‘I wouldn’t have prevented you…’ Lady Abigail started, and then she stopped herself, knowing that it wasn’t true. She pulled her daughter close. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said into her hair. ‘I’ve missed you. I was so worried. I want more than anything for you to come back.’
‘I’d love to come home, but I also want to stay working here.’ Margot’s voice was shaking. If she didn’t say it now, she never would.
Lady Abigail looked at her daughter hopefully.
‘It’s possible to do both though, isn’t it?’
When Margot’s smile appeared, it radiated warmth and happiness.
‘It is, absolutely.’
‘Let’s all have dinner together tonight, and tomorrow I’ll walk you to work on the way to do my errands. What do you say?’ asked Lady Abigail nervously.
‘I say “yes”.’
And Lady Abigail kept her promise. The following morning, her own purple bonnet could be seen bobbing next to Margot’s red beret, as they made their way through the bustling London streets towards the Evelina Children’s Hospital.
I finished reading and looked at Jack.
He was smiling. ‘Another riddle solved,’ he said. ‘Good work, Sergeant Flick, good work.’
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my fantastic publishers and editors Fiona Kennedy and Lauren Atherton at Zephyr, who responded to my story with their characteristic encouragement and support; to Jessie, Clare, Chrissy and the rest of the wonderful Head of Zeus family who helped me to form the bones of this story before I had even begun writing it.
Thank you to my hugely knowledgeable and ever-supportive agent Kate Hordern for her unfailing optimism, wise words, and good advice.
Thank you to Cat and Joe who described to me exactly how overwhelming and frightening experiencing an earthquake is, and to Peru Travel for their invaluable insight into the country’s geography – any location discrepancies are entirely my own.
Thank you to my friends and family, and all my young readers who make writing stories the best thing in the world, particularly to Scarlett, Max, Erin, Isla and Imogen who gave me some super feedback.
Ewa Jozefkowicz
London, 2020
Coming in Spring 2021
The Cooking Club Detectives
by Ewa Jozefkowicz
Erin’s mum, Lara, gets a job as a cookery teacher at their local community centre. Erin loves the cooking club, where she makes new friends and tries out lots of tasty recipes with them. But suddenly the community centre is under threat. Who could be plotting against them and why? Erin, her new puppy Sausages, and her friends turn detective to solve the mystery and find out what’s going on.
Out now in paperback
First the accident, then the nightmares and the thief who steals the colour from Izzy’s world. Will her neighbour and a nest of cygnets help solve the mystery of the colour thief? A heartwarming story about families, friendships, school, nature, hope and self-confidence.
‘A really impressive nuanced debut looking at how to cope with and survive life.’
The Bookseller
Out now in paperback
Past and present are woven into the second middle grade novel by Ewa Jozefkowicz, set in contemporary times and WWII Poland. Based on a real life story, about friendship and endurance in the darkest situation.
‘Girl 38 has strong themes of bullying, friendship and difference, but the author’s light touch balances the deeper issues with a lot of heart.’
BookTrust
About the Author
Ewa Jozefkowicz grew up in Ealing, and studied English Literature at UCL. Her debut novel The Mystery of the Colour Thief, published by Zephyr in 2018, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Her second book, Girl 38: Finding a Friend, blends contemporary times with WWII Poland. Ewa lives in north London, with her husband and twin daughters.
About Zephyr
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