"When Colin Barrett's debut Young Skins was published, it swept up several major literary awards, and, in both its linguistic originality and sharply drawn portraits of working-class Ireland, earned Barrett comparisons to Faulkner, Hardy, and Musil. Now, in a blistering follow-up collection, Barrett brings together eight character-driven stories, each showcasing his inimitably observant eye and darkly funny style. A quiet night in a local pub is shattered...

George is excited to attend his first sleepover, but he doesn't anticipate how worried he will feel, and luckily, his friends are there to help him overcome his homesickness.

Thirteen-year-old Mary Lou grows up considerably during the summer while learning about romance, homesickness, death, and her cousin's search for his biological father.

When Ruby's homesickness spreads to other students at Master Willow's School for Ninjas, she uses all of the skills she has learned to help them feel better. Includes instructions for making a dragon toy two different ways.

"Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa. But she is spending Christmas with her granny in Canada. She can't wait to see snow for the first time. And how will it feel to be so far from home?"--

Harper loves spending time with her gorgeous new kitten, Sammy. He likes sitting in the window, exploring their flat and playing in the garden. But then Harper and her family have to move in with her gran after she has a bad fall, and everything changes. Sammy doesn't feel at home at Gran's house. He misses the smells and sounds of the flat, his real home. So when he spots an opportunity to go back, he takes it. But Sammy soon discovers home is more...

A homesick little girl who has recently moved to an unfamiliar country comforts herself by clinging to an old blanket, but when she meets a new friend, the relationship helps her take her first steps into a new culture.

Half-shark, half-dog Shark Dog ends up on the boat of a boy and his explorer dad, and becomes their pet. But when he gets homesick, he'll have to decide whether to go back to Shark Island or stay in his new home.

Eight-year-old Eleanor is very unhappy when her family moves into a duplex, so she asks her new neighbor, seven-year-old Owen, to help her escape to her old house.

"Sometimes we find what we're looking for in the most unexpected places. Wren just wants a bit of peace and quiet. What he gets is the noisiest baby sister you could ever imagine! But when Wren runs away to the country, he discovers that maybe peace and quiet isn't all he needs... With bright, modern illustrations and a powerfully simple story, any child (and any parent!) who's ever had to deal with a noisy sibling will love Wren. This debut from...