Hideaway

Once again Guardian Award winner Ruth Thomas combines a riveting story with profound psychological insight into the way children relate to each other.

Ruth Thomas was born in Wellington, Somerset, in 1927. She received a BA Honours Degree in English and a Diploma in Education from Bristol University and went on to teach in a number of primary schools in the East End of London. Ruth began writing soon after she retired in 1985. Her first novel The Runaways won The Guardian Children's Fiction Award. This was followed by four further critically acclaimed novels including The Secret, which was televised by Thames Television. She died in 2011.

Everyone knows you just don't go into strange people's cars but Jack's curiosity and quest for excitement gets Leah and Charlie into big trouble when he leads their gang into the campervan, Hideaway. Leah is nervous about the situation and her instincts are proved correct when George and Lil zoom off with the three of them trapped in the back - kidnapped!

Guilty!

A young girl sets out to catch a thief, in this engrossing tale from Ruth Thomas.

There's been a spate of break-ins lately in the area and everyone in Kate's class is saying that the burglar is Desmond Locke's dad because he's just come out of prison. Everyone, that is, except Kate. She's sure that Mr Locke is innocent and turns to her Secret Seven books for inspiration - they always find the real thief. Kate and Desmond become detectives to find out the truth and prove Desmond's dad is innocent. But the truth isn't always what you would like it to be and Kate is horrified when she discovers who really is... GUILTY.

The Secret

From the bestselling author of The Runaways

Mum knew she shouldn't have left the children alone. That was why she was hurrying home, running to catch the evening train. She was so worried about Nicky and Roy that she didn't hear the thief come up behind her; she didn't look carefully when she dashed across the road . . . 
 
Back at home Nicky is findingit harder and harder to reassure her younger brother Roy. Soon the children are running out of money and the neighbours are getting suspicious. But whatever happens, Nicky is certain of one thing - she will NEVER tell.

The Runaways

Reissued in stunning new livery, The Runaways is a riveting adventure for 9-12 year olds by Guardian Award winning author, Ruth Thomas

If anyone is more on the wavelength of 9 - 11 year olds . . . I would like to know

A fast-moving and totally absorbing adventure story

The drawing together of two children has hardly been done better since The Secret Garden

Julia and Nathan have no friends to speak of. They're misfits of Mrs Henrey's class - awlays the last to be picekd for the team, and always without a partner. Then they discover a stash of money in a deserted house and suddenly, instant popularity seems just around the corner. But so is trouble, in the shape of the adults who start asking difficult questions. There is only one thing the pair can do now, and that is to run away!

Ruth Thomas

Ruth Thomas' dialogue always snaps and crackles in the best playground tradition

A roller coaster read . . . Terrific stuff

Edward is the school wheeler-dealer with dreams of becoming a millionaire by the time he's twenty. When he finds a mysterious package in the park, he ropes two school-mates into a daring scheme, one that catapults them into an adventure of secrets and intrigue - and his wish seems very close to becoming a reality.

The Paper Bag Baby

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Best-Jane-Austen-quotes_Online-Desktop_Penguin

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

sectionTitle

isEnabled

anchor

anchorLabel

prhuk/featured-book

prhuk/praise-section

maxBooks

showViewMore

prhuk/books-section

hideAuthorAlert

formName

iterableDivision

iterableBrand

buttonText

description

heading

legalText

successHeading

successText

image

alignment

variation

prhuk/email-section

prhuk/series-section

prhuk/biography-section

prhuk/articles-section

prhuk-authors

Penguin Shop: 15% off with code PENGUINXMAS2025

Ruth Thomas

Praise for The Paper Bag Baby

Ruth Thomas' dialogue always snaps and crackles in the best playground tradition

A roller coaster read . . . Terrific stuff

Books by Ruth Thomas

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter