“Are you sure about this, Rose?” I say, wondering if I should knock the powder out of her hands. “You’re not going to hurt her, are you?” I think of the storms Mitch can conjure up, the hurricanes, the flashes of lightning that can set fire to trees.

But already Rose is blowing the powder into the air. If you didn’t know it was there, you wouldn’t notice it.

It floats across the playground, a trail of sparkling dust that twists and turns, stopping directly over Harriet’s head. It’s her own little whirlwind, a pink storm waiting to break.

Then Rose whispers a word and I hold my breath.

The spell falls on Harriet. As it falls, it changes. It becomes a beam of pure golden light.

Harriet lifts up her face. The other girls haven’t noticed it—I don’t think they even know it’s there—but Harriet has. The light bathes her face and she can’t help smiling. It’s a big happy smile. It’s not something I’ve ever seen Harriet do before. The light continues to fall on her, dazzling, beautiful; it’s like a little piece of Roar has appeared in Home.

“Mitch gave me that powder in case I missed her,” says Rose. “That’s what it feels like when we’re together. Now Harriet knows what it’s like to have a real friend.”

Then she puts the cork back in the bottle and slips it into her pocket.

“Harriet would never have done that for you,” I say.

“Exactly,” says Rose, and together we walk into school.

About the Author and Illustrator

JENNY McLACHLAN is the author of several acclaimed young adult novels, including Flirty Dancing, Stargazing for Beginners, and Truly, Wildly, Deeply. Before Jenny became a writer, she was head of English in a secondary school; she now loves visiting schools as an author and delivering funny and inspiring talks and workshops. When Jenny isn’t thinking about or writing stories, she enjoys living by the seaside in the UK, cycling, and running over the South Downs. The Land of Roar was her middle grade debut. Visit her at www.jennymclachlan.com.

BEN MANTLE has illustrated numerous books for children, including the picture book There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight and the middle grade novel The Lost Magician. He is also the author-illustrator of the award-winning The Best Birthday Present Ever! Ben lives in the UK. Visit him at www.benmantle.co.uk.

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Books by Jenny McLachlan

The Land of Roar

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