A Greyhound of a Girl Roddy Doyle Lovereading - -Year 6 (age 10-11) More books from this list Book 15 of 50. View the next book in this list View the previous book in this list Download Extract

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Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 & the 2012 Guardian children's fiction prize.

Best-selling Roddy Doyle has written a wonderful, funny and warm-hearted family story about the dying of a granny which weaves together the lives of four generations and a little bit of ghostly mystery too. Mary’s relationship with her granny and the feelings she has about her death will touch the heart of readers of all ages.

Hilary Murray Hill, Managing Director of Scholastic Children’s Books, says, “I am delighted that Roddy has brought this wonderful novel to our list. A Greyhound of a Girl is a timeless story capturing the atmosphere and relationships of a very recognisable family; its themes will touch every kind of reader ..”

Synopsis

A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

Scarlet, Mary, Tansey, Emer.  Mothers and daughters heading off on a car journey.  one of them dead, one of them dying, one of them driving, one of them just beginning.  They're going back to the past on a matter of life and death.  Meet 12 year old Mary and her beloved grandmother who is nearing the end of her life. Letting go is hard - until Granny's long-dead mammy appears at Mary's door, returning to help her dying daughter say goodbye.

Reviews

'This is really top class writing for the whole family.' The Telegraph

'Doyle's dialogue is masterful -- pithy, clever, direct -- and is one of the great joys of reading this book.. I would recommend this masterful family drama with a ghostly twist to any reader aged 10 or over. And to parents. It may be short, but it packs a lasting punch.' Irish Independent

About The Author

Roddy Doyle was our Guest Editor in October 2011. Click here to see his book selection.

Roddy Doyle was born in Dublin in 1958. His first novel, The Commitments, was published to great acclaim in 1987 and was made into a globally successful film by Alan Parker. The Snapper was published in 1990 and has also been made into a film, directed by Stephen Frears. The Van was shortlisted for the 1991 Booker Prize and made into a film also by Stephen Frears. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, which won the Booker Prize in 1993, has been published in over twenty languages.

In 1994 he wrote the screenplay for the television drama series, Family. His plays include Brownbread (1987), War (1989) and, most recently, an updated version of The Playboy of the Western World (2007), which he co-wrote with Bisi Adigun. He has also written a collection of stories, The Deportees (2007) and a memoir of his parents, Rory and Ita (2002). His most recent novel is The Dead Republic (2010), which is the final part of the trilogy, following on from Oh, Play That Thing (2004) and A Star Called Henry (1999).

Roddy’s first children’s book The Giggler Treatment was shortlisted for the WH Smith Children’s Book Award.

Roddy Doyle has won many prizes for his writing. These include the Booker Prize and a BAFTA screenplay. He has also won the Irish Children's Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the prestigious 2013 CILIP Carnegie Medal. His novel The Commitments was turned into a blockbuster film directed by Alan Parket and is now a successful musical in Dublin and in London, directed by Jamie Lloyd.