The Great Gilly Hopkins

'A class-reader with a female central figure' is a frequent request. Well, if Puffin won't reissue Prudence Andrew's Una and Grubstreet, try this. It's a weepy but a degree of toughness and lots of humour balance the sentiment. Gilly (11) unfortunately became attached to foster parents who then rejected her. Now she torments all substitutes --- why not? her real mother will collect her soon --- and, for good measure, drives teachers to distraction. But just as she starts loving huge Maime Trotter, hypernervous little W.E. and blind, black Mr Randolph, her machinations backfire. Must come very high on your reading list.