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A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Karen Donnelly

ISBN: 978-1-906230-02-9

Lexile® Rating: 770L what is this?

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‘Bah, humbug! Fools wishing me a Merry Christmas should be forced to sit on cushions stuffed with holly leaves or boiled with their own Christmas puddings.’

Miserable old miser Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas. Can somebody so selfish, so harsh and so horribly lonely ever change his ways?

In one terrifying night, poor Scrooge is haunted by four ghosts. Why do they show him visions of his past? Why do they show him other people enjoying Christmas? Why do they show him the deaths of a young boy and of a miserable old miser?

Weep and laugh as you read this much-loved Christmas story. Will Scrooge always think that Christmas is ‘Humbug’, or will he learn to shout ‘Merry Christmas, one and all’?


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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

William Shakespeare

Retold by Helen Street

Illustrated by Charly Cheung

ISBN: 978-1-906230-44-9

Lexile® Rating: 660L what is this?

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Mischief is in the air when the King and Queen of the Fairies quarrel and Puck is left in charge of the love potion.

Four young people are lost in the woods on midsummer’s night. Will they find each other and true love, or will Puck’s meddling leave them broken-hearted and alone?

A band of players prepares to entertain the Duke of Athens. But now that the fairies have made a donkey out of their leading man, will Quince and the others ever get to play their parts?

Is there time to put everything right before this magical night is over?

Click here for the Shakespeare original language comparison


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A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Karen Donnelly

ISBN: 978-1-906230-64-7

Lexile® Rating: 800L what is this?

ATOS®/AR Level: 5.4 what is this?

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‘It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done.’

Sydney Carton is a lawyer who has wasted his abilities and his life. Now he has to make a difficult choice about what is really important to him, which could be a matter of life or death.

The French Revolution is running its violent course; lives are ruined as a new France is created. How did the gentle Doctor Manette and his daughter Lucie become caught up in France’s struggles? What is the real identity of the handsome Charles Darnay, who wins Lucie’s hand in marriage? And why does the shadow of La Bastille Prison hang over them all?

The best of times and the worst of times. London and Paris. Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay. A story of contrasts and chaos. Can peace ever be restored in France? Can it ever be restored in the hearts of the people involved?


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Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy

Retold by Tony Evans

Illustrated by Maxim Larin

ISBN: 978-1-911091-04-2

£7.99

A guard had stepped back into the path of a train and been crushed beneath the wheels. He had been killed instantly.

When Anna Karenina arrives at the scene of a horrible accident, it is the beginning of a new and troubling time in her life. Will she ever find happiness with the man she loves? Anna’s sister-in-law, Darya Oblonsky, is threatening to leave her selfish husband. Is Anna able to save their marriage?

Anna’s young son, Sergey, is sure that one day his mother will return to him. Can the pair ever be reunited?

Konstantin Levin is determined to marry Kitty, but she is dazzled by the lively and handsome Count Vronsky. Levin prefers a quiet life in the countryside to dinner parties and dances. Which of them will she finally choose?


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Bleak House

Charles Dickens

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Karen Donnelly

ISBN: 978-1-906230-04-3

Lexile® Rating: 870L what is this?

ATOS®/AR Level: 5.3 what is this?

F&P Level: Y what is this?

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‘It would have been far better if you had never been born.’

Esther, at fourteen, has never known love. Determined to live well, earn some love and overcome the shadow of her birth, she takes her first steps into an unknown world.

A family curse, a manipulating lawyer, poverty and secrets threaten to destroy Esther’s world. Are the walls of Bleak House strong enough to protect her and her new friends from such powerful forces?

The reader will be caught up in an unfolding mystery, full of surprises. Perhaps the biggest mystery of all is: Who is Nemo?


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David Copperfield

Charles Dickens

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Karen Donnelly

ISBN: 978-1-906230-03-6

Lexile® Rating: 840L what is this?

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When David’s mother marries the malevolent Mr Murdstone, David’s childhood happiness is destroyed for ever.

Can one lonely little boy show the strength and determination to survive the dangers that lie ahead? Travelling along the rocky road from boyhood to manhood, how can David learn who to trust and who to love? Will David’s friends bring him happiness or heartache?

In this inspiring tale of trust, betrayal, courage and love, Charles Dickens presents a world of colourful characters to amuse us, astonish us, disgust us and move us to tears. Once encountered, David Copperfield’s friends and enemies will never be forgotten.


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Emma

Jane Austen

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Ann Kronheimer

ISBN: 978-1-906230-10-4

Lexile® Rating: 840L what is this?

ATOS®/AR Level: 5.2 what is this?

F&P Level: X what is this?

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‘I must warn you that you might guess twenty things without guessing correctly.’

Following her governess’s marriage, wealthy, spoilt Emma Woodhouse seeks new company and new amusement. Ignoring the warnings of her friend Mr Knightley, she begins a series of terrible blunders.

Through letters to her sister, the author presents the reader with puzzles to confuse even the best detective. Who sent the mystery piano? Why is Mr Elton so charming and Miss Fairfax so reserved? How many men can Harriet love? Who is hiding a shocking secret?

