Joseph Delaney used to be an English teacher, before becoming the best-selling author of the Spook's series, which has been published in 30 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. The first book, The Spook's Apprentice, was adapted into a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

Joseph Delaney

PublicationStatus

Brand

Format

AgeRange

Series

Imprint

CategoryLabel

Jacqueline Wilson

Sue Heap

Nick Sharratt

Ruby and Garnet are ten-year-old twins. They're identical, and they do EVERYTHING together, especially since their mother died three years earlier - but they couldn't be more different. Bossy, bouncy, funny Ruby loves to take charge, and is desperate to be a famous actress, while quiet, sensitive, academic Garnet loves nothing more than to curl up with one of her favourite books. And when everything around the twins is changing so much, can being a double act work for ever?

Double Act

Jack Gantos

David Tazzyman

Everything changes for Joey when his crazy, long-lost dad returns home after a lucky lottery win. Now they're rich, Carter Pigza truly believes that his family can start a whole new life and that means embarking on a brand new career running a busy diner - and changing their family name from Pigza to Heinz. Can Joey handle becoming Freddy? And how does he really feel about the fact that he's going to become a big brother?

I Am Not Joey Pigza

Hetty Feather was left at a foundling hospital when she was a tiny baby. Having grown up in a loving foster family until she was five, and then finding herself returned to the hospital, she begins to question who her actual family are, and is determined to stop at nothing to find out where she came from. Jacqueline Wilson’s acclaimed series follows Hetty and her friend Diamond as they work their way up from their lowly backgrounds to become stars, overcoming loss, unkind bosses and flirtatious boys.

The mega-bestselling tale of fiery, spirited Victorian foundling, Hetty Feather. 
 
London, 1876. Hetty Feather is just a tiny baby when her mother leaves her at the Foundling Hospital. The Hospital cares for abandoned children - but Hetty must first live with a foster family until she is big enough to go to school. 
 
Life in the countryside is sometimes hard, but with her foster brothers, Jem and Gideon, Hetty helps in the fields and plays vivid imaginary games. Together they sneak off to visit the travelling circus, and Hetty is mesmerised by the show - especially the stunning Madame Adeline and her performing horses. 
 
But Hetty's happiness is threatened once more when she must return to the Foundling Hospital to begin her education. The new life of awful uniforms and terrible food is a struggle for her, and she desperately misses her beloved Jem. But now she has the chance to find her real mother. Could she really be the wonderful Madame Adeline? Or will Hetty find the truth is even more surprising? 
 
Jacqueline Wilson will surprise and delight old fans and new with this utterly original historical novel. 
 
The first book featuring feisty Victorian heroine, Hetty Feather, this is a compelling, moving, funny and totally fascinating tale that will thrill and captivate readers.

Hetty Feather

Sunset lives a life of luxury with her beautiful ex-model mum, her world-famous rock star dad and her two little celebrity siblings. But life on the red carpet is no compensation for parents who constantly argue, intensive scrutiny from the media, and and having no real friends. 
 
Destiny, on the other hand, is an only child living on a rundown estate with a sickly but devoted mum who constantly tells her that she's really the daughter of a famous rock star . . . 
 
When the two girls meet in unlikely circumstances, they are surprised to find in each other something they've been missing all their lives . . .

Little Darlings

Pete Johnson

Archie is a very mature child - some would say far too mature! Having grown up with his gran, he seems to have acquired some adult ways - and the kids at his new school find them unbearable. Especially Miranda - the class troublemaker. At first she absolutely can't stand Archie but then she starts to see him as a bit of a project- could she really make Archie into a Troublemaker Extraordinaire? Their unlikely friendship really gets going when Archie needs help to scare off his dad's new girlfriend...

Trust Me, I'm A Troublemaker

A glittering trip back in time to the 1920s! 
 
‘Wild glamour, class conflict, buried secrets and a cameo appearance by Hetty Feather are all delivered with Wilson’s inimitable, intensely readable flair, interspersed with Nick Sharratt’s cheery illustrations’ - The Guardian 
 
A sparkling and glamorous novel from the beloved, bestselling children’s author, Jacqueline Wilson! 
 
 In a little cottage on the edge of the grand Somerset Estate, Mona lives with her aunt - a dressmaker to the lady of the house. 
 
Life on the edge of the Somerset Estate means that Mona knows she will never have a life full of beautiful clothes and riches. But soon, that will all change . . . 
 
