour, and integrity.
On Books and Writing
Favourite authors
Hans Christian Andersen, Enid Blyton, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Martina Cole, Roald Dahl, Philippa Gregory, The Brothers Grimm, Julie Hearn, Eva Ibbotson, Christopher Pike, J.K. Rowling, Marcus Sedgwick, Sarah Singleton.
Q. Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
A. Read lots, write lots, and don't give up.
More About Michelle Harrison
