Ruby and the Ghost Dog (Ruby Copperthorne Mysteries) (Volume 1)

Eleven-year-old Ruby Copperthorne has terrible dress sense, is crazy about animals, whistles when she's scared and sees strange things that other people can't. She has just moved to Italy with her mum and she absolutely does not want to be there. If you ask Ruby, there is nothing good about living in another country, except she may be able to get a dog and she might stop meeting ghosts. But Ruby's hopes of being normal are destroyed on her very first night in Tuscany when the visions start again. A ghost dog on a mission has selected Ruby to help him, whether she likes it or not. After meeting a local boy and his strange grandmother who lives in the woods, Ruby is drawn into a situation she could never have imagined. A situation which means she has to choose between safe normality or extraordinary powers. Ghost Dog is awash with magic, the enchantment of the Tuscan countryside and the difficulty of coping with being different. It is also a story about dealing with grief and the power of being true to yourself. "A wonderful story. A must-read for any child who has experienced loss and any child who loves dogs." Prince Lorenzo Borghese. www.animalaidusa.org "An enchanting tale that will appeal to dog lovers like me everywhere." Kay Burley, Sky TV Presenter.