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Theresa Breslin: I set out to walk the footsteps of the soldiers of the Great War

Kezzie at War

Two touching, remarkable stories of hope featuring a brave, indomitable girl named Kezzie, from critically-acclaimed author Theresa Breslin.

A remarkable story of hope and determination in the face of seemingly unsurmountable odds, which lingers in the mind long after the book is laid aside

This book really makes you understand how lucky we are not to be living in the poverty-stricken 1930s. We get a vivid picture of what it must be like to have little money or food

THERESA BRESLIN is the Carnegie Medal winning author of over thirty books for children &amp; young adults whose work has appeared on stage, radio and TV. Her books are hugely popular with young people, librarians and teachers. Remembrance, her top selling YA novel of youth in WW1, has now been reissued to include Book Notes. The Dream Master was shortlisted for the Children's Book Award. Divided City was shortlisted for ten book awards, winning two outright.

During the 1930s Depression in Scotland, Kezzie and her young sister Lucy are luckier than most. Following their father's death, they manage to stay together and live on the little work Kezzie and Grandad are able to find. But life turns sour when Lucy goes missing. Without hesitation, Kezzie sets off alone to find her sister, a difficult journey which takes her over the Atlantic to Canada . . . 
 
In the second story, Kezzie and Lucy are reunited with Grandad in Clydebank. The Second World War breaks out, and the family spirit is put to the test. Kezzie's strength is needed by so many - she must save an Italian family from the racial hatred they encounter, and rescue her old school friend Peg. As Clydebank is bombed and becomes a burning inferno, will Kezzie be strong enough to turn a tragedy into a triumph?

The Rasputin Dagger

Carnegie Medal winner Theresa Breslin returns with an extraordinary story of love, loss and friendship set during the chaos and turmoil of the Russian Revolution

A thrilling tale of political action and love . . . Breslin evokes compassion for the hapless Imperial family, without losing sense of the crisis facing Russia’s people, and seamlessly inserts her characters into the events leading to the rise of the Bolsheviks

Theresa Breslin gives a gripping account of Nina’s life in St Petersburg amongst the growing unrest of The Russian Revolution, seamlessly blending historical events and traditional folk tales with a dramatic plot. This meticulously researched book is a must-read for historical fiction fans and a great way to mark the centenary of the Russian Revolution.

Scottish Book Trust (Children's Book of the Month)

Breslin's young adult book takes on some big themes from Russian history and makes them accessible to all.

Rich with historical detail this fascinating and epic tale will sweep you away whilst reminding us of the chaos and turmoil of the Russian Revolution. Riveting.

There will no doubt be many more novels about the [Russian] revolution this year and this will be at the forefront.

[A] wonderful historical novel, filled with fear and violence, starvation and romance.

There are thrills and surprises along the way, and the invented characters mingle with those taken from the historical record. The novel is a very good way to introduce young adults to these extraordinary people.

I absolutely loved The Rasputin Dagger. [I] completely fell in love with the writing in The Rasputin Dagger, and I will definitely be diving into more stories by [Breslin]. Breslin really is an expert storyteller; she reeled me into her world of revolutionary Russia, and I was very sad to leave it at the end of the book.

Theresa has woven her magic again! Everything felt so real (probably because some of it was). Be sure to add this to your book collection - its now on [my] reread shelf!

The Rasputin Dagger was my first historical YA in a while, and I was really craving a good one. Luckily it 
delivered! I found it totally immersive . . . I adored the way politics was woven in, something which is often neglected or glossed over in YA books.

Shortlisted for the Historical Association's Young Quills Award 2018 
 
Russia, 1916. 
 
Nina Ivanovna’s world is in turmoil. Her only hope is to travel to St Petersburg, to escape the past and find a future. 
 
Stefan Kolodin is a medical student – young and idealistic, he wants change for Russia and its people. 
 
Amidst the chaos of a city in revolt, their lives collide. And a stormy relationship develops . . . full of passion and politics. 
 
