Performing Pippin Pearmain 9

Pippin Pearmain had a lot of lines in the water-more than she knew. A family treasure was to be revealed, long-held secrets were about to flap home to roost, and Pip's life became enriched in ways she never expected.

Pippin Pearmain is having the time of her life. After ten years of solitary peace interrupted only by cats and recalcitrant lemons, it's all systems go for Pip. Her first film role in a decade is about to premiere, and she's expecting a new companion and the launch of a family treasure. The next festival, Tales in Tune, is underway, and Pip's dancing troupe, the newly named Pippinalia, expects her to pull something special out of her hat. So-no filming this time, but no leisure time either

Her old friend Tamzin's suggestion that the festival is a good venue for launching the newly reprinted book Grandmother's Sunshine has metamorphosed into a giant day-long affair with multiple titles by multiple authors. With ten minutes to make an impression and a veil of playful secrecy, authors and their minions are creeping around in corners, rehearsing their pitches. Pip and her cousins are no exception, but luckily they have Dirk, the Hot Unicorn, in their corner.

Grandmother's Sunshine is to be released, but that's not all. There's the new ballet, Caprice, an inexplicable midnight visit from the original cat, a silver pin... and Pip's understanding of her reality is tossed up like a salad. When the dust settles, everything is changed-except for Pippin Picotee Pearmain. She's still going strong, and she's sure she's better than ever