Hana Tooke crafts compelling narratives for young readers, weaving in her background in music with a keen eye for detail. Her stories often explore themes of identity and belonging, delivered with a distinctive blend of humor and warmth. Tooke's work delves into complex relationships and the resilience of the human spirit. She creates captivating worlds that resonate deeply with her audience.
Ema Vaskova has always felt different. In a family of famous scientists, there's not much room for superstition or omens - but they seem to follow Ema wherever she goes. When Ema is sent to stay with her eccentric uncle in Prague, she fears she'll lose the chance to ever fit in. But then she meets Silvie
Way back in the autumn of 1880, five babies are discovered at the Little Tulip Orphanage in most unusual circumstances. Those babies are Lotta, Egbert, Fenna, Sem and Milou. The vile matron calls the children 'the unadoptables' but this talented gang of best friends know that their individuality is what makes them so special - and so determined to stay together. When a sinister gentleman tries to get them in his clutches, the children make a daring escape across the frozen canals of Amsterdam, embarking on an adventure packed with pirate ships and puppets. But is their real home - and their real family - already closer than they realize?--