The Hermit Shell is powerfully written, psychologically convincing and full of gripping action.

Neil runs away from his troubles at home and school in London to the protection of The Hermit Shell, his aunt's house on the Cornish coast.

He hopes to start again there, and all seems to go well when he is drawn into the community surrounding the local lifeboat and its crew.

Can Neil really leave all his troubles behind in London?

The book is dedicated to the Lifeboat Service, who advised on details of the story. The Hermit Shell is one of eleven books that make up Extended Reading Level B, for children in Year 6/Primary 7.

This phase of Cambridge Reading has an increased provision of extended narratives and aims to develop children's knowledge about language, its vocabulary, forms, structures and styles.