Wind in the Wall
'I have no idea how long I have been incarcerated in these ancient walls . . . Let me explain how I find myself in this predicament . . .'
Set in the hot houses of a stately home in eighteenth century England, a gardener falls from grace when the Duke sets him the impossible task of growing prize pineapples fit to show off in high society.
The gardener's star falls further when he is replaced by Mr Amicus, a pineapple 'specialist', whom he believes to be a charlatan and a trickster - but nevertheless miraculously produces fruit to delight the Duke.
Determined to uncover Mr Amicus's tricks, the gardener sneaks into the pineapple house to uncover the mysterious shrouded birdcage Mr Amicus carries with him. And what he finds changes his life for ever . . .
A cautionary tale with echoes of myth and fairy tale, this bewitching fable will make you careful what you wish for - inspired by Sally Gardner's residency at Alnick Castle, Northumberland.
Sally Gardner is a multi-award-winning novelist whose work has been translated into more than twenty-two languages. Her novel MAGGOT MOON (Hot Key Books) won both the Costa Children's Book Prize and the Carnegie Medal 2013, and was followed by THE DOOR THAT LED TO WHERE. Sally's genre-defying novel THE DOUBLE SHADOW (Orion) received critical acclaim and was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2013. THE RED NECKLACE (shortlisted for 2007 Guardian Book Prize) and THE SILVER BLADE are set during the French Revolution. Sally won the 2005 Nestle Children's Book Prize for her debut novel I, CORIANDER. She is also author of the popular WINGS & CO Fairy Detective Agency Series and TINDER, illustrated by David Roberts (Orion). Follow Sally at www.sallygardner.net or on Twitter: @TheSallyGardner
Rovina Cai is an international award winning illustrator who works across a variety of genres. Her poetic imagery has served as book covers, and as interior art for magazines, novels and picture books. Rovina graduated from the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her work has been recognised with gold awards from publications like Spectrum Fantastic Art, and been accepted into juried competitions like the Society of Illustrators annual.