 When Lady Somerset dies and a new member of the family inherits the house, Mona is propelled into a life of razzle-dazzle parties, new Bohemian friends and wonderful trips to London. 
 
However, even with these changes Mona discovers that she cannot dance away from her past. 
 
History is brought to life for children like never before, from the bestselling author of Hetty Feather and Tracy Beaker!

Dancing the Charleston

Malorie Blackman

Despite his Mum's insistence, Sam doesn't want to be friends with Davey. He thinks Davey's a first class, grade A, total moron. But when the two boys are thrown together a bond is formed between them. Sam is still embarrassed to be seen with Davey, but little by little he has to admit, when it's just the two of them, Davey is a lot of fun. But then something terrible happens . . . 
Told in verse, in first person, this is the touching story of an extraordinary friendship, that changes two boys lives for ever. An uplifting tale that truly sings out.

Cloud Busting

Puffin Poetry

Narinder Dhami

Dani's mother has just got married - and Dani has acquired an awful new stepsister who doesn't want to have anything to do with her. To make things worse Dani has to move house and school - to the same school as Lalita, her stepsister. She confides in her beloved gran, who gives her a special gift to help distract her from all the turmoil. It's a copy of her diary that she kept as a child, detailing everything happened to her when her family moved from India to England in the 1960s. It's in Punjabi, so Dani knows she's going to have to work hard to read it but as soon as she starts she knows it'll be worth it. Reading about her gran's friendship with the mischevious Milly is hugely fun and soon it becomes clear there's even more to the story. Dani will have to delve deep to figure out what really happened all those years ago - and specifically what happened to Milly. Can the past help with her future too?

Dani's Diary

Tracy has been in care as long as she can remember, and she hates it. So when a chance presents itself for her to get out, she jumps at it. But Tracy can never keep her mouth shut, tell the truth or turn down a dare for long, which inevitably gets her into A LOT of trouble. Jacqueline Wilson’s award winning series documents Tracy’s hilarious everyday life, from standing up to bullies in the playground, to starring in the school Christmas play, to finding the perfect family.

'I'm Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I'd read it if I were you. It's the most incredible, dynamic, heart-rending story. Honest.' 
 
Ten-year-old Tracy is one of the most popular and well-loved children's book characters ever created. She lives in a Children's Home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. Meet feisty, funny Tracy, follow her adventures and share her hopes for the future in these three beautifully observed, hilarious and touching tales, all told in Tracy's own words. 
 
Featuring: 
THE STORY OF TRACY BEAKER 
STARRING TRACY BEAKER 
and 
THE DARE GAME 
 
Plus an exclusive letter from Jacqueline Wilson about how Tracy was created!

The Tracy Beaker Trilogy

Anne Fine

'I adore stories in which people have weird dreams, and strange things happen. But that's in books. Real life is supposed to be real, and I like my world to be solid around me . . . ' 
 
Mel is the class bookworm. She prefers books to people and doesn't want - or need - friends. She certainly doesn't want to be first-week minder for new girl, Imogen. And Imogen is odd. Slowly, Mel discovers that Imogen has a special talent - a family 'gift' that Mel thinks is more like a curse. And that's when she realizes that stories can happen in real life, too. For only she can stop Imogen's private horror story - stop the bad dreams . . .

Bad Dreams

Marcus was convinced that vampires didn't exist. He was very wrong . . . 
 
On his thirteenth birthday, Marcus Howlett is faced with a bombshell. His parents are half-vampire. And, although he hates the thought of it, he is about to become one too. 
 
But, as he secretly blogs about the horrors of his new fangs, bad breath and cravings for blood, Marcus is unaware that his life is in serious danger . . .

The Vampire Blog

Ella's mum is in a deep coma, having just had a new baby. That means Ella has to live with Jack, her hopeless stepfather, and cope with her tiny newborn brother, as well as worrying about Mum. The only thing that's going right is her school project. It's all about whales and how they sing out to each other to attract a mate - sometimes for hours. Maybe a whale song could reach Mum, wherever she is, and bring her back to Ella and baby Samson. Surely it's worth a try?

The Longest Whale Song

'An unbelievable talent' - David Walliams 
 
Jacqueline Wilson, most-loved author has sold 40 million copies of her books. Her characters don't need a cape, or a special power to be a hero to generations of children; just huge imaginations, a bit of fierceness and a big heart. And there is no hero fiercer or more iconic than Tracy. 
 
