Judi Curtin – författare

A funny short story from the collection, BEYOND THE STARS, written and illustrated by two great Irish talents in children’s fiction todayWhen Lorcan Browne’s class are told to write to someone they admire, all his friends choose soccer stars and boy band singers, but Lorcan chooses the richest person in town instead, because he could never write to the person he REALLY admires – his Grandda.Will Lorcan’s plan to help save his Grandda from his freezing house change his family’s fortunes? Or will he have put his Grandda’s life in jeopardy? Sometimes letter-writing can have the most surprising of consequences…

The fantastic follow-up to Time After Time and Stand By MeFamilies are so complicated! Molly’s dad seems so lonely. He lives on his own, he won’t get a pet, he doesn’t get on with his brother … Best friends Molly and Beth suspect his problems lie in his past, but what can two thirteen-year-olds do about that?Well, when they have a time-travelling door, maybe they CAN do something. The girls go back to 1975 hoping to right some wrongs – if they can navigate 1970s cars, food and boybands – and if the colourful fashions don’t blind them first!A heart-warming story of sticking with your friends and hanging on to your dreams!

When Lily is a young teenager, the time comes for her and her friends to leave school and find work; some are emigrating to America, some going to work in shops. Lily is going into service in the Big House – Lissadell.Lily’s employers, the Gore-Booth family, are kind, but life as a young housemaid can be hard: Lily works long days, she has to learn to get along with the staff, particularly her roommate, the sullen and uncommunicative Nellie, and she misses her home and family.But when Maeve, daughter of Constance Markievicz and niece of the Gore-Booths, comes to visit and decides to paint a portrait of Lily an unusual friendship begins between the two girls from such different worlds.A warm and engaging story about friendship, life in the early 20th century and how the political world affects everyone.

From the author of Lily at Lissadell and the ‘Alice & Megan’, ‘Eva’ and ‘Time After Time’ seriesLissadell House, Sligo, 1913Friends Lily and Nellie work long hard hours as housemaids for the Gore Booth family in the Big House. And yet these are days filled with friendship, fun, and even madcap bicycle rides with Maeve, daughter of the famous Republican, Countess Marcievicz.But Lily knows there’s an empty place in her friend’s heart. Nellie is all alone in the world; she grew up in the workhouse, where she was separated from her sisters. Lily longs to help her, but could she end up losing all she has – even her livelihood. And what will happen to her hopes and dreams? Just how much would you give up for a friend …? A story of friendship set in the changing world of early 20th century Ireland.

The further adventures of Lily: life as a maid in Lissadell House is always interesting, but with her friendship with Maeve under strain, a war in Europe starting and uncertainly about her future, she needs all her wits about her! This latest installment in the popular series also sees Lily finally on her way to realising her dream of becoming a teacher.Nellie's older sister, Johanna, starts walking out with Harry the footman, and is extremely worried when he enlists and goes off to fight in World War I. He send letters to the girls from the front and tells them all about the Christmas Day truce in 1914 … but then a telegram comes. Harry is missing, presumed dead.  Will he return to Lissadell, safe and sound?Meanwhile, when Isabelle, the children’s nurse, becomes unwell Lady Mary asks Lily to work with the Michael and Hugh Gore Booth in the afternoons until they are ready to go away to boarding school. On a visit home, Lily meets the Master, who tells her that Miss O’Brien is courting a young man – and if she marries, there will be an opening for a Junior Assistant Mistress in the school. He assures her that her current level of education will be enough, and that once she is old enough, he’d be happy to appoint her.

Crossing the ocean for a new life I looked up and the American flags on the roof seemed miles and miles away in the blue, blue, sky. I looked along the street, and the building seemed to go on forever.It’s 1911 and young sisters Sally and Bridget are sailing to New York to find work – leaving behind their home and everything they know in Ireland. The city is so big and strange, but the sisters and their new friend Julia are determined to make the most of this exciting new world. They have each other, and if they work hard, New York is full of opportunities.Then, when a false accusation threatens to destroy everything, the girls realise there’s nothing more important than sticking together.

