Great Expectations: Abridged for Young Readers

A beloved classic adult novel skilfully abridged to inspire and engage a new generation of middle-grade readers, from a multi-award-winning author.

Young orphan Pip, downtrodden and mistreated by his guardian sister, has a terrifying meeting with an escaped convict. Soon afterwards he is invited to play at the gloomy, cobwebbed house of unhappy Miss Havisham, where he is humiliated by her beautiful ward, Estella. Pip falls in love with the girl, despite her disdain for his ignorance and rough appearance, and begins his apprenticeship to his blacksmith brother-in-law feeling ashamed of his lowly home.

Then Pip is told he is to be brought up as a wealthy gentleman, and he delightedly assumes his secret benefactor to be Miss Havisham, planning him as a match him for Estella. When he discovers this is not the case, his heart is broken and his loyalties torn.

What is the connection between Miss Havisham and the mysterious convict? And will Pip ever win Estella’s heart?

A fantastic way of introducing children and middle grade readers into the work of Charles Dickens… easy to follow and splendidly written. BookRead2Day
A great option to introduce younger children to Dickens' world. NetGalley Reviewer
This is a well executed abridged version of Great Expectations for middle grade readers and older children. It is also a great introduction to classics for children over 8, especially if the read is followed by a discussion with an adult who has read the book. I will be recommending it to my adult friends who want to read classics but complain about not having the time. NetGalley Reviewer
very accessible… successful in highlighting the main narrative events in surprising detail and in conveying the memorable character traits of the cast. The Letterpress Project
… skillfully abridged for a young audience to make them really engaging and accessible. This is a wonderful introduction to the story, which will hold their attention and prove to them that books written before even their parents and grandparents were born are still relevant today. World’s Smallest Library

A. L. Kennedy is a prolific writer of novels, short stories, non-fiction, plays and film scripts. She often features on the radio and is both an associate professor of creative writing and an occasional stand-up comedian. After over 30 years of writing for adults, she now also writes for children, including the hilarious Uncle Shawn series, illustrated by Gemma Correll. She is the winner of multiple UK and international prizes, including the Costa Book of the Year Award and the Somerset Maugham Award. Originally from Scotland, she currently lives in north Essex.

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