With little understanding of her own feelings, can Emma lead anyone towards happiness? Can you solve any of the mysteries before Emma does?


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Far from the Madding Crowd

Thomas Hardy

Retold by Maxine Linnell

Illustrated by Ann Kronheimer

ISBN: 978-1-906230-38-8

Lexile® Rating: 760L what is this?

ATOS®/AR Level: 4.6 what is this?

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‘I cannot allow any man to – to criticise my private conduct!’

Young, attractive and impetuous, Bathsheba has inherited a farm and is determined to be as independent as possible. Her natural beauty is a magnet for men; how will she choose between them?

Gabriel Oak is a young farmer, just set up in business with his own flock of sheep. He meets Bathsheba and falls in love with her, but she turns him down. He has to stand by and watch while the woman he loves is courted by others, first by William Boldwood, much older than Bathsheba; then by Sergeant Troy, young, handsome, and reckless. Who will she choose?

Throughout Bathsheba’s series of mistakes, Gabriel remains her loyal friend. But will he ever be more than just a friend?


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Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Karen Donnelly

ISBN: 978-1-906230-01-2

Lexile® Rating: 800L what is this?

ATOS®/AR Level: 5.2 what is this?

F&P Level: V what is this?

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An escaped convict threatens to eat young Pip’s heart for breakfast. The ghostly Miss Havisham invites Pip to her eerie home. A mysterious benefactor makes him suddenly wealthy. Pip’s life will never be the same again.

Pride, humility, love, loyalty and shame compete for Pip’s emotions. Will his quest to become a gentleman enable him to melt the cold heart of the beautiful Estella, or will it destroy his happiness?

Pip’s tale is full of mystery and surprises. What is the nature of Miss Havisham’s interest in him? Why does Estella want to break his heart? Why does the dangerous convict return?

Most importantly, who has given Pip his great expectations?


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Hamlet

William Shakespeare

Retold by Helen Street

Illustrated by Charly Cheung

ISBN: 978-1-906230-55-5

Lexile® Rating: 610L what is this?

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Hamlet’s father, the king of Denmark, has died suddenly. But instead of grieving, his mother Gertrude has married the dead king’s brother, Claudius.

One dark night, Hamlet sees a ghost. It is his dead father, who claims he was murdered by Claudius, the new king. But did Hamlet really see a ghost, or did he just imagine it? And if he did see a ghost, was it telling him the truth?

Hamlet plans to avenge his father by killing Claudius. But the man he stabs isn’t Claudius, as he thinks, but his girlfriend’s father. So the wrong man dies.

So much tragedy, but there is more to come. Who else will die an untimely death? And who will live to tell the tale?

Click here for the Shakespeare original language comparison


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Hard Times

Charles Dickens

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Karen Donnelly

ISBN: 978-1-906230-05-0

Lexile® Rating: 790L what is this?

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Louisa is the practical daughter of a powerful industrialist. Sissy is the imaginative daughter of a clown. What will happen when two such different lives collide?

A disappearing father, an unhappy marriage, a handsome suitor and a bank robbery all bring challenges to Louisa’s life. Will she be able to control her powerful emotions, or will they lead her to ruin?

Set amongst the noisy, dangerous factories of a northern industrial town, where the workers struggle to survive, Hard Times explores the power that people can have over others, and the suffering that is caused when human emotions are ignored.


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Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain

Retold by Anna Kirwan

Illustrated by Judith Hunt

ISBN: 978-1-906230-19-7

Lexile® Rating: 650L what is this?

F&P Level: W what is this?

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Huckleberry Finn would rather be free than ‘sivilized’.

Adventures with Tom Sawyer made Huck rich – but his Pap is a violent drunk and the broad Mississippi is the road to liberty. Huck’s raft can carry him and his friend Jim, a runaway slave, to safety.

When they lose their way one foggy night, though, they are headed downriver into dangerous territory. How can one small boy pilot his way through a land of mortal feuds, lynch mobs and tricksters?

When life and freedom are at risk, how can Huck figure out the difference between wrong and right?


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Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Vanessa Lubach

ISBN: 978-1-906230-21-0

Lexile® Rating: 630L what is this?

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Jane Eyre is poor, parentless and plain. Her future looks bleak.

Jane’s aunt and cousin detest her. Life at Lowood School is cruel and dangerous. What inner strength can the young Jane find?

Seeking adventure and independence, Jane sets out alone. Is her new master, Mr Rochester, all that he seems? What secret does he keep locked in the third storey, where strange laughter haunts the nights?

In her search for affection, Jane faces horror, cruelty, poverty and temptation. Is she strong enough to do what is right?

Will she ever mean anything more to anybody than poor, plain Jane Eyre?


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Les Misérables

Victor Hugo

Retold by Tony Evans

Illustrated by Catty Flores

ISBN: 978-1-906230-79-1

Lexile® Rating: 990L what is this?

ATOS®/AR Level: 6.0 what is this?

