Want to know what I’ve been working on recently? Here’s a sneak peek of a Middle Grade Book I’ve been working on for 8-11 year old girls.
But first, I’d better introduce you to the Main Character, 12 year old Beatrice,
- She’s a bookworm
- She’s a blunderbus
- Her best friend Freya is spending the WHOLE summer in Portugal
- And she’s just (half-accidentally) decided to step out and do something BRAVE!
And here’s a page out of her diary!
1:22pm, Location – My bedroom
Status: TOTAL PANIC MODE!
Something totally unexpected happened at church today.
Firstly, it was weird being there without Freya. I ended up sitting next to a new girl called Olivia, who seems quite nice. Anyway, the bible story was all about Joshua. The memory verse (which I’ve memorised already) was:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed. For the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Guess who’s going to win a chocolate bar next week?)
At the end of the session, Caroline, our Youth Leader, reminded us about some Youth Camp thing that’s happening in just over a weeks’ time. She told us there were still a few spaces left and to look out for the poster in the foyer.
But I made my mind up ages ago, that there was no way I could survive two weeks at Camp without Freya.
Anyway, during teas and coffees, mum and dad were chatting INCESSANTLY, as usual.
I was standing near the noticeboard, quietly minding my own business and suddenly there was the poster!
It said:
CAMP CONQUEROR!
WHERE FAITH IS FUELED,
FRIENDSHIPS ARE FORMED,
AND COURAGE IS CONTAGIOUS!
I can’t explain it, but for a split second, it felt like that poster was calling my name! Well, not literally. But you know what I mean.
- Maybe it was the bible verse about being courageous;
- Maybe I fancied myself as the new Lexie Moon;
- Maybe I’d scoffed too many mini-donuts and was having some kind of weird sugar-rush.
Mostly…I think…it was all the photos of the kids having fun! But for the briefest of seconds, I actually thought about signing up.
I quickly came to my senses though, when I realised that the kids on the poster were doing sporty things, like kayaking and abseiling. Freya is the sporty one. But me? I’m about as sporty as a sloth…IN A SLEEPING BAG!!
Suddenly, a voice piped up from over my shoulder:
“Hey Beatrice! Are you thinking about signing up?”
It was Olivia, the new girl.
I said: “Well, I was thinking about it. But I’m not sure. I mean…all that outdoorsy stuff…it’s not really my thing.”
Olivia shrugged: “Mine either. But you never know, it might be kind of fun.”
And then...I don’t know what came over me…but suddenly I blurted out:
“TELL YOU WHAT…IF YOU GO, I’LL GO!”
As soon as those fateful words left my lips, I knew I would regret them.
And Olivia said: “Deal.” And shook my hand. And then we both added our names to the sign-up sheet.
And now I’m totally freaking out! Because I think I just accidentally agreed to go to Camp Conqueror.
And I have absolutely no idea how to wriggle my way out of it.
Somehow, I need to get my name off that list and apologise to Olivia – PRONTO!
I hope you enjoyed reading this extract! Want to know what happens next? You’ll have to stay tuned for more updates!
Angela Jelf 