100 Summers

We are thrilled to welcome back award winning author Ali Sparkes to celebrate the publication of her new book, 100 Summers!

Those who saw Ali when she visited Ryedale last year to launch her previous book, My Sister is a Dog, will know how brilliant she is to see live. And Ali actually set 100 Summers in North Yorkshire after her 2023 visit!

‘I was so taken with the beauty of York and more rural areas like Pickering, that Candlesham Hall in the book took on a Yorkshire character and it seemed natural to me to bring Dante to this wonderful part of the world, far away from the inner city estate he grew up on,’ says Ali.

‘And I can’t wait to come back to Yorkshire to launch 100 Summers. It’s a story that’s haunted me for over a decade. Stairwell Books was a perfect home for it because Rose Drew, my editor, completely gets the neurodiverse characters and their struggles.'

At this event you'll hear about the exciting mystery full of clues to solve! There'll be a sneak peek of the story, time to ask questions, plus the chance to have your own copy of Ali's books signed.

The event is suitable for all ages — everyone is welcome! Tickets are FREE but please book in advance to guarantee a seat.

More about 100 Summers:

Sent to a summer school for kids with ADHD and dyslexia, Dante finds 13-year-old Beatrix Fairweather’s journal, hidden many decades earlier. It’s a struggle to read – he has to creep around a spooky old mansion house in the night, just to solve a riddle to find the key to get into it.

But it’s worth the effort. Bea’s journal is full of clues and ciphers, leading him to small treasures which have been hidden in the house and grounds for a century.

And as Dante gets more and more wrapped up in Bea’s story, her clues and riddles also lead him – and other kids at the summer school – into serious danger.

100 Summers is a mystery and adventure rolled into one, with a sprinkling of puzzles for the reader to solve alongside the protagonist. Its setting is vivid and striking, making this a particularly immersive read. Great for readers aged 10+.

Stephanie's review (Pickering Book Tree)