Jellybean

Description

First published in the United Kingdom in 1985, Jellybean is one of Tessa Duder's best loved children's novels, and tells the beguiling story of a lonely girl, Geraldine, whose unconventional single mother is uncomfortably different from all her schoolmates' mothers. Her mother is a professional musician - but not even something cool like a singer or a a rock star - she plays in the orchestra and occasionally in a jazz band in clubs. Jellybean is often left to her own devices, and feels sad and neglected. When a stranger comes into their life and she finds that he is someone from her mother's past, she begins to wonder if he is her mysteriously absent father. Jellybean also learns what she really wants, and that some things are so important to who you are, you have to make some challenging choices. And the hardest lesson of all is that sometimes you might want to hide away, but what you need to do is take your courage in your hands and be prepared to stand up and be seen. Published internationally in several editions, and a finalist in both Adult and Children's premier literary awards in this country at the time of its release, Jellybean is a poignant and timeless tale that has been out of print for the last ten years, and we are delighted to be able to revisit her enchanting story.

Tessa Duder trained as a journalist and raised four daughters before publishing her first novel in her late thirties. Some fifty books have followed, for both adult and young readers: novels (notably the best-seller Alex quartet), short story collections, non-fiction, biographies, anthologies and plays. Her writing shows her deep love of the sea - in 2013 she crossed the Tasman Sea under sail on the tall ship Spirit of New Zealand - and a life-long interest in early New Zealand history, particularly of the Auckland region. Her awards have included multiple children's book prizes, the University of Waikato writers' residency, the Katherine Mansfield fellowship to Menton, France, an Artists to Antarctica fellowship, the OBE and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Waikato. She lives in the sea-girt city of Auckland, New Zealand.