Set in the 19th century, the book follows the life of a young orphan named Tom Dacre. Tom finds himself thrust into the dark and gloomy world of an attic garret, where he resides with an assortment of peculiar characters. Despite his challenging circumstances, Tom discovers solace and escape in his secret garden, hidden away from the garret's confines. The garden becomes his sanctuary, a place where he can dream and let his imagination flourish. Through the power of nature, Tom embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning important life lessons about resilience, friendship, and the transformative power of hope. As the story unfolds, Tom's fortunes take an unexpected turn when he encounters a mysterious stranger who holds the key to his past. Tom's quest for answers leads him on an adventure filled with twists and turns, uncovering secrets that will change his life forever. "The Garret and the Garden" is a heartwarming tale that explores themes of resilience, the importance of dreams, and the enduring power of nature. Ballantyne's vivid storytelling and vibrant characters make this novel an enchanting read for both young and mature readers alike.

The second book in the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary's series which follows a group of tea-soaked disaster magnets as they hurtle their way around History. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. Wherever the historians go, chaos is sure to follow... Dispatched to Victorian London to seek out Jack the Ripper, things go badly wrong when he finds the St Mary's historians first. Stalked through the fog-shrouded streets of Whitechapel, Max is soon running for her life. Again. And that's just the start. Max finds herself in a race against time when an old enemy is intent on destroying St Mary's. An enemy willing, if necessary, to destroy History itself. From the Hanging Gardens of Nineveh to the murder of Thomas a Becket, via an unscheduled dodo rescue mission, join the historians of St Mary's as they hurtle around History on more hilarious, hair-raising escapades Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'Once in a while, I discover an author who changes everything... Jodi Taylor and her protagonista Madeleine "Max" Maxwell have seduced me' 'A great mix of British proper-ness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun' 'Addictive. I wish St Mary's was real and I was a part of it' 'Jodi Taylor has an imagination that gets me completely hooked' 'A tour de force'