The little white horse (Abridged ed)

Juliet Stevenson, star of the major film version, reads the Carnegie Medal-winning novel.

When orphaned young Maria Merryweather arrives at Moonacre Manor she feels as if she's entered paradise.

Her new guardian, her uncle, is kind and funny; the Manor itself feels like home right away; and every person and animal she meets is like an old friend.

But there is something incredibly sad beneath all of this beauty and comfort.

A past tragedy has left a shadow over Moonacre Manor and the town around it, but Maria is determined to learn about it, change it, and give her own life story a happy ending.The "Little White Horse" - now regarded as a modern classic - was awarded the Carnegie Medal and was televised by the BBC as "Moonacre".

Now a major feature film, "The Secret of Moonacre", starring Ioan Gruffudd, Dakota Blue Richards, Tim Curry and Juliet Stevenson. 'I absolutely adored "The Little White Horse". It had a cracking plot. It was scary and romantic in parts and had a feisty heroine' - JK Rowling.