Join Emily Sparkes for hilarious observations about life, parents and how to handle the grossest boys in the universe! Perfect for fans of Cathy Cassidy and Dork Diaries. Now shortlisted for the Scholastic Laugh Out Loud Book Award (The Lollies).

'Lots of fun and a really cool read!' - Cathy Cassidy

Emily Sparkes thinks having your best friend move to Wales at the same time as your parents decide to have a new baby is probably more trauma than anyone should have to cope with. But things go from bad to worse when she's paired with revolting Gross-Out Gavin for the school trip! Emily is determined to escape him, and when glamorous new girl Chloe Clarke turns up it seems her prayers might be answered.

Unfortunately, everyone has gone Chloe Clarke mad and Emily finds her 'sworn enemy' Zuzanna has had the same idea. Getting and keeping Chloe as a friend proves a lot more troublesome than Emily anticipated and leads her into a whole new set of disasters . . .

*Major launch for LBKids UK *Competitions, extracts and more *Exclusive author interviews *Newsletter & Kids Club activity

About the Author
Ruth Fitzgerald grew up in South Wales but has lived most of her life in Suffolk. She wrote her first story at the age of six and immediately announced she wanted to be a writer. Her teacher told her that being a writer was a hobby and she needed to get a proper job. Ruth tried 23 proper jobs before deciding her teacher was wrong. She lives near Ipswich with her family, a tiny dog and five chickens.

Reviews
More satisfying than much junior chick-lit * The Observer *
I have read the first Emily Sparkes book and really LOVE it . . . it's lots of fun and a really cool read! * Cathy Cassidy, bestselling author of The Chocolate Box Girls series *
This is a good read * Carousel *
Lots to appeal to fans of Cathy Cassidy and Dork Diaries in this funny new series * The Bookseller *
Utterly hilarious and utterly relatable, Ruth Fitzgerald just gets all of the awful problems associated with being eleven years old. Everything in Emily Sparkes's life is a crisis, and each crisis is funnier than the last. Bring on the next book! * Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike (Wells and Wong Mysteries) *
I laughed and laughed at Emily Sparkes and the Friendship Fiasco! She's like a younger Georgia Nicolson. * Susie Day, author of Pea's Book of Best Friends (Pea's Book series) *
Once you start reading this book you won't be able to put it down. It's true to life and very funny. Emily Sparkes is everyone's dream best friend! * Alice, aged 12 *
I thought this was side-splittingly funny and very realistic. Emily Sparkes is someone I'd want to be friends with! * Sterrett, aged 10 *
Emily Sparkes is amazingly funny. I thought it was hilarious when Emily named her new baby sister Yoda! * Maddie, aged 12 *
Emily Sparkes is my new favourite character. She made me laugh a lot! * Piper, aged 11 *


Awards
Short-listed for Laugh Out Loud Award 2016 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9780349001821
Author Ruth Fitzgerald
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publisher Hachette Children's Group
Weight(grams) 231g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 132mm * 21mm