Binny for Short

Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2014

Binny has been through tough times since her father died and her dreadful old Aunt Violet got rid of her beloved dog, Max. Her world changed to a city flat with hardly enough space for Mum, her big sister Clem and her little brother James. But then Aunt Violet dies, leaving a small cottage in Cornwall to Binny and her family. It feels like a second chance at life. Binny finds herself in a new world full full of sunshine and freedom, where Gareth – the enemy-next-door – makes a great companion for dangerous dares. But Max is still lost in the past. Will she ever find him again? From a master writer, this is a touching and realistic story of making a new start and coming to terms with the past.