The Piano at the Station

Constantly in trouble at school with little encouragement at home, Lacey’s future looks bleak until she discovers a love of music in this compelling tale by bestseller Helen Rutter.

Lacey's smart tongue and quick temper are constantly getting her confined to isolation at school. But there’s a lot more to her that most people never see, and when Lacey gets sent to lunch-time music lessons to keep her out of trouble, she discovers a love and talent for the piano that opens up a whole new world for her.

Just as she’s really beginning to make progress, her music teacher has to leave, which throws Lacey back into turmoil. Will she go back to her self-destructive ways or will music offer her a way to save her from herself?

Reviews

“WOW it packs a real emotional punch. What a stunning story … I'm a sucker for stories about struggling kids who find something meaningful.” – Jo Cotterill

"A moving, funny, insightful, and inspiring book that packs a huge punch in under a hundred pages of wide-spaced text, many of them evocatively illustrated" – The School Librarian

"A story about identity and courage, and family loyalties, and it leaves the reader with questions which they can determine the answers for. We see the world through Lacey’s eyes, and this adds authenticity and insight." – Rebecca Kennedy, Just Imagine

"Such a heartfelt, touching tale about how music can offer solace to those who need it … sensitively written short story about the importance that kindness and empathy can play in finding yourself." – Little Blog of Library Treasures

"Difficult, rebellious Lacey is depicted with humour and understanding, and the story twists and keeps us hooked right until the end. A very satisfying read." – An Awfully Big Blog Adventure

About the author

Elisa Paganelli is an acclaimed and award-winning illustrator and designer originally from Modena, Italy. She illustrated The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman, which won the British Book of the Year – Children’s Fiction in 2021. At the 2020 Cose Belle Festival, Elisa’s artwork titled Kizuna was also longlisted for the Italian Illustration Award. Elisa has been commissioned worldwide by leading publishers in Italy and France; her most recent and popular titles being Un albero molto speciale and La Moufle.