Careful What You Wish For

From a master storyteller, here is a warm and funny, yet heartfelt, novel for younger readers. 11-year-old Ruth is stuck with a family who just don't understand her. It takes a magical encounter with the sharp-nosed and even-sharper-tongued Rodney the Rat to help her see what's really important.

They felt the oncoming trains way before they saw or heard anything. The bridge would shudder a little and then there would be a clanking that built to a roar. Ruth and Mary Ellen would hold hands and shut their eyes.

'Here it comes, Ruthie! Here it comes!'
'And it's coming for us!'
'Make a wish!'
'You too. Make a wish!'

Ruth adored her Aunt Mary-Ellen. Mary-Ellen travelled to exotic places, wore stylish clothes and read interesting books. And Ruth felt as though she was the only one who really understood. But now Aunt Mary-Ellen is gone and Ruth is desperate to escape from her annoying family and so-called friends. Just when she thinks there's no way out, help arrives from a very unexpected quarter. But just how helpful is it to get exactly what you wish for?

A moving, warm and funny story about family, friends and coming back home.

About The Author

Maureen McCarthy is the ninth of ten children and grew up on a farm near Yea in Victoria. After working for a while as an art teacher, Maureen became a full-time writer. Her novels have been shortlisted for numerous awards and include the In Between series, which was adapted from scripts Maureen co-wrote with Shane Brennan for SBS TV; Ganglands; Cross my Heart; Chain of Hearts; Flash Jack; When you Wake and Find me Gone and Rose by any other name. Her much-loved bestseller, Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude Get a Life was made into a highly successful 4-part mini-series for ABC TV.