Billy Casper is a boy with nowhere to go and nothing to say; part of the limbo generation of school leavers too old for lessons and too young to know anything about the outside world. He hates and is hated. His family and friends are mean and tough and they're sure he's going to end up in big trouble. But Billy knows two things about his own world. He'll never work down the mines and he does know about animals. His only companion is his kestrel hawk, trained from the nest, and, like himself, trained but not tamed, with the will to destroy or to be destroyed. This in not just another book about growing up in the north - it's as real as a slap in the face to those who think that orange juice and comprehensive schools have taken the meanness out of life in the raw working towns.

With prose that is every bit as raw, intense and bitingly honest as the world it depicts, Barry Hines's A Kestrel for a Knave contains a new afterword by the author in Penguin Modern Classics. Life is tough and cheerless for Billy Casper, a troubled teenager growing up in the small Yorkshire mining town of Barnsley. Treated as a failure at school, and unhappy at home, Billy discovers a new passion in life when he finds Kes, a kestrel hawk. Billy identifies with her silent strength and she inspires in him the trust and love that nothing else can, discovering through her the passion missing from his life. Barry Hines's acclaimed novel continues to reach new generations of teenagers and adults with its powerful story of survival in a tough, joyless world. Ken Loach's renowned film adaptation, Kes, has achieved cult status and in his new afterword Barry Hines discusses his work to adapt the novel into a screenplay, and reappraises the legacy of a book that has become a popular classic. Barry Hines (b. 1939) was born in the mining village of Hoyland Common, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Leaving Ecclesfield Grammar School without any qualifications, Hines worked as an apprentice mining surveyor for the National Coal Board before entering Loughborough Training College to study Physical Education. Working as a teacher in Hoyland Common, he wrote novels in the school library after work, later turning to writing full-time.

The classic book that inspired Kes, the famous film, now published as a Penguin Essential for the first time. Barry Hines's A Kestrel for a Knave was published in 1968, and was made into one of the key British films of the sixties. Billy Casper is beaten by his drunken brother, ignored by his mother and failing at school. He seems destined for a hard, miserable life down the pits, but for a brief time, he finds one pleasure in life: a wild kestrel that he has raised and tamed himself.

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love. As a general's daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. Kestrel has other ideas. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in Arin, a young slave up for auction. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him - and for a sensational price that sets the society gossips talking. It's not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for him is much higher than she ever could have imagined. The first novel in a stunning trilogy, The Winner's Curse is a story of romance, rumours and rebellion, where dirty secrets and careless alliances can be deadly – and everything is at stake.

Life has been cruel to Grace Collins... Orphaned as a child, she is raised by her severely religious aunt, Emily. Starved of love, she falls for the first man who shows her affection, Barry Swan. And when Grace falls pregnant, Emily disowns her. Barry and Grace marry and, for a while, she knows happiness. Barry adores her and is a wonderful father, but Grace feels that something is missing. When Barry indulges her passion for ballroom dancing, the gap seems to be filled - until she meets Philip Golding. He sweeps Grace off her feet, showing her what she believes is a better way of life. But as he draws her into a web of deceit, she discovers that all that glitters is not gold...

A brilliantly funny, gripping novel - and the bestselling hardback children’s debut of 2014 - from a born storyteller, The Parent Agency is an epic wish-fulfilment adventure for every child – and for the child in everyone. “I wish I had better parents!” Barry said, a third time. And then suddenly the entire room started to shake… Barry Bennett hates being called Barry. In fact it’s number 2 on the list of things he blames his parents for, along with 1) ‘being boring’ and 3) ‘always being tired’. But there is a world, not far from this one, where parents don’t have children. That’s far too random for something so big and important. In this world, children are allowed to choose their parents. For Barry Bennett, this world seems like a dream come true. Only things turn out to be not quite that simple… Illustrated by Roald Dahl Funny Prize winner, Jim Field.