Now meet Tracy's daughter, Jess in this heart-warming tale of unconventional families and unconditional love. 
 
Jess and Tracy Beaker are the perfect team. They do everything together. Jess thinks Tracy is the best mum ever, even when she shouts at her teachers! Tracy has made the perfect home for Jess, leaving The Dumping Ground far behind her. Yes, it's tiny, a bit mouldy and the Duke Estate is a bit scary. But it's their happy home. 
 
Until Sean Godfrey, Tracy's rich boyfriend, whisks them away to a whirlwind life of fast cars and celebrity stardom. 
 
 Will Jess's brilliant mum turn into a new person altogether? 
 
 And will Tracy realise that her childhood dream might not be what she needs after all?

My Mum Tracy Beaker

Now a major TV series

Hetty Feather is a Foundling Hospital girl and was given her name when she was left there as a baby. When she is reunited with her mother, she hopes her beautiful new name, Sapphire Battersea, will also mean a new life! But things don't always go as planned... 
 
Follow the twists and turns of Hetty's adventure as she goes out to work as a maid for a wealthy man. She longs to be reunited with her childhood sweetheart Jem - but also finds a new sweetheart, Bertie the butcher's boy, who whisks her away from her chores to experience the delights of the funfair! 
 
But Hetty's life may also take a darker path. Can she cope with the trials ahead?

Sapphire Battersea

Louis doesn't think much of it when his mum and dad ask him for tips on how to be cool. In fact, he thinks it's pretty funny watching them bump fists and use words like 'safe', 'sick' and 'wicked'. Until Dad turns up outside Louis's new school dressed like a rapper, that is . . . 
 
Suddenly they're trying to friend Louis and all his classmates on Facebook, and wearing baseball caps backwards - IN PUBLIC. Louis and his best friend Maddy are horrified. Mum and Dad have taken things too far . . . and immediate action is needed!

My Parents Are Out Of Control

Life has never been more complicated for thirteen-year-old Marcus. It's not easy trying to hide your secret identity as a half-vampire, avoid garlic at all costs, AND work up the courage to ask a girl out. Especially when that girl is vampire-crazy Tallulah. 
 
Plus, Marcus's parents are still convinced his special power is going to arrive any day now. And they're trying not to show their disappointment every time another day passes and it doesn't appear - but Marcus is totally feeling the pressure. 
 
As if that wasn't bad enough, a seriously creepy Winter Fair has arrived in town - and a number of terrifying attacks have started happening. Giles believes a super-evil sect of Deadly Vampires is behind them, and Marcus suspects an eerie ventriloquist at the Fair. 
 
All Marcus wants is an easy life. But now it's up to him to save the day . . .

The Vampire Fighters

Clover Moon’s imagination is her best escape from a life of hardship in poverty-stricken Victorian London. When tragedy plunges her into a world of grief, Clover realizes that everything she loved about the place she called home is gone. Clover hears of a place she could run to, but where will she find the courage – and the chance – to break free? And could leaving her family be just what she needs to find a place that really feels like home? 
 
Introducing a brilliant and brave heroine from the wonderful world of the bestselling and award-winning Jacqueline Wilson.

Clover Moon

Linda Newbery

Tomas wants to be like his father – strong, brave and fearless. Pappi is a mountain guide, often away from home. He has taught Tomas to love the mountains, but also to fear their dangers – the winds and blizzards, the treacherous paths, the giddying slopes. 
 
Above all, Tomas fears the Brockenspectre – a huge, shadowy creature that lives alone in the heights, waiting for unwary climbers. Its looming figure haunts his thoughts and his dreams. 
 
When Pappi goes out one day and fails to return, Tomas knows it’s up to him to search – up on the high mountain passes, where dangers await. 
 
Will Tomas find his father . . . or will the Brockenspectre find him?

The Brockenspectre

Zac and Izzy win a place on a new reality TV show, but they have no idea where they're going or what to expect . . . 
They must live as if it's 1939, the start of World War Two. One by one they will be voted out by the viewing public. It's a hard life and, since each contestant is desperate to be the final winner, there are problems. When the live final arrives, the contestants and the audience will all be stunned by what occurs . . .

