Out of the blue, Ratchet Clark's ill-natured mother packs her daughter on to a train to spend the summer with two elderly relatives, twins Tilly and Penpen. Staying at their secluded house, Ratchet learns all about her weird family history and Penpen's new philosophy: whatever shows up on your doorstep you have to make welcome. Through the bear-ridden wilderness come a variety of characters, and it is with reluctance that Tilly lets them in. But it turns out that unwelcome guests may bring the greatest gifts...This is another quirky and warm-hearted read from the author of "Everything on a Waffle".

 

There are 208 pages in this book. This book was published 2006 by Scholastic .

Polly Horvath is a well-respected, extremely talented American novelist who was born in the US and now lives in British Columbia, Canada.