June is Gypsy, Roma And Traveller History Month and we have chosen, ‘The Pearl Thief’ by Elizabeth Wein as our Book of the Month. 

Julie Beaufort-Stuart is a teenager who has returned from boarding school to spend one last summer on her grandfather’s Scottish estate. The old man has died and the estate is being sold to cover his debts. But there is more to this….. A man is missing, presumed murdered and the blame is falling on the McEwens, a family of Travellers, whom Julie has known for as long as she can remember. Set in 1938, the story is one of grudges, secrets, strangers, prejudice and class division, as well as a coming-of-age story and mystery. 

Suggested reading for Year 10+