Book Info

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Format

Paperback
176 pages

Author

Roddy Doyle
More books by Roddy Doyle

Author's Website

www.roddydoyle.ie/

Publisher

Marion Lloyd Books an imprint of Scholastic

Suitable for Ages

Featured Books for 11+ readers
Children's Book Awards - Shortlists and Winners
CILIP Carnegie & Greenaway Children's Book Awards 2013

Publication date

7th June 2012

ISBN

9781407129341

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A Greyhound of a Girl

Roddy Doyle

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The Lovereading comment:

Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 & the 2012 Guardian children's fiction prize.

Best-selling Roddy Doyle has written a wonderful, funny and warm-hearted family story about the dying of a granny which weaves together the lives of four generations and a little bit of ghostly mystery too. Mary’s relationship with her granny and the feelings she has about her death will touch the heart of readers of all ages.

Hilary Murray Hill, Managing Director of Scholastic Children’s Books, says, “I am delighted that Roddy has brought this wonderful novel to our list. A Greyhound of a Girl is a timeless story capturing the atmosphere and relationships of a very recognisable family; its themes will touch every kind of reader ..”

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The full CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 shortlist:

• The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan

• A Greyhound Of A Girl by Roddy Doyle

• Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner

• In Darkness by Nick Lake

• Wonder by RJ Palacio

• Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

• A Boy And A Bear In A Boat by Dave Shelton

• Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are the UK's oldest and most prestigious children's book awards. Often described by authors and illustrators as 'the one they want to win' - they are the gold standard in children's literature.The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book for children and young people. The winner of the 2013 Carnegie Medal will be announced on Wed 19th June 2013.

Synopsis

Scarlet, Mary, Tansey, Emer.  Mothers and daughters heading off on a car journey.  one of them dead, one of them dying, one of them driving, one of them just beginning.  They're going back to the past on a matter of life and death.  Meet 12 year old Mary and her beloved grandmother who is nearing the end of her life. Letting go is hard - until Granny's long-dead mammy appears at Mary's door, returning to help her dying daughter say goodbye.

Reviews

'This is really top class writing for the whole family.' The Telegraph

'Doyle's dialogue is masterful -- pithy, clever, direct -- and is one of the great joys of reading this book.. I would recommend this masterful family drama with a ghostly twist to any reader aged 10 or over. And to parents. It may be short, but it packs a lasting punch.' Irish Independent

About The Author

Roddy Doyle was our Guest Editor in October 2011. Click here to see his book selection.

Roddy Doyle was born in Dublin in 1958. His first novel, The Commitments, was published to great acclaim in 1987 and was made into a globally successful film by Alan Parker. The Snapper was published in 1990 and has also been made into a film, directed by Stephen Frears. The Van was shortlisted for the 1991 Booker Prize and made into a film also by Stephen Frears. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, which won the Booker Prize in 1993, has been published in over twenty languages.

In 1994 he wrote the screenplay for the television drama series, Family.  His plays include Brownbread (1987), War (1989) and, most recently, an updated version of The Playboy of the Western World (2007), which he co-wrote with Bisi Adigun. He has also written a collection of stories, The Deportees (2007) and a memoir of his parents, Rory and Ita (2002). His most recent novel is The Dead Republic (2010), which is the final part of the trilogy, following on from Oh, Play That Thing (2004) and A Star Called Henry (1999).

Roddy’s first children’s book The Giggler Treatment was shortlisted for the WH Smith Children’s Book Award. The Giggler Treatment is reserved for adults who are mean to children, by eating the last slice of pizza or making them wear horrible clothes. The punishment for such unfairness is sudden, messy and Mr Mack is about to tread right in it!

The Giggler Treatment was soon followed by two other books in the series:  Rover Saves Christmas and The Meanwhile Adventures, all of which continue to be strong sellers and firm favourites amongst children. He also contributed to the collaborative novel Click (2007), proceeds of which go to Amnesty International.  Wilderness, published in September 2007, is Roddy's first book for the young adult market and is a touching adventure story about what it means to be a family. It was voted the Children’s Book of the Year in the 2008 Irish Book Awards.  Roddy went on to write Her Mother’s Face (2008), a children’s title illustrated by the 2010 CILIP Carnegie Award winner Freya Blackwood.

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