It's a fight to the death, where no one will escape a strike to the heart... Lady Kestrel's engagement to Valoria's crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust... While Arin fights to keep his country's freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner's Trilogy.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) was a British author and novelist mostly known for his satirical works such as "Vanity Fair" that showed an ironic representation of the British society of those times. Set in Europe near the end of eighteen century, the novel "Barry Lyndon" tells the story of Redmond Barry of Bally Barry, a clever young man and a member of Irish gentry, who tries his luck in every way possible. For the decades he travels all around Europe trying on the roles of a soldier, gambler, and even a vagrant. After that, he reaches the top after becoming a part of the English aristocracy by marrying an English heiress.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811—1863) was a British author and novelist mostly known for his satirical works such as "Vanity Fair" that showed an ironic representation of the British society of those times. Set in Europe near the end of eighteen century, the novel "Barry Lyndon" tells the story of Redmond Barry of Bally Barry, a clever young man and a member of Irish gentry, who tries his luck in every way possible. For the decades he travels all around Europe trying on the roles of a soldier, gambler, and even a vagrant. After that, he reaches the top after becoming a part of the English aristocracy by marrying an English heiress.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811—1863) was a British author and novelist mostly known for his satirical works such as "Vanity Fair" that showed an ironic representation of the British society of those times. Set in Europe near the end of eighteen century, the novel "Barry Lyndon" tells the story of Redmond Barry of Bally Barry, a clever young man and a member of Irish gentry, who tries his luck in every way possible. For the decades he travels all around Europe trying on the roles of a soldier, gambler, and even a vagrant. After that, he reaches the top after becoming a part of the English aristocracy by marrying an English heiress.

The tenth book in the brilliant Roald Dahl Funny Prize winning BARRY LOSER series. Perfect for readers aged 7-10 years old and fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates, Dennis the Menace and Pamela Butchart's Wigglesbottom Primary series. Everyone at Barry's school has gone football crazy, but Barry gets thrown out of the team (the Mogden Maniacs) for being completeerly rubbish. Then it turns out that his best friend Bunky is a super striker - so Barry becomes his manager. The cup final match is approaching and Bunky's getting carried away with his football fame - can Barry keep his head in the game? Join everyone's favourite Loser on his tenth hilarious adventure! Barry Loser: I am not a loser was selected as a Tom Fletcher Book Club 2017 title. Future Ratboy and the Invasion of the Nom Noms is shortlisted for the Lollies Award 2017

The seventh book in the brilliant Roald Dahl Funny Prize winning Barry Loser Loser series. Perfect for readers aged 7 years + and fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates and Dennis the Menace. It's only a few days into the half-term holidays and Barry's dad has already had enough of him! He's packing Barry off to Pirate Camp, the same one he used to be sent to every year. Barry's not impressed - he's not a baby anymore, so why should he have to go to a camp for kiddywinkles? But horrible things are afoot at Pirate Camp - it's been taken over by the villainous Morag, and now its future's in doubt. There's only one thing to do: Barry and his new friends Sally Bottom and Renard Dupont have to uncover the hidden treasure of Mogden Island… Don't miss the other hilarious books by Jim Smith: I am not a Loser, I am still not a Loser, I am so over being a Loser, I am sort of a Loser, Barry Loser and the holiday of doom, Barry Loser and the case of the crumpled carton, Barry Loser's ultimate book of keelness, My mum is a loser, My dad is a loser and Future Ratboy and the Attack of the Killer Robot Grannies.

The ultimate companion to the brilliant Roald Dahl Funny Prize winning BARRY LOSER series. Perfect for readers aged 7+ years old and fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, Tom Gates and Pamela Butchart. Barry Loser's Book of Keel Stuff brings the Ultimate Book of Keelness into paperback - with brand new content including jokes, animal mash-ups and a 'Which Loser are you?' quiz. There are also the short stories `Bunky is a Loser' and `My Dad is a Loser', editions of the Daily Poo, a Q&A with Jim from his fans and pages of brand-new superkeel drawing guides and activities. Barry fans old and new will love Barry Loser's Book of Keel Stuff.

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn't forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people-and certainly more than she did for him. At least, that's what he thinks. In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they've done to her. But no one gets what they want just by wishing. As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

The second book in this madcap must-read series for 6+ boys You know when someone's horrible to you in a dream and you wake up really annoyed with them? That’s what happened to me with my best friend Bunky. Barry has a new problem: Gordon Smugly – who’s got the most perfect name for himself ever in the history of having a name, because he looks like a Gordon and is smug and ugly – has stolen Barry’s best friend. Join Barry as he attempts to get Bunky back, organises a girly-screamvoice test and tries to avoid seeing his teacher kissing his gran.

Celebrating Barry Loser's 10th birthday with a new series of graphic novel adventures! The bestselling, award-winning Barry Loser series is ten years old and Barry, Bunky, Nancy and the gang are off on a series of new adventures - in full colour graphic novel format and with 'how to draw' sections to help you make your own comic books! In the first book, Barry has had enough of being a loser and wants to prove he's a Total Winner, but when his parents ban him from gaming he has to think outside of the box . . . Barry also has a new cat called French Fries - the keelest cat ever amen. Jim Smith's books have sold 840k copies in the English language, and sold in 17 territories. He won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, the Scholastic Lollies award, was shortlisted for the Waterstones prize, and had a World Book Day book.