Will you Catch Me
Nell Hobson lives with a tortoise called Bob Marley, guinea pigs Asbo and Chaos, goldfish Beyoncé and Destiny, gerbils Fizz and Tyrone, Aunty Lou the Hamster ... and her mum, who drinks too much. Nell does everything she can to be a good daughter so that her mum will stop. But when things get really hard, Nell stands on her head. Everything looks better upside down, don't you know?
Nell wishes she knew her dad was. When new teacher Mr Samuels makes history come alive and tells the class the story of Nell Gwynn, the Orange Girl who became one of the first actresses on the London stage, Nell is captivated and is determined to dress up as an Orange Girl for the Costume Parade. She hatches a plan with her best friend Michael: a way to make her dad step forward and claim her. Will she succeed?
Awards
Winner of the Wolverhampton Book Award and the Alexandra Palace Book Award 2019
Reviews
“A North London Anne of Green Gables: less poetry, more minibeasts, identical charm!”
“A colourful, funny and cathartic story about an imaginative young girl, Nell, a budding naturalist with a passion for history. With a support network of the family next door, a mini-menagerie of rescue pets, and the ghost of the COA 19th century actress, Nell Gwyn, she sets out on a personal journey to find her father.”
“Heart-breaking and incredibly poignant, Jane’s storytelling brings a really honest insight into the most difficult of topics dealing with them sensitively and thoughtfully… another moving and sublime read from Jane Elson, I can’t recommend it enough.”
“Beautifully written, pulling no punches but with touches of pure joy, I hope that ‘Will You Catch Me?’ might provide hope for children in similar situations as Nell or perhaps encourage them to seek support.”