Mary Hoffman

Pisa, 1299. In the male-dominated world of Renaissance Italy, Netta is an ambitious young woman and the last in the line of a great family of sculptors and stone-carvers. Determined to throw off the shackles of marriage, Netta sets out to take up her family's legacy and work on fixing the city's leaning tower.

When the crew of pirate ship Ramshackle find a tiny baby adrift on the high seas, they are a bit flummoxed. Even more so, when they discover it's a baby girl. The adventures that follow in this rollicking tale are full of laughter and surprises as the pirates sew nappies, make baby clothes out of pirate shirts and even a toy squid out of pirate gloves for the new arrival. The pirates won't give up their baby - not even to the women pirates who pass...

Young Kit finds himself on a plague cart wedged between the bodies of his mother and father. But he is alive and is rescued and taken into the home of the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. He soon finds he can speak the language of the big black birds, a skill which proves useful when he finds himself caught up in a story of queens and treason, princesses and executioners.

A troubadour, Bertran, witnesses the brutal murder of the Pope's legate, and risks his life to warn others. The Pope is trying to track Bertran down and so is somebody else: Elinor, a young noblewoman, in love with Bertran. Soon both Bertan and Elinor find themselves in a rising tide of bloodshed that threatens the very fabric of their society.

Michelangelo's statue of David is renowned all over the world, but the identity of the model for this statue has been lost. In this epic story Mary Hoffman tells the story of Gabriele, an 18-year-old who, by becoming Michelangelo's model, finds himself drawn into a world of spies, politicking, sabotage and murder.

Grace loves Christmas, but she is horrified when Nana announces that they will have visitors from Trinidad this year. Grace does not want to share the day with another little girl she doesn't even know! However, after some wise words from Nana, Grace's generous spirit shines through.

Our bodies come in all shapes and sizes and they change throughout our lives, from newborn babies and children through to teenagers, and maybe to mums and dads and grandparents. This book teaches readers about growing and learning, big and small, keeping fit, breaks and bruises, the five senses, using our minds, how we are the same and how we are different.

Look through fresh eyes at the stories of some of history's most remarkable women, in this inspiring collection of short stories by the finest female authors writing historical fiction for children today.