A beloved classic adult novel skilfully abridged to inspire and engage a new generation of middle-grade readers, from a multi-award-winning author.

Young orphan Pip, downtrodden and mistreated by his guardian sister, has a terrifying meeting with an escaped convict. Soon afterwards he is invited to play at the gloomy, cobwebbed house of unhappy Miss Havisham, where he is humiliated by her beautiful ward, Estella. Pip falls in love with the girl, despite her disdain for his ignorance and rough appearance, and begins his apprenticeship to his blacksmith brother-in-law feeling ashamed of his lowly home.

Then Pip is told he is to be brought up as a wealthy gentleman, and he delightedly assumes his secret benefactor to be Miss Havisham, planning him as a match him for Estella. When he discovers this is not the case, his heart is broken and his loyalties torn.

What is the connection between Miss Havisham and the mysterious convict? And will Pip ever win Estella’s heart?

Abridged versions of books tend to have people split into two groups, those who think that watered-down classics don’t have the same feel as the original and those who think they are an amazing way to get younger or less confident readers into classic stories.

While I fully appreciate where both are coming from I have to say I am in the latter group as I think abridged versions open up a person’s library to those books they might never have felt comfortable reading or like me have tried numerous classic books only to get a few chapters in and give up. Many years ago I tried reading Great Expectations and never got pass the third chapter, this book I flew through.

I won’t go over the plot as I am sure most people know the story, especially given how old it is and how many movies, plays, etc adaptions there have been.

This latest version by A. L. Kennedy will draw the reader in with its colourful artwork on the front and black and white artwork within. The plot is also as relevant today as it was in the 1860s. Children will feel for young Pip and his hard life. They will be engrossed by the harshness of the story and life back in the 1800s. This is a fabulous book and I hope it brings the classic of Great Expectations to the next generation.

A.L. Kennedy was born in a small Scottish town far too long ago and has written books for adults and children, but mainly adults. Before that she made up stories to amuse herself. It has always surprised her that her job involves doing one of the things she loves most and she’s very grateful to be a writer. She has won awards for her books in several countries. She has travelled all over the world and enjoyed it immensely. She plays the banjo badly, but makes up for this by never playing it anywhere near anyone else.