Publisher Description

There are discos at school several times a year, but the Valentine's Day disco is the one that everyone talks about. They only sell the tickets in pairs. You have to ask someone, or be asked by someone before you can go. Torture. But it won't be torture if Indigo Casson's special plan for the Valentine's Day disco works. Torture is in the cards for Saffy, though, when her first boyfriend decides to take her on an unusual date to a very, very dark graveyard. At least he didn't leave her on a moor with Rose -- yet.

Author Biography

Hilary McKay is the award-winning author of The Time of Green Magic (which received five starred reviews), The Skylarks' War (which was a Boston Globe Best Book and received three starred reviews), Binny Bewitched (which was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and received two starred reviews), Binny in Secret (which received three starred reviews), Binny for Short (which received four starred reviews), and six novels about the Casson family: Saffy's Angel, Indigo's Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After, Forever Rose, and Caddy's World. She is also the author of The Swallows' Flight, Rosa by Starlight, and Wishing for Tomorrow, the sequel to Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess. Hilary lives with her family in Derbyshire, England. Visit her at HilaryMcKay.co.uk.

Review

"A real gem." -- SLJ

Long Description

There are discos at school several times a year, but the Valentine's Day disco is the one that everyone talks about. They only sell the tickets in pairs. You have to ask someone, or be asked by someone before you can go. Torture. But it won't be torture if Indigo Casson's special plan for the Valentine's Day disco works. Torture is in the cards for Saffy, though, when her first boyfriend decides to take her on an unusual date to a very, very dark graveyard. At least he didn't leave her on a moor with Rose -- yet.

Review Quote

"A real gem."--SLJ

Description for Reading Group Guide

About the Books The Casson family -- four creative children, an absentminded mother, largely absent father, ragtag group of friends, ramshackle house, and large collection of guinea pigs -- is unlike any you've ever seen. Beginning withSaffy's Angeland continuing throughIndigo's Star,Permanent Rose,Caddy Ever AfterandForever Rose, Hilary McKay has chronicled the lives of this unique, mad, and utterly brilliant clan. Whether Indigo is dealing with bullies at school, Rose is stealing engagement rings, or Caddy is deciding whom she loves enough to marry, the Casson family is up to the challenge. Quirky, loving, and wise beyond their years, this British brood has advetures you won't want to miss. About the Author Hilary McKay is the award-winning author of many beloved novels, such as Saffy's Angel, which was the winner of the Whitbread Award, an ALA Notable Book, aBoston Globe - Horn BookAward Honor Book, and aSchool Library JournalBest Book of 2002, as well as several picture books, includingWas That Christmas?, illustrated by Amanda Harvey. Hilary lives with her family in Derbyshire, England. Discussion Questions Where do the Casson children get their names? Do these names fit them? What do their names, and how they got them, tell us about the family in general? What do you think about Bill's and Eve's styles of parenting? In what ways are their styles similar, and in what ways are they different? Are they good parents? Do you think the four children would have turned out differently if they'd been brought up by a more traditional couple? InSaffy's Angel, why is it so important to Saffy that she find the memento from her grandfather? Does it matter that, in the end, it's her siblings who end up finding it? Does Saffy's status in the family change when she discovers the identity of her father? Why or why not? What prompted Saffy to look for her real father? Despite the family being so close-knit, both Saffy and Rose talk about feeling lonely. What is the reason that each of them feels lonely? How do they each deal with their loneliness? The Casson children have several friends -- Sarah, Tom, and David -- who come to be like members of the family. How did each of these friendships begin? Is this the "normal" way to become friends with someone? Do these strange beginnings affect the quality of the friendships? Why does Indigo become a target for the gang of bullies inIndigo's Star? How does his place in the group change when he becomes friends with Tom? What does Indigo have to do to stop being a victim to the gang? Why do Rose and Tom get along so well? Does their relationship affect how Tom relates to the rest of the family? How does his affection for Rose help him when there is a crisis in his own family? Indigo has a number of fears, including heights, Caddy's driving, and losing his sisters. How does he deal with his fears? Is he the only Casson child who is afraid of things? What are the others afraid of, and how do they deal with their fears? InPermanent Rose, why does Rose start shoplifting? Does she view this as a bad thing to do? How does she feel about the fact that David is the only person who figures out what she's doing? Discuss Rose's relationship with Bill. Is it different from the other characters' relationships with him? In what ways is Bill a disappointment to Rose, and in what ways is he just what she needs? The format ofCaddy Ever Afteris different from the other books. Why do you think the author chose to write the book this way? How does it change the way you experience the story? Caddy goes through a lot of boyfriends and has trouble committing to Michael. Why is it so hard for her to think about being married to him? Why does she agree to marry Alex? Why doesn't she tell Michael about Buttercup?

Details