This gripping family story is told in the two voices of Ellie and Grace, two sisters whose life takes a dramatic turn when their mum plucks up the courage to leave their violent father. How chatterbox Ellie and silent Grace find new lives – and new happiness - for themselves is deftly unravelled in a rollercoaster journey that embraces friendships, family and finding yourself.
There are two ways to keep a secret: silence or lies I can feel the anger bubbling up inside me. 'Grace, we've got a brand new life now. We can be anyone we want.' 'So what happens when your new friends find out you've just spun them a story?' 'They won't. I'm not going to let anyone spoil things. Never again.'
Ellie and Grace have left their old life behind. The future seems better, brighter, more exciting. But as their past threatens to catch up with them, how long can silence and lies keep their dark secret safe?
I loved The Summer of Telling Tales – it's truly gripping and you care desperately about both sisters.' Jacqueline Wilson
‘Fans of Cathy Cassidy will love this absorbing tale of families and loyalty.’ The Bookseller
'I thoroughly enjoyed this perceptive, pacy story . . . With strong, engaging characters and a vivid school setting, this novel combines some very dramatic moments with everyday friendship and romance.' Miriam Halahmy
Author
About Laura Summers
Laura Summers grew up in South London and was a teacher before turning full time to writing. She has written extensively for many popular children’s television series including ‘The Story of Tracy Beaker’ (based on the novel by Jacqueline Wilson), ‘The New Worst Witch’, (based on the Jill Murphy books), and was recently nominated for a children’s BAFTA for one of her scripts for ‘The Little Princess’ - a pre-school animation series based on the picture books by
Tony Ross.
The idea for her first novel came from the observation there were very few protagonists with learning disabilities in children’s books and the reality that
one of her own children is disabled. The result is the creation of Rhianna and her sister Vicky: two very individual teenagers, one of whom happens to have learning disabilities.
Laura now lives in North Devon with her husband and children and when not writing loves to draw and paint.
