A brilliantly accomplished debut that packs a lot of punch, touching as it does on death in the family, the difficulties of step-family relationships and the nurturing power of 'green fingers' ... How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant has been nominated for the 2010 Carnegie Award

Shortlisted for Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2009.

'The bright narrative proceeds unerringly and often hilariously to the climax ... [Elen Caldecott] handles the tricky subject of death superbly. It's a central theme, but it never overpowers the light breeziness of the yarn. The iron clamp of realism is unshackled to allow a primary colour world to peek even into Mr Thomas's rude and grumpy heart' Western Mail 'Funny and quirky with a wonderful main character ... a warming and moving story from a talented new author' TBK magazine 'Its ingenious ideas, humour and clear, unfussy style keep the pages turning speedily to the feel-good conclusion, which is moving without being mawkish' The Sunday Times 'Creating novels that engage children and at the same time show how books can help them explore difficult questions about their own experience is perhaps the ideal of children's fiction, but it's a difficult balancing act ... Elen Caldecott has achieved this balance beautifully' The Observer

Elen Caldecott recently graduated with an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University. At the end of the course she was highly commended in the PFD Prize for Most Promising Writer for Young People. Before becoming a writer, she was an archaeologist, a nurse, a theatre usher and a museum security guard. It was while working at the museum that Elen realised there is a way to steal anything if you think about it hard enough. Elen either had to become a master thief, or create some characters to do it for her - and so her debut novel, How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant, was born. Elen lives in Bristol with her husband, Simon, and, one day - when they live in a bigger flat - they will be joined by a dog.