Monday 6^th June,

 I think they know that I’m on to them. I’m probably just being paranoid, but I’m sure that there’s an atmosphere in the house. They’re looking at me strangely, I know they are. And giving each other meaningful looks behind my back, I see them when I turn around. And they stop talking as soon as I walk into a room.

They know.

I’m sure of it.

And I’m really scared.

Who knows what they’re capable of?

What they would do to protect themselves.

I’ve got to get away.

I’ve got to escape.

Tomorrow is the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, there’s going to be a street party. There’ll be lots of confusion, lots of people. I’ll go then. They’ll not realise I’ve gone for ages. I could hitchhike.

They’ll never find me.

At least I pray to God they won’t.

 Above is the first page of The Forbidden Room. It is a thriller aimed at teenagers (although hopefully adults will enjoy it too). It is about a fourteen year old girl, Jenny who is left orphaned and disabled in a car accident and lives in a children’s home. When she is fostered by the Holland family it seems like her life is taking a turn for the better. Little things about the Hollands start to confuse and worry her, though. Why do they live in such a secluded house that doesn’t even have post delivered? Why does Helen Holland fly into rages over seemingly unimportant things? Why is five year old Stephen wise beyond his years? When Jenny finds an old diary under the floorboard in her bedroom, written by a previous foster child of the Hollands, the whole tragic and terrifying story starts to unfold before her, and Jenny finds that she must make some life or death decisions.

The book is published by Faber and Faber.