The Dare Game Read online

  He and Cam had this long long long discus-sion about books.

  Alexander likes Cam a

  lot. But he likes me more.

  I think Football likes me

  the most though. I don't go

  round to his house much but he comes round to my house lots. We play football, surprise surprise. Out in the yard.

  Sometimes Cam plays too. And Jane and Liz. You'll never guess what.

  Jane is brilliant at football, even though she's so big. She's better than Alexander's dad. Even

  better than Football himself.

  Though he won't admit it. He's

  working on his game. Alexander's dad has got him into this club. I'm not sure how long this will last. Football hasn't got the knack of getting on with people. He's had a tew

  arguments already. He might

  find he gets excluded. But I'm

  never going to exclude him. He can stay my friend no matter what.

  243

  I think he still sometimes hangs out at the empty house. Alexander doesn't go there any more. I don't either. Though I took Cam there once.

  I made out it was my home and I showed her all round. Most of Alexander's cardboard furniture got broken up and so the house looked a bit sad and empty and dirty.

  'But I could make it look really great,' I said, taking Cam by the hand and leading her around the living room. 'Maybe I could live in this house when I'm grown up, right? I'll have a chandelier and a ruby-red carpet and a big squashy sofa and a telly as big as the wall. I'll stay up half the night watching telly and then sleep really late and then I'll do a bit of work. I'll write these best-selling books, OK? And then I'll stop writing around five and have tea. I'll have a big birthday cake every single day.'

  'You'll get pretty tubby then,' said Cam, poking me in the tummy.

  'I won't eat it all by myself. I'll share it. I'll invite Alexander round. He can pop in between his brain surgery operations. And I want Football to come too, though he'd better not eat too much birthday cake if he's in 244

  serious training. And guess who else I'll invite?' I paused.

  'Mrs Vomit Bagley?' said Cam.

  'No chance!'

  'Elaine?'

  'Maybe. Once in a while, for old time's sake.

  No, someone else. Someone important.'

  'Your mum?'

  'If she'd come. I wouldn't bank on it though.

  Come on, Cam, guess!'

  'I haven't a clue,' said Cam, but she was looking hopeful.

  'YOU!' I said, and we had a big hug.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  JACQUELINE WILSON is one of Britain's most outstanding writers for young readers. She is the most borrowed author from British libraries and has sold over 20 million books in this country.

  As a child, she always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first 'novel' when she was nine, filling countless exercise books as she grew up. She started work at a publishing company and then went on to work as a journalist on Jackie magazine (which was named after her) before turning to writing fiction full-time.

  Jacqueline has been honoured with many of the UK's top awards for children's books, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Award, the Smarties Prize, the Red House Book Award and the Children's Book of the Year.

  She was awarded an OBE in 2002 and is the Children's Laureate for 2005-2007.

  ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

  NICK SHARRATT knew from an early age that he wanted to use his drawing skills as his career, so he went to Manchester Polytechnic to do an Art Foundation course. He followed this up with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design at St Martin's School of Art in London from 1981-1984.

  Since graduating, Nick has been working full-time as an illustrator for children's books, publishers and a wide range of magazines. His brilliant illustrations have brought to life many books, most notably the titles by Jacqueline Wilson.

  Nick also writes books as well as illustrating them.

  STARRING TRACY BEAKER

  Jacqueline Wilson

  Illustrated by Nick Sharratt

  Tracy Beaker is back . . . and she's just desperate for a role in her school play. They're performing A Christmas Carol and for one extremely worrying moment, the irrepressible Tracy thinks she might not even get to play one of the unnamed street urchins.

  But then she is cast in the main role. Can she manage to act grumpy, difficult and sulky enough to play Ebenezer Scrooge? Well, she does have a bit of help on that front from Justine Pain-In-The-Bum Littlewood . . .

  As Tracy prepares for her big moment, Cam is the one helping her learn her lines. But all Tracy really wants to know is if her film-star mum will make it back from Hollywood in time to watch her in her starring role?

  This hilarious and heartbreaking new story from the bestselling, award-winning, Jacqueline Wilson, follows her most popular character through ups and downs, laughs and tears. Fifteen years on from her first appearance on the page, Tracy Beaker is as vibrant and entertaining as ever.

  DOUBLEDAY

  0 385 61017 3

  978 0 385 61017 9

  CANDYFLOSS

  Jacqueline Wilson

  Floss loves spending weekends with her dad in his greasy spoon cafe, even if it isn't the smartest place in town and only has three regular customers. Even Floss's best friend Rhiannon turns her nose up at it.

  When Floss's mum and her new husband Steve move to Australia, Floss faces a difficult choice – but decides to stay at home with Dad. He's not much good at ironing school clothes or putting up garden swings, but they muddle along happily on a diet of chip butties and candyfloss from the local funfair. But then disaster strikes and they find themselves homeless.

  Will their new fairground friends help out? Could Dad and Floss be destined for a life on the road?

  A wonderfully moving and brilliantly entertaining story of family life from the Children's Laureate, Jacqueline Wilson.

  ISBN 0 385 60837 3

  CLEAN BREAK

  Jacqueline Wilson

  When Dad and Mum break up, Em does her best to cheer up her little brother and sister, even though she's miserable too. She dances around and tells wonderful tales all about their favourite glove puppet. Em knows how a good story can make life seem better. She is always cheered up by reading one of her favourite books. If Em got to meet the author, it would be a dream come true. But could her other greatest wish be granted? Is any story powerful enough to bring Dad back?

  Another wonderful book about real family life from a prize-winning, best-selling author.

  ISBN 0 440 86643 X

  MIDNIGHT

  Jacqueline Wilson

  Fairies steal away beloved babies and leave a changeling in their place...

  Violet has always been in the shadow of her mesmerising, controlling brother Will – by turns delightful and terrifying. But now Will has learned a shocking secret about his own past, and things seem to be getting worse. Violet retreats into her fantasies based on the fairy characters created by her absolute favourite author, Casper Dream.

  The arrival of Jasmine, a new girl at school who immediately befriends Violet, seems like it might change Violet's life for the better. Will Jasmine allow her to break free of Will's spell?

  A magical and atmospheric novel from multi-award winner Jacqueline Wilson.

  ISBN 0 440 86578 6

  BEST FRIENDS

  Jacqueline Wilson

  Alice is my very best friend. I don't know what I'd do without her.

  Gemma and Alice have been best friends since they were born. It never seems to matter that Gemma loves football while Alice prefers drawing or that Gemma never stops talking while Alice is more likely to be listening. They share everything. Then one day Gemma finds out that there's something Alice isn't sharing. A Secret. And when Gemma discovers what it is, she isn't sure if she and Alice can stay Best Friends Forever . . .

  A delightfully touching and entertaining story from a best-selling, prize-winning author.

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