Head of Zeus

eBook

Hardback

Paperback

Girl 38: Finding a Friend

by Ewa Jozefkowicz

Past and present are woven into this novel set in contemporary times and WWII Poland. Based on a real life story about friendship and endurance in the darkest situation. Ewa's debut novel The Mystery of the Colour Thief was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Childrens Prize 2019 and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award.

Kat is a 12-year-old girl who loves working on her super-heroine comic, Girl 38 – the girl she longs to be like. But she's not brave, or fearless. At school, Gem is no longer her 'best friend'. And at home Kat is lonely while her parents are busy working long hours. She's even a bit afraid of her elderly neighbour, Ania. But when Ania has an accident Kat surprises herself by rushing to the rescue – just like Girl 38. Their unlikely friendship blossoms, and with it Kat's determination, as Ania reveals the haunting story behind the portrait of a girl she's left unfinished.

Inspired by Ania – her daring leap to freedom and her search for her lost friend, Mila, who was taken away by soldiers to a 'walled village' at the outbreak of WWII – Kat unravels the mystery of the girl in the painting and finds a happy ending for Girl 38.

Head of Zeus, a Zephyr book * Children’s Fiction

06 Feb 2020 * 224pp * £6.99 * 9781786698988

REVIEWS

'Second-time author Ewa Jozefkowicz packs not one but two stories within a story'

Observer, Books of the Month

'A compassionate tale of friendship and family'

i newspaper

'Eloquently explores what friendship really means and what sacrifices and acts of courage need to be made when you truly care about someone, regardless of age or time ... A thought-provoking read ... Although this is a short novel, its impact is strong'

Just Imagine

Both here and in her debut (The Mystery of the Colour Thief) Jozefkowicz shows empathy for her young heroines, exploring key themes of friendship, family and finding yourself with compassion and optimism'

The Bookseller, Editor's Pick

'Strong themes of bullying, friendship and difference, but the author's light touch balances the deeper issues with a lot of heart'

BookTrust

'Strong and impactful writing packaged in a simple story with mirrored events and clever plot turns. It implores us to use our time thoughtfully. And what better way than to read this novel'

Minerva Reads

'With convincingly drawn characters, relatable issues and important values at its heart, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read'

Books for Topics

'Reading this sweetly told morality tale is to return temporarily to the world of children's fiction fifty years ago ... There is always room for novels like this concentrating on the theme of moral growth while also telling a good story'

Books for Keeps

'Two beautiful and thoughtful stories woven into one story of friendship, family and finding yourself'

TripFiction.

Author

Ewa Jozefkowicz

Ewa Jozefkowicz's debut novel The Mystery of the Colour Thief, published by Zephyr in 2018, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Girl 38: Finding a Friend blends contemporary times with WWII Poland. The Key to Finding Jack is about the special bond between siblings. The Cooking Club Detectives tackles the impact of food poverty on children today. And The Dragon in the Bookshop blends Polish folklore with a magical quest. All are published by Zephyr. Ewa lives in London with her husband and twin daughters. www.ewajozefkowicz.com Twitter: @EwaJozefkowicz Insta: ewas_bookshelf

ALSO BY Ewa Jozefkowicz

The Wolf Twins

OTHER BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE

The Girl Who Thought Her Mother Was a Mermaid

Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Sea Dragon