But soon Nina is drawn in to the glamorous, lavish lives of the Russian royal family – where she begins to fall under the spell of their mysterious monk, Grigory Rasputin. The ruby-studded dagger he carries – beautiful and deadly – could save her and Stefan from a cursed life 
 
. . . or condemn them to it. 
 
‘An outstanding writer – simply superb’ Independent

Caged

Carnegie Medal winner Theresa Breslin explores the dangerous world of cage-fighting in this dark and powerful new novel.

This is a brilliantly written story . . . a very satisfying read and one of the best books that I've had from Theresa. It is thoroughly engaging and based on a great concept.

Carnegie Medal winner Theresa Breslin explores the dangerous world of cage-fighting in this dark and powerful new novel. 
 
Escaping from a troubled home and struggling to survive on the streets, the abandoned tunnels of the London Underground are a perfect sanctuary for Kai. Along with other teenagers running from their pasts, he finds somewhere to belong in this strange community of outcasts. 
 
But Kai is now facing a very different kind of fight. Every night, led by the enigmatic Spartacus, the runaways must become cage fighters, each fight broadcast to the outside world via YouTube. With pay-per-view profits racking up, Kai and his friends hope to be able to start a new life. 
 
Yet treachery and danger are never far behind, and a new arrival threatens the order that Spartacus has worked so carefully to maintain. And then there is the looming finale, the last battle between Kai and his nemesis Leo: the Kill Fight . . .

WW1 story

Ghost Soldier

A thrilling, poignant story of hope and loss set during World War 1, from Carnegie Medal-winning author Theresa Breslin.

Full of authentic background, believable characters and a Scottish setting, this is another must-read novel by one of Scotland’s finest writers

A thrilling, poignant story of hope and loss set during World War 1, from Carnegie Medal-winning author Theresa Breslin. 
 
Nobody believes in ghosts until they see one . . . 
 
The war has changed everything for Rob and Millie. Their father is missing in action and they are terrified they’ll never see him again. 
 
Then one night, deep in the woods, Rob and Millie see an eerie figure in the window of an abandoned house. 
 
But there’s no such thing as ghosts, is there?

Dream Master: Arabian Nights

Travel to Ancient Arabia in this fourth title in the gripping Dream Master series from a Carnegie Medal winner, Theresa Breslin.

In the fourth adventure from Carnegie Medal-winner Breslin, Cy takes a magic carpet ride with a famous Arabian princess, landing himself in a pot of imaginative trouble!

Cy's fourth adventure with his Dream Master is as fast and as funny as before

A stretching and rewarding read for nine to thirteen-year-olds

Every dream has a Dream Master to control it. But Cy has such a vivid imagination that he has met his Dream Master and can travel with him through Time and Space to actually live his dreams. But what would happen if a character from Cy's dream decided to come and live in his Time and Space? Well Cy's about to find out. He's accidentally conjured up the Princess Shahr-Azad from Ancient Arabia - creator of the 1001 tales of Arabian Nights. Cy and the Dream Master are keen to return the Princess back to her home, before she is discovered. Trouble is, the princess isn't keen to go back. She'd much rather stay and enter the upcoming TV talent contest and she's prepared to go to great lengths to get her own way. So begins a battle of wills (and imaginations) between the greatest storyteller of all time, and the timid but determined Cy. With flying carpets, Arabian dungeons and a trouble-making genie Cy's fourth adventure with his Dream Master is as fast and funny as before.

Remembrance

An unforgettable novel from a Carnegie Medal-winning author about the devastating effects of World War One on the lives of five young people.

An immensely readable, passionately written epic, with an involving, fast-moving plot constantly challenging readers' assumptions

Young readers will find themselves swept along with Breslin's engaging cast into a world where duty and compassion must somehow co-exist

Breslin brilliantly weaves the themes of emancipation, class, love, propaganda and the machinations of war into the story of how these young lives are changed with a light touch that belies the seriousness of the subject

Breslin's light touch and beautiful prose give the harrowing sights and sounds of the war a much more human feel . . . A novel that will stay with me for a long time

Theresa Breslin is simply a superb writer and I strongly recommend this novel to all readers

Scotland, 1915. A group of teenagers from two families meet for a picnic, but the war across the Channel is soon to tear them away from such youthful pleasures. All too soon, the horror of what is to become known as The Great War engulfs them, their friends and the whole village. From the horror of the trenches, to the devastating reality seen daily by those nursing the wounded, they struggle to survive - and nothing will ever be the same again. 
 
