A Boston Globe Best Book of 2018
A Horn Book Best Book of 2018
"Vivid, hilarious, and heartbreaking." --Elizabeth Wein, New York
Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity
"The best children's book I've read this year." --Katherine Rundell,
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award-winning author of Cartwheeling in
Thunderstorms
"A near-miraculous balance of light and joyous touch with sometimes
serious and even heartbreaking material." --BCCB (starred review)
From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes a "wholly satisfying"
(Booklist, starred review) story full of wit, heartbreak, and hope as
a girl fights for her independence during World War I.
Clarry Penrose finds the good in everyone. Even in her father, who isn't
fond of children, and especially girls. He doesn't worry about her
education, because he knows she won't need it. It's the early twentieth
century, and the only thing girls are expected to do is behave.
But Clarry longs for a life of her own. She wants to dive off cliffs and
go swimming with her brother Peter and cousin Rupert. And more than
anything, she wants an education. She helps Peter with his homework all
the time, so why can't she manage it by herself? When war breaks out,
Clarry is shocked to find that Rupert has enlisted. Then he is declared
missing, and Clarry is devastated. Now she must take a momentous step
into the wide world--for if she misses this chance, she may never make
it.
This is an inspirational, funny, and heartwarming story about a girl who
dares to open doors that the world would rather keep closed.
