Lifted

Shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year
Shortlisted for the Portsmouth Book Award

Shoplifting and blogging . . . now Robyn’s a celebrity

Robyn is a compulsive shoplifter – with a difference. Everything she steals, she donates to charity shops – then blogs about it. She doesn’t need to steal, but shoplifting gives her a buzz like no other.
     Soon everybody’s talking about the mystery blogger. At last Robyn has the fame she craves – but only one person knows who she really is, and he’s sworn to secrecy . . .
     Will Robyn risk revealing her true identity – and can she stop
shoplifting before she gets caught?

'Ruby, the silly but likeable antiheroine of Hilary Freeman's perceptive and fast-paced Lifted comes from a more recognisable contemporary teen world, where insecurity and boredom are the sources of most ills. Displaying the common sense and warped desire for fame of a Big Brother evictee, Ruby creates a blog to publicise her serial shoplifting in the persona of Robyn Hood, who donates stolen goods to charity shops. If parents are anxious about the shoplifting tips, rest assured that this is a truly cautionary tale.'
The Observer

'Like Hilary Freeman’s earlier books, this is a fast-paced, readable story rooted convincingly in the everyday lives of modern teenage girls. It is also a cautionary tale … the story brings out the temptations and hazards of modern internet life, above all the spurious attractions of unearned and media-fed celebrity.'
School Librarian

'Well written and enthralling tale about a girl worried about being ‘average’ … Ruby’s actions are always understandable and explained in her point-of-view narrative and the extracts from her blog … she is well named – this is a gem of a novel which should appeal to mature readers of all ages (apart, that is, from members of the retail trade).'
Books for Keeps

'Hilary Freeman is a genuinely amazing author, almost uniquely able to be both gritty and frothy at the same time. Lifted is delightfully written and beautifully plotted and, in Ruby, has a great central character. Heartily recommended.'
Anthony McGowan

'The chatty, easy-to-read style and the unusual plot hooked me from the first page. Lifted is a compelling, original and thought-provoking novel.'
Chicklish

'An excellent read. 5*'
Theschoolrun

'So good I could not put the book down … so exciting … Most teenagers would love this book as the storyline moves very fast.'
Teen Titles

Watch the Lifted trailer!