Readers across the ages will relish the wild escapades and vivid depiction of both today’s teenagers and their Tudor counterparts in “The Diary of Catherine Cunningham”…a thrilling - and surprising! - YA fantasy novel from author Karen Shandley.
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Karen is a teaching assistant, writer and artist who is just brimming over with enthusiasm to share this new book with her young audience!
And who better than a dedicated classroom practitioner to know what kind of adventure will fire their imagination, and what sort of values should underpin this propulsive narrative? The story arc Karen Shandley has created speaks to a young person’s need for adventure - backed by reassurance and love throughout their teenage years –“The Diary of Catherine Cunningham” is ready to be enjoyed by anyone who loves to lose themselves in a book!
Leona, a teenage girl from the busy city of Birmingham, is drifting down the wrong path, making poor choices and growing increasingly distant from her parents. In a bold attempt to turn things around, her parents make a life-changing decision: to leave the city behind and move to a quiet rural village.
Furious about the move, Leona falls out with her parents. Feeling isolated and alone, she uncovers an old Tudor diary buried in the garden. On the night that she reads the diary, something extraordinary happens—Leona wakes up in Tudor England.
From this timeslip standpoint, Karen Shandley takes us on an adventure of several lifetimes…
Lost, confused, and frightened, Leona has no idea how to get home. That is, until she meets the girl who wrote the diary. Together, they embark on a thrilling adventure filled with danger, fear, and adrenaline.
As their bond deepens, so does their determination to survive and find a way back. Against all odds, Leona eventually returns to her own time—and to her family—forever changed by the journey.
Her time in Tudor London teaches her the most valuable lesson of all: how lucky she truly is.
Says author Karen Shandley: “The story I’ve created is full of adventure, adrenaline and emotion …when Leona finally makes her way back home, she realises what she has with her family and gets back on the right track.
“There is a touch of magic, love and friendship in “The Diary of Catherine Cunningham” – early readers have fed back that it’s a very good book to read. I’m really excited for it to be out in the world and finding its audience!”
“People have said that this book is not only educational but promotes family and friendship values. It’s something that families can all enjoy – parents have loved reading it as much as their children.
“And as a teaching assistant, I know that my book, “The Diary of Catherine Cunningham”, works so well in schools, whether for individual reading or in the school library.”
“I can’t wait to share it with a wider readership.”
Drawing on Karen Shandley’s deep love of storytelling and her expert knowledge of what gets young people reading and immersed in a novel, “The Diary of Catherine Cunningham” is a must-buy for parents who love to see their child with their nose deep in a book. Available to purchase now in Kindle, Hardcover and paperback: formats - click this link to purchase: https://tinyurl.com/
About the Author:
Author Karen Shandley says: “I am a mother. I’m a teaching assistant… and an author and an artist too. For this current book that I’m working on, I am producing a large oil painting dedicated to the book which I will be happy to promote and share. I love to write, paint and spend time with my children – all these passions of mine are wrapped up in one book – “The Diary of Catherine Cunningham”. I hope you enjoy it!”
