This tender, sweet, and hilarious novel about growing up with a loving family and a perfectly rambunctious dog “balances moments of hilarity with poignancy” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

When she was eight, Binny’s life was perfect: She had her father’s wonderful stories and Max, the best dog ever. But after her father’s sudden death, money is tight, and horrible Aunty Violet decides to give Max away—he is just too big for their cramped new life. Binny knows she can’t get her dad back, but she never stops missing Max, or trying to find him. Then, when she’s eleven, everything changes again.

Aunty Violet has died, and left Binny and her family an old house in a seaside town. Binny is faced with a new crush, a new frenemy, and…a ghost? It seems Aunty Violet may not have completely departed. It’s odd being haunted by her aunt, but there is also the warmth of a busy and loving mother, a musical older sister, and a hilarious little brother, who is busy with his experiments. And his wetsuit. And his chickens.

You’ll delight in getting to know Binny and her hilarious, heartwarming family in this charming novel, which received three starred reviews.

About The Author

Photograph by Bella McKay

Hilary McKay

Hilary McKay is the award-winning author of The Time of Green Magic (which received five starred reviews), The Skylarks’ War (which was a Boston Globe Best Book and received three starred reviews), Binny Bewitched (which was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and received two starred reviews), Binny in Secret (which received three starred reviews), Binny for Short (which received four starred reviews), and six novels about the Casson family: Saffy’s Angel, Indigo’s Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After, Forever Rose, and Caddy’s World. She is also the author of The Swallows’ Flight, Rosa by Starlight, and Wishing for Tomorrow, the sequel to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess. Hilary lives with her family in Derbyshire, England. Visit her at HilaryMcKay.co.uk.

About The Illustrator

Micah Player

Product Details

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (July 23, 2013)
Length: 304 pages
ISBN13: 9781442482777
Ages: 8 - 12
Lexile ® 680L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

Raves and Reviews

"Tremendously entertaining."

– The Guardian

"Try Hilary McKay. Her books are so good you want to climb inside the covers and live there."

– The Daily Telegraph

"A sensitive exploration of friendship, grief, and the often hilarious rough and tumble of families adjusting to change. More Binny please."

– The Daily Mail

*"With humor, poignancy and a keen insight into human nature and family dynamics, Hilary McKay...moves in with the Cornwallises."

– Jennifer M. Brown, Shelf Awareness, starred review

*"The writing is gorgeous, clear as water; the characters vivid and lively; the story so real each moment of loss, fear, delight and love absolutely visceral."

– Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Fans of McKay's Casson books will warmly welcome the delightful and eccentric Cornwallis family... the humorous and poignant interactions among Binny's caring older sister, independent younger brother, and insightful mother are the heart of the novel."

– Publisher's Weekly, starred

"This novel combines effervescent everyday-life storytelling with subtle exploration of the ripples of loss that shape young lives, and McKay fans will celebrate the introduction of an engaging new heroine."

– BCCB

*"McKay’s masterful control of the mayhem is ingenious; may the Cornwallis family, like the Conroys and the Cassons before them, have many adventures to come."

– Horn Book, Starred Review