A powerful and engrossing novel about love and war, from Carnegie Medal-winning author Theresa Breslin.

Spy for the Queen of Scots

A fast-paced, passionate tale of treachery and deceit in the court of Mary, Queen of Scots, from a multi-award-winning author of gripping historical fiction.

A gripping historical thriller from the brilliant Breslin

As lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots, the beautiful Ginette - known as Jenny - is the young queen's closest childhood friend. Growing up in the elegant but ruthless French court, surrounded by enemies and traitors - not least the jealous, manipulative Catherine de Medici, and Mary's own scheming half-brother, James - Jenny has always been fiercely loyal to her mistress. But when she overhears a mysterious whispered plot, closely followed by several unexplained deaths at court, she puts her own life in danger and turns spy for Mary. 
 
Jenny quickly realises not a soul at court can be trusted, and when she and Mary return to their Scottish homeland for Mary to claim her throne, they face even greater peril. Desperate to protect her friend from those who would slit her throat to steal her crown, while battling her feelings for the charismatic nobleman Duncan Alexander, Jenny becomes embroiled in a dangerous web of secrets, betrayals and lies.

Prisoner of the Inquisition

A gripping, dramatic adventure set during the Spanish Inquisition - a time of fire and fury when people turned traitor to save themselves.

Breslin's ability to weave a well-researched, page-turning plot around sympathetic, believable characters has been displayed before in The Medici Seal and The Nostradamus Prophecy . . . It's unputdownable

From the past to the future via a highly unstable present . . . Prisoner of the Inquisition has Christopher Columbus in a walk-on part, but the main story is of the families caught up in the Spanish Inquisition

It's a fantastic, mesmerising and  enjoyable book . . . This is a brilliant tale of revenge, betrayal and courage. From the start I was gripped

Zarita, only daughter of the town magistrate, lives a life of wealth and privilege. Indulged by her parents, she is free to spend her days as she pleases, enjoying herself in the company of an eligible young nobleman, horse riding, or leisurely studying the arts. 
 
Saulo, son of a family reduced by circumstances to begging, witnesses his father wrongfully arrested and dealt with in the most horrifying way. Hauled off to be a slave at sea and pursued by pirates he encounters the ambitious mariner explorer, Christopher Columbus. Throughout his hardships Saulo is determined to survive - for he has sworn vengeance on the magistrate and his family. 
 
As Zarita's life also undergoes harsh changes the formidable and frightening Inquisition arrives in the area, bringing menacing shadows of suspicion with acts of cruel brutality - and ultimately, amid the intrigues of the court of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in the splendid Moorish city of Grenada, betrayal and revenge . . .

The Nostradamus Prophecy

A rich, dramatic adventure set in the tumultuous years of the late sixteenth century in France - a time of assassinations, poisons, seers and the sword.

The novel goes at a rollicking pace . . . Is especially praiseworthy for dramatising a period of European history which children might not normally encounter

The rousing story is always clearly told and cleverly plotted

Theresa Breslin's The Nostradamus Prophecy is a superb and totally gripping story set amidst a Fresh court and country filled with tensions and uncertainties. The assured characterisation and terrific plotting hold a reader in thrall

Breslin's books are always founded on immaculate research and her enthusiasm for her subject is invariably infectious

An unputdownable read that will have you guessing and constantly on the edge of your seat until the very end

When Nostradamus proclaims to the French court his prophecy of a great massacre, the young King Charles only laughs. His mother, Catherine de' Medici, pays more heed - she believes that Nostradamus can truly see the future. 
 
