Mrs Knebworth seemed most distracted by the battered and bleeding Shrek in the corner of her sitting room. She kept catching sight of him and losing the thread of her tirade. Finally she just threw up her arms and said, 'Well, we've all lived to tell the tale. Now, you, mister, need some TCP on that cut. Milly, bring me the first-aid box. Gina and Min, make yourselves useful and get a round of tea in here for everyone.'

When the cut had been cleaned, Gina and Dermot sat side by side on the sofa holding hands. Niffy and Amy were squeezed together on the armchair opposite, chatting and joking, delighted to be together again.

Suddenly Amy realized that there was something her friend should know: she sat up and informed Niffy, 'Angus is here! He's here, at the party. You have to go and find him. He'll want to know about your mum . . .'

'What!'

Niffy sprang up; then, as she got to her feet, she remembered something and dipped a hand into the back pocket of her jeans. 'Oh, Aim, I've got something for you,' she announced. 'You left it at Blacklough and I kept meaning to tell you . . . or send it on or something, but you know what I'm like!'

She held out her hand, and Amy screamed when she saw her precious palm tree-shaped, diamond-studded necklace glinting there.

'Niffy! You total t.i.t!' she shrieked, pretending to smack her friend on the head. 'I've been searching everywhere for my necklace! Everywhere! The whole boarding house was on alert. And you . . . you've been carrying my diamonds about in your scruffy old denims! Unbelievable!'

Shrek looked at Gina. He was beginning to think that really, anything could happen next. Swivelling round in his great foamy costume, which he still hadn't been able to take off because he was only wearing boxers underneath, he got hold of his brown bag. Opening the flap, he looked inside but there was no hiding his utter disappointment. 'The pie . . .' he began.

'OhmiG.o.d, the pumpkin pie!' Gina turned to look inside the bag now.

Dermot and the Shrek costume had squidged that lovingly home-made pie into a sticky, soggy mess.

Surveying the disaster inside the bag, Dermot decided he would just close the flap on it and deal with it another day.

'He brought you a pumpkin pie?' Min asked as she handed round the mugs of tea.

'He made me a pumpkin pie.' Gina beamed.

'Now that is sweet, that is really sweet . . .' Min told him.

Mrs Knebworth leaned over to Gina and patted her arm. 'That's a very nice boy you have there, that Olly Hughes.'

'Yes!' Gina smiled at Dermot. 'Very nice!'

'You'll have to introduce him to your mother when she comes.'

'Yes!' Gina added mischievously. 'I will.'

'Your mum?' Dermot asked, and there was no hiding the nerves in his voice. 'So when's she coming to Scotland?'

'My mum plus my three oldest best friends, Ria, Paula and Maddison . . .' Gina began.

She looked over at the little gold carriage clock on Mrs K's mantelpiece. 'They'll be here . . . oh . . . in about thirteen hours. But don't worry! My mum is going to love you, Olly!'

MEET THE AUTHOR . . .

CARMEN.

Full name: Carmen Maria Reid.

Home: A creaky Victorian house in Glasgow, Scotland.

Likes: Writing (luckily), chocolate in any shape or form especially if caramel is involved, Jack Russell dogs, cute blue-eyed guys in gla.s.ses, children (especially hers), buying handbags, holidays by the sea, Earl Grey tea in an insulated mug, very very long walks, very, very long jeans, shepherd's pie, hot bubble baths (for inspiration), duvet coats, playing tennis Dislikes: Large animals, drinking milk (bleurrrrrgh), high heels (she's already 6ft 1), going to the gym (but she goes anyway), filling in forms or paperwork of any kind, flying Would like to be: The author of lots more books (Secret ambition was to be a ballet dancer or Olympic gold medal winning runner) Fascinating fact: Carmen spent four years boarding at a girls' school very like St J's Secrets at St Jude's.

New Girl.

By Carmen Reid.

OhmiG.o.d! Gina's mum has finally flipped and is sending her to Scotland to some crusty old boarding school called St Jude's - just because Gina spent all her money on clothes and got a few bad grades! It's so unfair!

Now the Californian mall-rat has to swap her sophisticated life of pool parties and well- groomed boys for . . . hockey in the rain, school dinners and stuffy housemistresses. And what's with her three kooky dorm-buddies ... could they ever be her friends? And just how does a St Jude's girl get out to meet the gorgeous guys invited to the school's summer ball?

978 0 552 557061.

www.rbooks.co.uk.

JUMPING TO CONFUSIONS.

by LIZ RETTIG.

I'm Cat - and I'm the fat, plain one in my family. When I say fat, I don't mean 'have-to-be-prised-out-of-a-hula-hoop' fat, but when your mum and sister are practically size zero, it's hard not to feel like elephant girl in comparison.

My twin sister Tessa is blonde, gorgeous and gets any boy she wants. Right now she's got her eye on Josh, a really fi t American guy who's just moved to Glasgow. But he doesn't seem interested in her. It's weird. I've never known any boy who didn't fancy Tessa. Well, not any straight ones anyway . . .

Of course! It all makes sense . . . Funny that he doesn't want to tell anyone his secret, not even me, his new best friend . . .

Could Cat be jumping to conclusions about Josh?

A wonderfully funny tale of romantic confusion from the author of My Desperate Love Diary.

ISBN: 978 0 552 557573.

EXTREME KISSING.

BY LUISA PLAJA.

Two best friends. One extreme adventure.

Too many secrets . . .

Bethany is the sensible one with a long-term boyfriend, Carlota is the rebellious one with the wild past. All is fine in their world except Carlota hates her step-dad and longs for her ex. And Bethany is worried that her boyfriend is about to dump her - and she's 'late' . . .

Carlota has a plan to put their troubles behind them on a crazy day out in London. She uses her favourite magazine to guide them on a life-changing adventure setting real challenges from the glossy pages that lead to exclusive shopping, exciting snogging and . . . explosive secrets. The magazine will take them everywhere they need to go - but will it make them reveal the truths they are keeping from each other?

ISBN: 978 0 552 55681 1.

SELINA PENALUNA.

by JAN PAGE.

Selina Penaluna is a merrymaid - or so she believes . . .

Dropped as a baby into a deep pool on the Cornish sh.o.r.e, she emerges a different child - a mermaid changeling - and is forever drawn to the sea. Abandoned by her mother, neglected and abused by her father, she desperately wants to escape her lonely life.

Ellen and Jack are twins, evacuated from East London to Cornwall at the start of the war. The family that takes them in are well-off and a little stuffy. Ellen relishes this opportunity to better herself, but Jack finds his new life stifling and seeks freedom in the arms of Selina, the mysterious fisherman's daughter whose wild beauty turns every man's head.

Selina's siren song has Jack captivated - but leaves his sister cold with jealousy. Can the young lovers find solace and build a new life together? And how will Ellen deal with being left behind?

A spellbinding, beautiful novel full of pa.s.sion and tragedy that will enchant older readers.

ISBN: 978 0 552 55864 8.

Also by Carmen Reid.

Secrets at St Jude's: New Girl.

for adult readers:.

The Personal Shopper.

Did the Earth Move?

Three in a Bed.

Up All Night.

How Was it For You?

Late Night Shopping.

Secrets at.

St Jude's.

Jealous Girl.