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‘Send the brat home? Oh no we won’t! Her mother must have met some rich man – we can make a load of money out of this.’

It seems that poor Cosette will never escape from the wicked Monsieur and Madame Thénardier. She is only eight years old, but they force her to work hard every day.

Jean Valjean has promised her mother that he will rescue the little girl – but Inspector Javert is on his trail. Will the fierce Inspector arrest Jean Valjean? If he does, will Cosette ever be set free?

Cosette is not the only person who desperately needs help. When Marius is badly wounded, will even Jean Valjean’s courage and determination be enough to save the brave young student?


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Little Dorrit

Charles Dickens

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Karen Donnelly

ISBN: 978-1-906230-65-4

Lexile® Rating: 800L what is this?

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‘She? That’s Little Dorrit. She’s nothing. She’s just a whim.’

Poor Little Dorrit. Her future looks as bleak as her past and her present. Born and brought up in a debtors’ prison, she relies on her sewing skills to help support her father. Little does she know that her sewing will soon present an opportunity for change.

When change arrives in the form of Arthur Clennam it is accompanied by secrets and dangers. Who is he? What are his motives for wanting to help Little Dorrit?

Follow Little Dorrit’s tale as it winds its way through London and Italy. Enjoy the rich variety of characters she encounters, and share with her the twists and turns of the road she travels.


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Macbeth

William Shakespeare

Retold by Helen Street

Illustrated by Charly Cheung

ISBN: 978-1-906230-47-0

Lexile® Rating: 610L what is this?

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On a dark heath, Macbeth stumbles across three witches who can see into the future.

What he hears will change everything. Egged on by his wife, he decides to kill in order to gain the Scottish crown. How many people will have to die in Macbeth’s pursuit of power?

With armies, ghosts and magic against him, will Macbeth survive in this tale of greed and betrayal? Getting the crown is one thing – keeping it is quite another.

Click here for the Shakespeare original language comparison


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Mansfield Park

Jane Austen

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Ann Kronheimer

ISBN: 978-1-906230-09-8

Lexile® Rating: 830L what is this?

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‘Your little cousin cannot help being dull and stupid.’

At the tender age of ten, Fanny Price moves from her poor family home to live with her wealthy cousins at Mansfield Park. Settling into this proud family is only the first of many challenges she will have to face. Can Fanny, uneducated and inexperienced, win any respect or love, or will the spiteful Mrs Norris turn everybody against her?

When plays, balls and marriage proposals challenge Fanny’s judgement, will she be strong enough to do what is right? When jealousy, duty and flattery challenge Fanny’s heart, will it be strong enough to guide her towards true love?

Just how strong is Fanny Price?


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Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Retold by Margaret Elphinstone

Illustrated by Katy Elphinstone

ISBN: 978-1-906230-72-2

Lexile® Rating: 730L what is this?

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‘Breach your last to the sun, Moby Dick!’ cried Ahab. ‘Thy hour and thy harpoon are at hand!’

Why does Captain Ahab look like a man who’s being crucified? How did he come by that hideous scar and the false leg made of a whale’s bone? And why is he obsessed by Moby Dick, the great white whale?

Ishmael, the new recruit, has other strange shipmates. There’s Queequeg for instance, covered in weird tattoos and selling shrunken human heads. And what of the shadowy figures creeping on board the whaling ship Pequod?

Ahab leads them all in reckless pursuit of Moby Dick. Will he succeed in killing the whale, or will Moby Dick lure Ahab and his crew to destruction?


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My Brilliant Career

Miles Franklin

Retold by James Bean and Gillian Flaherty

Illustrated by Brian Harrison-Lever

ISBN: 978-1-906230-83-8

F&P Level: W what is this?

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This was my life, my career, my brilliant career!

Sybylla Melvyn yearns for a life in the arts. She loves music and is determined to write a book. But as the daughter of a poor dairy farmer, she despairs of ever realising her ambitions.

Then comes the opportunity for Sybylla to go and live with wealthy relatives. In her new home she tastes a life of culture and refinement. She also meets handsome, rich Harold Beecham, who offers her a future most young women would dream of. But Sybylla is torn between a comfortable married life and the career she craves.

Will Harold win her over? How will Sybylla live with the choice she makes?


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Northanger Abbey

Jane Austen

Retold by Gill Tavner

Illustrated by Ann Kronheimer

ISBN: 978-1-906230-08-1

Lexile® Rating: 850L what is this?

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The time has come for an unlikely heroine to have a real adventure.

Catherine Morland has little experience of the world. When a neighbour takes her to visit the fashionable city of Bath, her naiveté leaves her vulnerable. Who should Catherine trust? Whose friendship is genuine and whose will be harmful?

Catherine’s adventure becomes sinister when she visits Northanger Abbey. What is hidden in the locked cabinet? Why are the General’s children afraid of him? What terrible secrets does he keep in his dead wife’s bedroom?

Guided only by the gothic horror stories she so loves reading, Catherine stumbles through her adventures. Will hers be a happy ending? Will she find a hero to share her ‘happily ever after’?


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