But the great soothsayer's prophecies are not only for those who rule; he also has a message for Melisande, the minstrel's daughter, who he believes is linked with him by Fate. And as the Angel of Death approaches, Nostradamus entrusts to her safekeeping some very special parchments - parchments that the rulers of France would do anything to see . . .

The Medici Seal

An epic adventure, full of intrigue, murder and betrayal, set in Leonardo Da Vinci's Italy.

A brilliantly written story . . . rich in its details and epic in its sweep

Another very satisfying book from an accomplished novellist

A swiftly paced and richly constructed tale

A gloriously rich and authentic story of the Renaissance, The Medici Seal is perfect for fans of The Da Vinci Code, The Borgias or Netflix hit Medici: Masters of Florence! 
 
Romagna, Italy 1502. 
 
On the run and fleeing for his life, a young boy - Matteo - is saved from drowning by mysterious men, who turn out to be companions of Leonardo da Vinci. From this moment on, Matteo's life is changed forever, and he thrills at working alongside Da Vinci as he carries out his incredible work. 
 
But Da Vinci's cruel and ruthless employer, Cesare Borgia, seems set to ruin Matteo's happines, and as Da Vinci and Matteo travel across Italy on the Borgia's business, murder, deceit and revenge follow in their trail. 
 
For Matteo carries with him a secret - a life-changing secret that both the Borgia and Medici families would kill to obtain. A secret that must, finally, come to light for all to see . . .

Divided City

A gripping and powerful story of two boys from rival backgrounds, for fans of The Hate U Give and The Upper World.

A gripping and powerful story of two boys from rival backgrounds, for fans of The Hate U Give and The Upper World. 
 
Glasgow is a divided city. Catholics and Protestants; Celtic and Rangers. Stumble down the wrong street at night, and you might not find your way home again. 
 
Joe and Graham should never have become friends, but football brings them together. They don't want to get involved in the conflict and rivalry. They just want to talk, play, live and breathe the beautiful game. 
 
But the Orange Walks are beginning - the annual marches that bring the city's tensions to the surface. And Joe and Graham have to decide where their loyalties lie. 
 
A powerful, gripping story about friendship, prejudice and tolerance from multi-award-winning author Theresa Breslin. 
 
'An outstanding writer . . . Superb' Independent

Glasgow is a divided city. Catholics and Protestants; Celtic and Rangers. Stumble down the wrong street at night, and you might not find your way home again. 
 
Joe and Graham should never have become friends, but football brings them together. They don't want to get involved in the conflict and rivalry. They just want to talk, play, live and breathe the beautiful game. 
 
But the Orange Walks are beginning - the annual marches that bring the city's tensions to the surface. And Joe and Graham have to decide where their loyalties lie. 
 
A powerful, gripping story about friendship, prejudice and tolerance from multi-award-winning author Theresa Breslin. 
 
'An outstanding writer . . . Superb' Independent

Saskia's Journey

A gripping novel from the author of Remembrance.

Themes of loss and forgiveness are at the heart of this haunting tale of self-discovery by an author at the height of her powers . . . Breslin's mesmerising descriptions of the sea and the people who depend upon it captures all the atmospheric beauty of north-west Scotland. A truly memorable story

A sensitive, finely structured novel which unfolds as delicately as a "creamy purl of foam at the water's edge"

Packs an emotional punch whilst highlighting the contemporary concerns of fishing communities under threat of economic extinction

Saskia's Journey is a sensitive, finely structured, balanced narrative

Saskia Granton is intrigued by an invitation to visit her reclusive great-aunt Alessandra, who lives on the Scottish coast. It's a chance to rediscover her lifelong love of the sea - and to forget, if only for a few weeks, the boring career her parents have mapped out for her. 
 
Swept immediately into the rhythm of life in a fishing community, Saskia slowly begins to realize how little she really knows about her roots. Somehow, she needs to understand the past if she is to find the direction she needs for her future - a future that may or may not include her new friend Ben. 
 
Just as the sea gives up its bounty, so too her great-aunt must reveal the secrets of the past - the terrible toll of lives lost, and the very personal tragedy that left Alessandra herself so isolated. 
Only then can Saskia break free . . .

Dream Master: Gladiator

Travel to the time of the Romans in this third title in the gripping Dream Master series from a Carnegie Medal-winning author

Funny, warm and clever, these books provide informative and thought-provoking entertainment

Engaging, entertaining and full of action, this book is a must-read

Cy has the ability to control his own dreams and knows his own, personal Dream Master. But sometimes Cy's own imagination is so strong that he can run his own dream. Or so he thinks. For there's plenty of mishap and adventure ahead when Cy and the Dream Master travel back to Pompeii - on the eve of the eruption of Vesuvius. Not only does the Dream Master have to face a lion in the gladiatorial ring, but Cy must rescue him - and drive a chariot to escape from the volanic lava and dust . . . The third in a fantastic fantasy series.

Dream Master Nightmare

A second delightfully funny timeslip tale, this time set in the days of the Vikings.

A relaxed storytelling style with excellent dialogue, a good deal of humour and evidence of in-depth research should attract an enthusiastic readership

This is an amusing and clever time-slip story, which tackles the issue of bullying in a light-hearted way

A fast-paced fantasy filled with humour, adventure and historical fact

When Cy visits a special Viking exhibition in York and looks at a glorious Viking helmet, he is horrified to suddenly find a face in the helmet - his Dream Master! The Dream Master is in terrible trouble, a prisoner of Eric Bloodaxe - a fearsome Viking chief. Only Cy can rescue him. But first he must enter his dreams again . . . 
 
This is the second terrific adventure involving Cy and the Dream Master and is just as packed with action and wit as the first title.

The Dream Master

Delightfully funny timeslip tale from a Carnegie Medal winning author

Pacy, clever and entertaining with a surprising denouement

Engaging fantasy . . . Treads assuredly the line between thrills and laughs

There is a unique quality about the moment when one slips into a dream. Theresa Breslin catches it beautifully in this delightful novel

An exhilarating read with much to ponder over - it plays with images and reversals, shifts in time, dream and reality, and with the elusiveness of these concepts in an entertaining way while also expounding the value of trust and friendship

'There are always rules . . . I am the Dream Master. Not you. What I say goes. And I say this dream is gone, so beat it.' 
 
There are good dreams and there are rotten dreams, but once they're over, they're over. Or are they? For one morning, as Cy is about to wake up from a terrific dream about Ancient Egypt, he discovers that he can get back into his dream world. There's just one problem: the Dream Master, who isn't used to stroppy boys standing up to him and wanting to break all the rules. And as Cy moves back and forth between the present day and the land of the pharaohs - sorting out all kinds of problems with schoolwork and bullies - dream life and real life become ingeniously intertwined!

Theresa Breslin

Lesley Barnes

A novel that will stay with me for a long time

An immensely readable, passionately written epic

[B]rilliantly weaves themes of emancipation, class, love, propaganda and the machinations of war

Imperial War Museum Anniversary Edition

Scotland, 1915. A group of teenagers from very different backgrounds meet for an idyllic picnic, but the war across the Channel is proving increasingly impossible to ignore, and all too soon they will be engulfed by The Great War. 
 
Determined to forge their own paths during a time of enormous upheaval, the five friends encounter not only the horrors of the trenches, but also the thrum of first love, and the political struggles of pacifism and women's rights. Their lives will be changed forever - and nothing will ever be the same again.

Theresa Breslin

Praise for Remembrance

A novel that will stay with me for a long time

An immensely readable, passionately written epic

[B]rilliantly weaves themes of emancipation, class, love, propaganda and the machinations of war

A novel that will stay with me for a long time

An immensely readable, passionately written epic

[B]rilliantly weaves themes of emancipation, class, love, propaganda and the machinations of war

A novel that will stay with me for a long time

An immensely readable, passionately written epic

[B]rilliantly weaves themes of emancipation, class, love, propaganda and the machinations of war

Books by Theresa Breslin

Series by Theresa Breslin

Dream Master

Articles featuring Theresa Breslin

Theresa Breslin: I set out to walk the footsteps of the soldiers of the Great War

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