The Girl Who Raced the World
Ages 9 to 12
Buy the book
29 January 2026Imprint: Piccadilly Press
Synopsis
SHORTLISTED FOR THE STANFORDS CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026
'A page-turning, heartfelt adventure full of intrigue, peril and fun. I loved it!' Hannah Gold, author of THE LAST BEAR.
'Astonishingly accomplished ... Full of high-stakes action and characters to root for.' Emma Carroll, author of LETTERS FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE
You must take every day, every hour, every minute one tick at a time.
It is 1872 and, when Maggie Appleton's beloved mother dies, she is left with nothing but a letter for a mysterious stranger called Passepartout. With nowhere else to turn, Maggie seeks out Passepartout and, in doing so, is drawn into an adventure beyond her wildest dreams. Together with Passepartout's employer, the enigmatic Mr Phileas Fogg, Maggie journeys to Italy, India, Hong Kong, Japan and America, in a daring race against time to win the wager Mr Fogg has accepted.
But with a bank robber on the loose, an angry Inspector on their tail and unread secrets in her mother's letter, Maggie soon discovers that there is much more at stake than keeping on schedule to win the bet. Who can she really trust - and will she ever find out where she truly belongs?
A timeless tale of travel, treachery and trust, for fans of Katherine Rundell and Emma Carroll, bringing Jules Verne's classic Around the World in Eighty Days to life for young readers.
'A page-turning, heartfelt adventure full of intrigue, peril and fun. I loved it!' Hannah Gold, author of THE LAST BEAR.
'Astonishingly accomplished ... Full of high-stakes action and characters to root for.' Emma Carroll, author of LETTERS FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE
You must take every day, every hour, every minute one tick at a time.
It is 1872 and, when Maggie Appleton's beloved mother dies, she is left with nothing but a letter for a mysterious stranger called Passepartout. With nowhere else to turn, Maggie seeks out Passepartout and, in doing so, is drawn into an adventure beyond her wildest dreams. Together with Passepartout's employer, the enigmatic Mr Phileas Fogg, Maggie journeys to Italy, India, Hong Kong, Japan and America, in a daring race against time to win the wager Mr Fogg has accepted.
But with a bank robber on the loose, an angry Inspector on their tail and unread secrets in her mother's letter, Maggie soon discovers that there is much more at stake than keeping on schedule to win the bet. Who can she really trust - and will she ever find out where she truly belongs?
A timeless tale of travel, treachery and trust, for fans of Katherine Rundell and Emma Carroll, bringing Jules Verne's classic Around the World in Eighty Days to life for young readers.
Details
29 January 2026
9781835871416Imprint: Piccadilly Press
Reviews
The Girl Who Raced the World is a fantastic reimagining of 'round the World in Eighty Days. . . a fantastic adventure for Y4 and up. It would make a great read-aloud in the classroom or a good independent read.