Sally and her sister Bridget are New Yorkers now – they’ve settled in and feel at home in the bustling city.Life in New York is exciting enough that the girls can rise above life with Catherine, their mean cousin.At work one day, Bridget finds a photograph of a young man between the pages of a book. She shows it to her employer Miss Cameron who dismisses it, but her blush and flustered manner intrigue Bridget; she soon discovers he was a suitor, but not allowed by Miss Cameron’s family as he came from a poor background.Meanwhile, the girls’ friend Betty is sick. When she visited a free clinic the doctor suggested she move to a warmer part of the country, a prospect unimaginable to Betty, who can barely afford to feed and clothe herself. When poor Betty commits a crime out of poverty and desperation the girls don’t know how to help. But can both stories have a happy ending?

Lissadell House, 1915In the Big House, life is changing for young housemaid, Lily, and her group of friends. Maeve de Markievicz, daughter of the famous Countess will soon be going away to school in England. What will this mean for the friendship between the Lily the servant girl and Maeve the young lady? For others in Lissadell, romance is blossoming and may bring change. And for Lily, she has the chance to grab hold of her dream … if only she’ll take the chance.The girls are growing up and marching towards the future – but with friendship and fun they can face anything!

From best-selling award-winner Judi CurtinIt’s 1930. Twelve-year-old Gracie has always lived in a tiny cottage bursting with brothers and sisters, until she's sent to stay with her widowed Aunt Peg. Suddenly Gracie finds herself in a big, empty house feeling very alone.Enter the Travelling Players and their theatre. Liliana and her family are wild, funny and talented – and fill Gracie’s days with colour and excitement.Can she be happy here after all?

Rich, spoilt, high-maintenance Eva Gordon likes fancy, sophisticated things so when her parents sell their sell their holiday home and their expensive car Eva can’t understand why.But when Eva’s dad loses his job and she has to move house and change schools, she realises life has changed for good. She’s determined to hate her new life, until a chance visit to a fortune teller gives her the idea that doing good may help her to get her old life back. Eva (with the help of her friend Victoria) starts to help all around her, whether they want it or not!The story of Eva’s Journey from spoilt princess to pretty cool girl!

Eva Gordon likes fashion, fun and hanging out with friends, so she can't believe she has to spend the entire summer in a cottage in the countryside with her parents and eight-year-old Joey. Worse, it looks like she's going to be stuck with Kate, the girl next door who doesn't care about being cool … it's Eva's worst nightmare come true! But when the girls have to pull together to solve a problem, Eva finds out that there's more to life than having the right hair or clothes and sometimes 'weird' girls can make the best friends.

Fun, feisty Eva Gordon's never been one to shy away from helping her friends - whether they want her help or not! - but this time she might have found a problem that's too big even for her …When Eva and her family head to Seacove for their summer holidays, she's looking forward to seeing Kate again, but it turns out things have gone very wrong for Kate. Her granny's in the hospital, and with no else to look after her, Kate's hiding out at home by herself, afraid she's going to be taken into care. Eva tries to be a good friend and help her out, but how long can a twelve-year-old manage by herself?It's not just Kate who needs Eva's help, though helping Ruby turns out to be a LOT more fun! Ruby needs Eva to keep her company on a trip to London where she's trying out for a scholarship.Is there any way the trip away with Ruby can help everyone sort things out? It seems impossible, but if you have a problem that needs solving, just leave it to Eva!Eva’s third book from bestselling author Judi Curtin.

