Race Around the World!
Go on an adventure with author Nat Harrison in her book, The Girl Who Raced the World, a thrilling story inspired by the classic Around the World in 80 Days. Follow 11-year-old Maggie Appleton, an orphan who gets caught up in a daring wager to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days.
The journey begins at London’s Reform Club where the original wager was made, then moves to the bustling Charing Cross Station, the starting point of Maggie’s adventure. Explore the Asian continent, experiencing the importance of steam trains and the busy shipping channels of Singapore, a vital trading hub in the 19th century. Conclude your daring adventure in a foggy San Francisco, a city crucial to the story’s climax, before moving on to the beautiful landscapes of California’s Donner Lake and the transcontinental railway.
This video is your exciting ticket to the historical settings that make The Girl Who Raced the World a gripping and informative read. It’s a tale of adventure, railways, and steamships that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Free teaching resource
About the book
The Girl Who Raced the World is out from Picadilly Press on 25th September.
It is a page turning adventure bringing Jules Verne’s classic Around the World in Eighty Days to life for young readers with a thrilling twist. Perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell and Emma Carroll.
It is 1872 and, when Maggie Appleton’s beloved mother dies, she is left with nothing but a letter for a mysterious stranger called Passepartout. When she tries to deliver it, Maggie is caught up in an adventure beyond her wildest dreams – a gamble to race around the world in eighty days, something everyone says is impossible. Everyone, that is, except Passepartout’s new employer, Mr Phileas Fogg, who has bet his entire fortune on the journey.
With a thief on the loose, a detective on their tail, and a letter full of unread secrets, it seems the odds are against them. Will Maggie solve more than one mystery, and find a place where she truly belongs, before time runs out?
Cover art by Tom Clohosy-Cole
About the author
Nat Harrison was born on the tiny volcanic island of Ascension, in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. She spent her childhood having adventures in England and Hong Kong and has since journeyed to every continent except Antarctica (it’s next on the list). She’s based in Richmond but can usually be found exploring with her husband, and her best dog Shadow, who loves a good story.
In the past, Nat has worked as a sweet seller, burger flipper, bingo caller, and ice cream whipper. She’s also worked for some of the most well-known technology brands, living in Europe, Asia and the US. Most recently Nat graduated with distinction from the MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. The one constant across continents is Nat’s love of reading and writing (and living!) adventure stories. The Girl Who Raced the World is her debut novel.
Time Tunnellers 