The Girl Who Wouldn't Shut Up
A Free Sample Chapter from Proud Books
Meet Edie Finch. She talks too much. Everyone says so.
But when her Nan's allotment is under threat and every single adult gives up, Edie's big mouth might be exactly what's needed.
Inspired by Winston Churchill's wilderness years: the courage to speak up when standing alone.
Edie Finch talked too much.
Everyone said so. Her mum said so. Her nan said so. Her teacher said so. The man at the post office said so, and he only saw her on Tuesdays.
Edie talked at breakfast. She talked at school. She talked in the bath, on the bus, at the shops, and — according to her mum — in her sleep.
"Edie," said her mum. "Do you EVER stop?"
"Not really," said Edie. "There's too much to say."
The best place in Little Benning was the allotment. Nan grew runner beans there. Mr. Davies grew tomatoes. Mrs. Patel grew chillies so hot they made your eyes water from three plots away.
Edie didn't grow anything. She just talked to the plants.
Nan said that helped.
Nobody else was sure.
One Tuesday, a letter arrived.
From the council.
NEW CAR PARK FOR LITTLE BENNING! Forty-three parking spaces. Construction to begin in September. The allotment would be paved over. Flattened. Gone.
Nan read the letter twice. Then she sat down and didn't say anything at all.
That was when Edie knew it was serious. Because Nan ALWAYS said something.
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