Product details
Biographical note
Penelope Lively has written many books written for children including Astercote, The Whispering Knights, The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, which won the Carnegie Medal, and A Stitch in Time, which won the Whitbread Children's Book Award. Two of her novels written for adults have been shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction, and she won it in 1987 with Moon Tiger. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a member of PEN and a former Chairman of The Society of Authors. She was awarded an OBE in 1989 and a CBE in 2001.
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<strong>'A mischievous boy hero and an equally amusing ghoul,’ <em>Guardian</em> </strong>
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'A mischievous boy hero and an equally amusing ghoul,’ Guardian
An iconic ghost story for children from Penelope Lively, one of the modern greats of British fiction.
Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there…
James is fed up. His family has moved to a new cottage – with grounds that are great for excavations, and trees that are perfect for climbing – and stuff is happening. Stuff that is normally the kind of thing he does. But it's not him who's writing strange things on shopping lists and fences. It's not him who smashes bottles and pours tea in the Vicar's lap. It's a ghost – honestly. Thomas Kempe the 17th century apothecary has returned and he wants James to be his apprentice. No one else believes in ghosts. It's up to James to get rid of him. Or he'll have no pocket money or pudding ever again.
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe is a timeless thriller, with a ghostly mystery and all the fun and mischief of being nine years old. Perfect for fans of Eva Ibbotson, Tom’s Midnight Garden and Helen Cresswell’s Moondial.
'A mischievous boy hero and an equally amusing ghoul,’ Guardian
An iconic ghost story for children from Penelope Lively, one of the modern greats of British fiction.
The spinetingling classic middle grade ghost story, with a new look for 2025
The spinetingling classic middle grade ghost story, with a new look for 2025
A timeless spooky mystery, with all the fun and mischief of being nine years old.
Perfect for fans of Eva Ibbotson, Tom’s Midnight Garden and Helen Cresswell’s Moondial.
Discover a world of stories with the HarperCollins Children’s classics range, showcasing timeless publishing from both HC children’s imprints.
A classic yet contemporary design, with wonderful cover illustration by Anuska Allepuz, and featuring special bonus content
Competition: Moondial; Dial a ghost; Tom’s Midnight Garden; Dread Wood; Crater Lake; Whitby Witches; Journey to the River Sea; Miss Peregrine; Goosebumps; The Witches. Helen Cresswell; Eva Ibbotson; Philippa Pearce; Jennifer Killick; Robin Jarvis; Ransom Riggs; RL Stine; Roald Dahl; Diana Wynn Jones
Product details
Biographical note
Penelope Lively has written many books written for children including Astercote, The Whispering Knights, The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, which won the Carnegie Medal, and A Stitch in Time, which won the Whitbread Children's Book Award. Two of her novels written for adults have been shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction, and she won it in 1987 with Moon Tiger. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a member of PEN and a former Chairman of The Society of Authors. She was awarded an OBE in 1989 and a CBE in 2001.