Finding Violet Park - Winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2007. Nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2008

Es kommt nicht oft vor, dass der 16-jährige Lucas Swan Freundschaften schließt. Er ist lieber für sich, denkt nach, grübelt herum. So ist es für ihn ein richtiges Ereignis, als er sich mit Violet Park anfreundet, denn Violet ist - tot. Und Lucas rettet ihre Urne. Das erste Mal hörte Lucas von Violet in einem kleinen Minicar-Büro, mitten in der Nacht. Ihre Überreste stehen in einer Schachtel auf einem Regal. Allein die Tatsache, dass sie einmal gelebt hat und nun bis in alle Ewigkeit in einem verräucherten Büro stehen muss, setzt Lucas so zu (mal davon abgesehen, dass er eine Nanosekunde glaubt, sie würde ihn aus der Urne heraus um Hilfe anrufen), dass es für ihn zu einer Mission wird, herauszukriegen, wer diese Frau war. Was er erfährt, lässt ihn sein eigenes Leben besser verstehen.

Kurzbeschreibung:

A stunning new look for Jenny Valentine's debut novel, winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize

Klappentext:

A stunning new look for Jenny Valentine's debut novel, winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize

The mini cab office was up a cobbled mews with little flat houses either side. That's where I first met Violet Park, what was left of her. There was a healing centre next door, a pretty Sixteen-year-old Lucas Swain becomes intrigued by the urn of ashes left in a cab office. Convinced that its occupant - Violet Park - is communicating with him, he contrives to gain possession of the urn, little realising that his quest will take him on a voyage of self-discovery and identity, forcing him to finally confront what happened to his absent (and possibly dead) father...

Rezension:

Praise for Jenny Valentine:

'Valentine has the essential storyteller's gift of making you want to read on - and to know more even after the book is finished.' Guardian

'The award-winning Valentine has a keen eye for the idiosyncrasies of young children, and the rhythms of family life.' The Bookseller

'[Valentine] has a wonderful ability to take readers right into the hearts and souls of her central characters, and reading her is always a truly vicarious experience.' The Bookbag

Praise for Finding Violet Park:

"Finding Violet Park is a wonderful debut." Guardian

"Ultra-original and brilliantly written, this will have you laughing and crying, too." Mizz

"Clever and totally assured, it is hard to believe that this is a first novel from a new author... [an] ingenious novel from a writer who already has much to offer. _____" Nicholas Tucker, Books for Keeps< br>
"Memorable and well-paced, this is a book to help young people grow in spite of adversity." Carousel

"This is terrific stuff and quite unlike anything else I've come across.... a powerful and compelling story." Inis

"First-time author Jenny Valentine has an original and exciting voice." Writing Magazine