A blind girl and a unicorn in a world where magic and reality merge together. Can Laura save the Wild Ones and take them to the safety of the Bright Wilderness? Laura is blind, but though she cannot see, she is an acutely perceptive child. As soon as she climbs onto the unicorns back she is hurled into a wild and magical world. Though a contemporary child, living in a contemporary setting, Spellhorn and the Wild Ones see Laura as their leader and they know that only through Laura can they reach the safety

Read the story of Jim Jarvis, the boy whose plight inspired Dr Barnardo to found his famous childrens homes. Now published into the Essential Modern Classics list. When his mother dies Jim Jarvis is left all alone in London. He is sent to the workhouse, but quickly escapes chosing a hard life on the streets of the city over the confines of the workhouse walls. Struggling to survive, Jim finally finds some friends only to be snatched away and made to work for the remorselessly cruel Grimy Nick, constantly

'Do you ever think about being born? No, I don't either. But what I do think is this - did my mother want me? James' parents are proud of his talent and determination - he's in training for the Junior National Diving Championship. For James, diving is everything. Until he looks at the snake-stone and is drawn into thinking about his birth mother, and where she might be. He knows that to work out his future, he needs to make sense of his past.

Joe Bead gets on well with his class, 3B. However, he is worried about Twagger, a sullen absentee, and Nasim, just arrived from Pakistan. Mr. Bead is worried about his pupils, Twagger hasnt turned up for schools again, Nasim doesnt seem to want to make friends and Sprats ready for a punch-up. Will it take more than just the concern of 9Bs form teacher to sort out the problems of three loners? Gritty realism that is both dramatic and poignant, from and award-winning author.