MISS DENISE DOLAN

Twelve year old Gregory Gray has begun cycling from his suburban home into the newness of a rural setting interrupted by the canal.

The magnetic force of the herd and in particular the couple most devoted to him, Giggles and Coff, her black Aberdeen Angus calf draw him from the comfort of his home out into the wildness of the hillside. Greg would however discover that the chill in the farmer's heart would not offer him an undisturbed scene.

What could a landscape offer to distract the distraught; to sway the balance? Would Subtle and her 10 mallard chicks bring about a cure or would the chinstrap family step forward to claim the heart of one GG? Perhaps Mrs Flintoff's holiday, leaving her hens in need of a provider would offer some much needed balm. School certainly looked a strong contender for his heart when Geography became 3D. We shall see.

Tom, the shopkeeper dare trust no-one when he turns hunter for the hillside dissenter. Is it his chance to hold the aces?

A chill in the air, a blessing of fireworks as minds battle to overcome the nips and shivers of a November night. Sadly fireworks are not silenced after the 5th. The indomitable Buttress the bull must protect his kingdom as readily as the sun sets and the grass grows. The mulled drinks might bring warmth but for Farmer Crock yet another chilling for the herd which would leave them truly isolated.

Fresh air arrives with some newcomers. Adam Wheeler would discover the wisdoms needed to stay aboard his boat. His neighbours, Mary and son Ben would learn to stretch their budgets this Christmas as skilfully as the canal stretched through the countryside.

THE TEXT IS CHALLENGING AND SUITABLE FOR READERS ABOVE 11 YEARS OLD.