About this item
Those of you who have read Hilary McKay's earlier books, among which are The Exiles, Dog Friday, and Dolphin Luck, will happily welcome her new story, Saffy's Angel. Whether you have read her work or not, you have a special treat in store in Saffy's Angel. You'll meet the four Casson children, whose mother, Eve, a fine-arts painter, has given them the names of paint colors. Cadmium, called Caddy, is the eldest; then comes Saffron, known as Saffy; Indigo, the only boy; and Rose, the youngest. When Saffy discovers quite by accident that she has been adopted, she is deeply upset, though the others assure her it makes no difference at all. Saffy is the daughter of Eve's twin sister, who lived in Siena, Italy, and died in a car crash. Grandad brought Saffy, as a very small child, back from Siena. At Grandad's death, he leaves something to each of the children. To Saffy, it is "her angel," although no one knows its identity. How Saffy discovers what her angel is, with the help of an energetic new friend, lies at the heart of this enchanting story. Unforgettable characters come alive in often deeply humorous and always absorbing events to make a book to be treasured for a long, long time. Show more Show less #outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } Those of you who have read Hilary McKay's earlier books, among which are The Exiles, Dog Friday, and Dolphin Luck, will happily welcome her new story, Saffy's Angel. Whether you have read her work or not, you have a special treat in store in Saffy's Angel. You'll meet the four Casson children, whose mother, Eve, a fine-arts painter, has given them the names of paint colors. Cadmium, called Caddy, is the eldest; then comes Saffron, known as Saffy; Indigo, the only boy; and Rose, the youngest. When Saffy discovers quite by accident that she has been adopted, she is deeply upset, though the others assure her it makes no difference at all. Saffy is the daughter of Eve's twin sister, who lived in Siena, Italy, and died in a car crash. Grandad brought Saffy, as a very small child, back from Siena. At Grandad's death, he leaves something to each of the children. To Saffy, it is "her angel," although no one knows its identity. How Saffy discovers what her angel is, with the help of an energetic new friend, lies at the heart of this enchanting story. Unforgettable characters come alive in often deeply humorous and always absorbing events to make a book to be treasured for a long, long time.
About the Author
I was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, the eldest of four girls. I grew up in a household of readers. That sounds peaceful, but it wasn't. Far from it at times, and thank goodness for my local library, a few steps from my school. It was a dark building, steel shelves, squeaking floors, a smell of dust, and a place where children could expect to be glared into silence at the slightest remark. I absolutely adored it. Anyway, to continue. I went to school and after school to St. Andrew's University where I studied Zoology and Botany (officially) and English lit and Fine Art unofficially. You could walk into any lecture in those good old days, and I did. I loved St Andrew's; for a few years it was my private, medieval, sea swept little heaven.After university I had various jobs. Also I started writing books. From the beginning I had incredible luck. My first book, The Exiles, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. As if that wasn't enough, my second, The Exiles at Home, won the Smarties, now gone, but then the most lucrative award for a children's book in the UK. This double success got me a US contract with Simon & Schuster, where I have remained ever since. Other books did well too, with Saffy's Angel winning the Whitbread (now the Costa) , various shortlistings, and most recently, The Skylarks' War another Costa win.I am beginning to sound unbearable.In between these books, came many others. School readers, series books, fantasy, historical fiction, retellings of classics and fairytales, the bread and butter of life as a children's writer. I've lost count of how many now, dozens and dozens.You will find more details, together with news, backgrounds to books and stories, and snippets of what is coming next listed on my website: www.hilarymckay.co.uk