The TV Time Travellers

Gareth has never been the most popular boy at school, but he's always done all right. Things seem to look up when he befriends Jake, the new boy who's full of exciting tales about film premieres and life in London - but when Gareth is caught doing an impression of Jake's faux-cockney accent, things turn very bad. Jake is furious and determined to have his revenge on Gareth, He wants Gareth out of the school and turns all the other kids against him. Gareth has to draw on the memory of his beloved Grandad - and on Grandad's wrestler alter-ego Avenger in order to fight back against Jake. But is Jake really the opponent he seems to be?

Avenger

Being a bridesmaid is all I've ever dreamed of . . . 
 
Tilly can’t believe it when her best friend Matty is asked to be a bridesmaid. 
 
In Tilly’s favourite daydream, she’s wearing the most beautiful bridesmaid dress and walking down the aisle behind a bride. 
 
The one wedding she’d really love to attend is her own mum and dad’s - but it seems like that's never going to happen. So Tilly decides to make her own dream come true, and puts a notice in the local shop, advertising her services as a bridesmaid. And to her amazement, she gets a reply . . . 
 
A fabulous, funny and moving story about finding family and friendship in all sorts of places, from the mega-bestselling author of Tracy Beaker, Hetty Feather and Katy.

Rent a Bridesmaid

"Mum said to just ignore them and they'll get tired of teasing. They haven't got tired yet." 
 
Mandy is lonely. She's been bullied at school for as long as she can remember. 
 
But then she meets Tanya. Fun, daring and glamorous Tanya wants Mandy as HER friend! She can't believe her luck. 
 
There's only one issue though. Mandy's mum isn't happy. She thinks that Tanya is a BAD GIRL, and a bad influence on her daughter. But even if Tanya gets her into a TEENY bit of trouble, she can always get Mandy out of it - right? 
 
From bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson, Bad Girls is a heartwarming story about confidence, friendship and becoming your own person. The perfect read to start difficult conversations with younger readers about bullying and how we treat others. 
 
A rare gift for writing lightly and amusingly about emotional issues. - The Bookseller

Bad Girls

September, 1939. As the Second World War begins, ten-year-old Shirley is sent away on a train with her schoolmates. She doesn’t know where she’s going, or what’s going to happen to her when she gets there. All she has been told is that she’s going on ‘a little holiday’. 
 
Shirley is billeted in the country, with two boys from East End London, Kevin and Archie – and their experiences living in the strange, half-empty Red House, with the mysterious and reclusive Mrs Waverley, will change their lives for ever. 
 
Award-winning, bestselling and beloved author Jacqueline Wilson turns to this period of history for the first time, in this beautiful, moving story of friendship and bravery against the backdrop of the worst conflict the world has ever known.

Wave Me Goodbye

Robert Swindells

Somebody was in there. Somebody - or some thing . . . 
 
There is no room thirteen in the creepy Crow's Nest Hotel, where Fliss and her friends are staying on a school trip. Or is there? For at the stroke of midnight, something peculiar happens to the door of the linen cupboard next to room l2. And something is happening to Ellie-May Sunderland, too - something very sinister . . . 
 
A gripping page-turner from a master of spooky suspense, award-winning Robert Swindells. Don't read this under the covers at midnight!

Room 13

Diamond wasn’t always a star. Born to penniless parents who longed for a strong, healthy son, she was a dainty, delicate daughter - and a bitter disappointment. 
 
Discovering an extraordinary gift for acrobatics, Diamond uses her talent to earn a few pennies, but brings shame on her family. When a mysterious, cruel-eyed stranger spots her performing, Diamond is sold - and is taken to become an acrobat at Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus. 
 
The crowds adore Diamond, but life behind the velvet curtains is far from glamorous. Her wicked master forces Diamond to attempt ever more daring tricks, until she is terrified to step into the ring. But there are true friends to be found, too: the gentle Mister Marvel; the kindly Madame Adeline; and the glorious Emerald Star, Tanglefield’s brand-new ringmaster, and Diamond’s heroine. 
 
When life at the circus becomes too dangerous to bear any longer, what will the future hold for Diamond? And will her beloved Emerald be a part of it?

