A book about real dilemmas that children face every day - full of warmth and by an award-winning author.

"It's crazy, starting at a new school. For days you feel so new and lost it's as if you've wandered into a foreign country where you can't speak the language."

This haunting story about Rafaella, the new girl at school who finds making friends hard, is a stunning piece of writing. With her strange name and sticking out ears she's different from the rest. Lucy is the first to tease, the first to call her 'Earwig'. Until a secret friendship starts, full of warmth and mystery.

Beautifully illustrated throughout by Jason Cockcroft, this is a modern classic by the winner of the Children's Book Award.

'A humane and honest story. It conveys so much, so simply and so well.' The Scotsman

'... a fine weepy with a moral, about the dangers of playground cliquishness and cruelty.' The Sunday Times

This book was recognised by the Carnegie Award. The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by childrens librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people.

There are 96 pages in this book. This book was published 2002 by Hachette Children's Group .

Elizabeth Laird has been nominated five times for the Carnegie Medal and has won numerous Illustrator: Jason Cockcroft is a talented illustrator of children's books. He has collaborated with many established authors such as Helen Cresswell and Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrating Sophie and the Seawolf and Never Let Go respectively.