Finding Violet Park

By: Jenny Valentine

Narrated by: Gareth Cassidy

Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Narrated by the most compelling voice since Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, this is a quirky and original voyage of self-discovery triggered by a lost urn of ashes.

The mini cab office was up a cobbled mews with little flat houses either side.

That's where I first met Violet Park, what was left of her. There was a healing centre next door, a pretty smart name for a place with a battered brown door and no proper door handle and stuck-on wooden numbers in the shape of clowns. The 3 of number 13 was a w stuck on sideways and I thought it was kind of sad and I liked it at the same time.

Sixteen-year-old Lucas Swain becomes intrigued by the urn of ashes left in a cab office. Convinced that its occupant – Violet Park – is communicating with him, he contrives to gain possession of the urn, little realising that his quest will take him on a voyage of self-discovery and identity, forcing him to finally confront what happened to his absent (and possibly dead) father…

©2007 Jenny Valentine (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"Finding Violet Park is a wonderful debut for many reasons… the book is astute… full of bitter-sweet observations. The plot is so well controlled that you never anticipate the clever ending."(Guardian Review)

"Ultra-original and brilliantly written, this will have you laughing and crying, too."(Mizz)

"Clever and totally assured, it is hard to believe that this is a first novel from a new author… [an] ingenious novel from a writer who already has much to offer."(Nicholas Tucker, Books for Keeps)

"Memorable and well-paced, this is a book to help young people grow in spite of adversity." (Carousel)

"This is terrific stuff and quite unlike anything else I've come across…. a powerful and compelling story… and manages to give every question, every problem, every doubt its right weight – no more, no less." (Inis)

"First-time author Jenny Valentine has an original and exciting voice."(Writing Magazine)

"Narrated by the most unique voice since Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, this is a quirky and original voyage of self-discovery… a terrific book." (Gateway)

"Profound, funny and beautifully written: I doubt I'll read a better teenage novel this year." (Bournemouth Daily Echo)

"A captivating novel… Hilarious and dramatic in turns." (Liverpool Echo)

"Prepare to be thrilled and chilled." (School House magazine)