Diamond

Amber, Jazz and Geena have finally secured their auntie's engagement to the gorgeous Mr Arora, but now it's time for a little romance of their own. There's a gorgeous new boy at school called Rocky. He looks divine, loves music and is seriously well-off - his parents have built him his own recording studio. But which of the sisters does he like best? As they vie for his attention, the sisters come up with ever more intricate tricks to outdo each other and catch his attention. Amber thinks she's bound to capture his heart when she invites him to DJ and perform at Auntie's wedding. But when the girls are invited round to hear Rocky sing, Amber realises she's made a big mistake. It's going to be a huge headache to sort this one out - but if she doesn't, every guest at the wedding will have a worse one! Even working together, Amber, Jazz and Geena can't work out how to stop it happening, but a great idea comes from an unexpected source and the girls, of course, bounce back again.

Bhangra Babes

Sunita starts at her new school determined to hide her horrible secret. But class 'goddess' Celina soon becomes Sunita's arch-enemy and their classmates soon find out that Sunita's dad is an infamous fraudster on the run. Sunita has her work cut out to prove that she's no criminal herself. She tries to be ultra-careful about making friends but somehow she can't hide her natural instinct for helping people. As she's trying to keep her head down, she starts doing little favours for people secretly. And, oddly, a rash of helpful book-mending, locker-tidying and present-leaving quickly takes over the class and, then, the whole school. Even Celina seems to have been affected - but when she tries to take the credit for the scheme, Sunita can see her motives are far from innocent. Should Sunita put up or shut up?

Sunita's Secret

Lots of Jacqueline Wilson's characters are well-known and well-loved by thousands of readers: Hetty Feather, Ruby and Garnet, Pearl and Jodie, Elsa, Lily and, of course, the brilliant Tracy Beaker! But how much do you know about Jacqueline herself? 
 
Jacqueline takes a look back at her own childhood and teenage years in this captivating story of friendships, loneliness, books, family life and much more. She explores her past with the same warmth and lightness of touch that make her novels so special. Best of all, she reveals how she was always determined to be a writer; from the very first story she wrote, it was clear that this little girl had a very vivid imagination! But who would've guessed that she would grow up to be the mega-bestselling, award-winning Jacqueline Wilson? 
 
With original photographs and new illustrations by Nick Sharratt, this book is a delight for all of Jacky's fans, and a treat for any new readers too.

Jacky Daydream

Anthony McGowan

A stinking alien commander. 
Eight freaky kids. 
And a pair of faded Y-fronts. 
 
When crazy Uncle Otto warns of imminent invasion from outer space, his maths geek nephew Alexander takes on the task of saving the world. He recruits a ragged crew of school superheroes to help him, including Tortoise Boy, armed with Cedric the tortoise, the Human Hurricane, who possesses untold power in his bottom, and Really Annoying Girl. But with only a pack of cards, some toy ray-guns and a pair of old pants for help, can they do it? Find out in this nail-bitingly scary but hilarious story by a prize-winning author.

Einstein's Underpants - And How They Saved the World

Harvey thinks school is the most boring place on earth - and so he and his friends devise a way to help relieve their boredom. Lessons are actually quite interesting when you have more at stake than just whether you'll get through it without being sent to the head. Harvey and his fellow gamblers start to bet on how many times the supply teacher will give a nervous twitch, how often the Head will blow his nose and lots of other possible outcomes. All of a sudden, school is fun - but then the gambling craze starts to spread and Harvey realises it's all getting out of control... 
A brilliant subversive look at classroom pranks and what goes on under the teacher's nose.

Help! I'm a Classroom Gambler

biblio.categories.code

biblio.publicationStatus

biblio.brand

biblio.workEditions.format

biblio.ageRange

biblio.series.seriesName

biblio.imprint.description

biblio.type

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Best-Jane-Austen-quotes_Online-Desktop_Penguin

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

Search Results

The Fall of the West

Hunt the Villain

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Fight or Flight (Book 21)

The Mortons

Watch a trailer for The Spook's Blood

A photograph of Ben Barnes in character for Shadow and Bone Netflix series.

Interviews

Shadow and Bone’s Ben Barnes on tear-jerking books and what he’s reading

An image showing a selection of adventure stories for 9-12 year olds on a bright yellow background with orange doodles that include a hashtag, flag, danger sign and speech bubble

Children's reading lists

16 books for 9 to 12-year-olds that love adventures

An image of a selection of books for 9-12s on a blue background with a large splodge and striped print

24 must-read books for 9-12-year-olds

A picture of several different children's books on a pink to blue ombre background; each book has a bright yellow shadow

Showing results for: ‘joseph delaney’

Filters

Category

Age

Publication Date

Format

Series

Imprint

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter