The Girl with her Head in the Clouds

Pioneering aviatrix Dolly Shepherd comes alive in this thrilling reimagining of her death-defying exploits from bestelling author Karen McCombie.

When sixteen-year-old Dolly Shepherd is offered the chance to take to the sky in a hot-air balloon, there’s no way she’s going to turn it down. Even though the pilot actually plans for her to jump out of the balloon and plummet back to earth using just a flimsy parachute.

For Dolly, it’s the start of a sensational career. But the life of an aeronaut is as dangerous as it is daring, and there will be many narrow escapes along the way …

Pioneering aviatrix Dolly Shepherd comes alive in this thrilling reimagining of her death-defying exploits from bestselling author Karen McCombie.

Reviews

"McCombie beautifully captures Dolly’s excitement about all of her adventures … a wonderful message for young readers about living our dreams and defying the expectations of those around us" – Francis Durkin, author

"An inspiring story … brimming with optimism" – Roaring Reads

"Told with characteristic verve and humour by Karen McCombie" – Fiona Dunbar

"Fascinating and informative … I was thoroughly engaged and can imagine that young emergent, reluctant and dyslexic readers will be equally entranced" – The Letterpress Project

About the author

Karen McCombie is the bestselling author of over 90 books for children and teenagers including the Carnegie Medal-nominated 'Little Bird Flies', 'How to be a Human', and series 'St Grizzle's School for Girls' and 'Indie Kidd'. Karen is also the author of the bestselling and much-loved series 'Ally's World'. Originally from Scotland, she now lives in London with her family who all give her inspiration for her books, whether they like it or not.
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Anneli Bray is an illustrator, artist and maker based in the North West of England. Anneli illustrates stories and characters influenced by her love of wonder, belonging and adventure. She graduated with a First in Illustration and has since illustrated for Vita Murrow in her children’s book, Onyx: The Wolf Who Found a New Way to be a Leader. Anneli’s debut picture book, The Last Garden, was published in 2021, with more exiting work to come.