Tall Story by Candy Gourlay

Andi desperately hopes her long lost half brother Bernardo will be as mad on
basketball as she is. But when he steps off the plane from the Philippines,
she can't believe her eyes.
She hasn't seen him for ten years, but even so, how did he get to be EIGHT
FOOT TALL? An eight-foot-tall boy who is about to crash into her life with
his size 22 feet.

But Bernardo is not what he seems. Bernardo is a hero, Bernardo works
miracles, and Bernardo has an amazing story to tell.

A bittersweet story, funny, sad and magical...

Candy was one of the winners of the Undiscovered Voices competition back in 2008. She's a shining example of just sticking at it, being dedicated, being enthusiastic and having a great story to tell WILL get you through.

I'm so pleased TALL STORY's been the one for her to break through. I love mythology and she's picked up a myth from her native Phillipines as the starting point of her book. It's about how giants are responsible for earthquakes and poor Bernado, being a giant, feels pretty guilty over the recent earthquake back in his home town. Go and check it out, it's different, it's great and will give you a fresh insight into a brand new world. Below are a few more reviews for TALL STORY.

"Tall Story combines wry humour and profound comment on cultural identity .
convincing, witty and poignant" The Bookseller children's book choice for
June 2010

"It isn't often that I am in fits of laughter one minute and in tears the
next - TALL STORY is one of the warmest, funniest, most moving books I've
read in a long time - and Candy Gourlay is a rare and new voice in
children's fiction." Bella Pearson, editorial director, David Fickling Books

"Marvellous ... Tall Story is the kind of book which even as early as in
January you can say will be one of the best in 2010." Book Witch