A Stitch in Time

A rediscovered children's classic, winner of the 1976 Whitbread Award, from the Booker Prize and Carnegie Medal-winning author of Moon Tiger and The Ghost of Thomas Kempe.

Maria likes to be alone with her thoughts. She talks to animals and objects, and generally prefers them to people. But whilst on holiday she begins to hear things that aren’t there – a swing creaking, a dog barking – and when she sees a Victorian embroidered picture, Maria feels a strange connection with the ten-year-old, Harriet, who stitched it.

But what happened to her? As Maria becomes more lost in Harriet’s world, she grows convinced that something tragic occurred…

Perfect for fans of mysteries like Tom’s Midnight Garden, The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, Charlotte Sometimes, and My Friend Walter, A Stitch in Time is a classic of children's literature, from Booker Prize, Whitbread Award, and Carnegie Medal-winning author Penelope Lively.

This new HarperCollins Children's Classics edition features an introduction by Michelle Magorian, author of Goodnight, Mister Tom.

Reviews

Winner of the 1976 Whitbread Award

'Gentle and humorous with a touch of mystery.' – Michelle Magorian, author of Goodnight, Mister Tom

About the author

Penelope Lively spent her early childhood in Egypt before coming to England aged twelve. She is an award-winning writer for adults and children, with prizes including the Booker, Whitbread and Carnegie to her name. We are delighted to be publishing A STITCH IN TIME on the Essential Modern Classics list.