The latest great book from the author of the best-selling ‘Eva’ and ‘Alice & Megan’ series.Eva Gordon’s great at solving problems, but surely even she can’t fix something that went wrong in the past?When Eva and Kate find an old diary, written long ago by a girl their own age, they end up determined to right old wrongs!But they can’t spend all their time living in the past as the present, too, is throwing all sorts of challenges at them …But when the girls get together they can handle anything!Eva and the Hidden Diary has been nominated for Novel of the Year in the Irish Book Awards! Cast your votes here, until 21 November: www.irishbookawards.ie/vote/

The latest great book from the author of the best-selling ‘Eva’ and ‘Alice & Megan’ seriesEva Gordon doesn't like mysteries – so when new girl Aretta hurries away after school every day Eva's determined to find out why. And Aretta's not the only person Eva's interested in – her friend's granny has been parted from her beloved dog, so Eva decides to cheer her up. But can she? Eva finds that some things are too big and complicated for one girl to deal with on her own ... but she has a talent for bringing people together, and together people can do almost anything!

It's spring mid-term, and Alice has invited Megan to visit her in Dublin. Megan is hoping for a nice trouble-free few days with her best friend. No such luck! She soon discovers that Alice is once again plotting and scheming. It seems that Alice's Mum Veronica has a new boyfriend. The plan is to discover who he is, and to get rid of him. Alice (with poor Megan in tow) becomes totally horrible in an effort to scare the poor man away.Can this possibly work? Just how horrible can she be? And how can Megan stand by and watch while her best friend turns into a total monster?'A must-read for girls aged 10 and up, this has the Jacqueline Wilson touch' Evening Echo

Alice and Megan are back, and that can only mean one thing: trouble!It's Easter and best friends Alice and Megan are together in Limerick again. They are both looking forward to their confirmation especially as their two families are going out to dinner together to celebrate.But not even a meal can be simple when Alice is around as she decides to hatch a plan to get her parents back together...

A best friend is forever, isn’t she?Megan can’t wait to go away to Summer Camp with her best friend Alice. It will be fantastic – no organic porridge, no school, nothing but fun!But when Alice makes friends with Hazel, Megan begins to feel left out. Hazel’s pretty, sophisticated and popular, and Alice seems to think she’s amazing.Is Megan going to lose her very best friend?'A funny realistic story ideal for any Jacqueline Wilson fan' Irish Independent

Ancient castles, yummy French food and deep, dark forests – sounds like the perfect holiday!Megan’s really looking forward to the summer holidays – her whole family is going to France, and best of all Alice is coming too! But when Alice tries to make friends with a local French boy things begin to get very interesting …Another adventure with Alice and Megan – the fifth book in the bestselling series popular with young girls everywhere.

Secondary school’s a whole new world!Alice and Megan are starting secondary school; with new subjects, new teachers and new friends, it’s going to take a bit of getting used to. And when Megan meets Marcus, the class bad-boy who’s always in trouble, but doesn’t seem to care, things really start to get complicated.At least she has Home Ec class with Alice – the worst cook in the school – to look forward to, so school’s not all bad!Alice’s ill-fated Home Economics adventures will have readers in stitches.'Ireland’s answer to Jacqueline Wilson. Perfectly written stories of friendship and growing up . . . these sweet stories are a joy.' Irish Independent

Winning is a good thing, isn’t it?Everyone in first year is really excited about the big prize in the English essay competition – four months in France – and Alice has a good chance of winning.Megan loves writing essays, but she doesn’t want to win – go away for four months alone, no way! She doesn’t want Alice to go either – why would anyone want to go abroad without her best friend?But Alice seems determined to win …How much should you give up for your best friend?The seventh book in Judi Curtin's bestselling series.

Molly and Beth are best friends and love spending time together. But when their two families move in together, maybe they are a little too close for comfort! Out shopping one day they need to avoid the most embarrassing encounter ever with Molly’s mum, and hide in a shop they had never noticed before. When they leave by the side door, they realise immediately that something is not right! Transported back to the past, where mobile phones don’t work and the world feels very different, they realise that they have a chance to see the world through their parents’ eyes. Before finding their way home, can they see what their own pasts looked like?