Oh I totally forgot about DWJ in my list! I first discovered a musty book by her in my school library when I was 10. (It wasn't just hers, all the books there were a bit sad and musty and in clear plastic sleeves that had gone a bit sticky from the sellotape glue spreading.) It was Cart and Cwidder, which is not, I believe, hailed among her best. I remember being shocked by the twists of the plot, which at some key point took a turn that just didn't fit the patterns of what I'd read so far. I quickly read all the others, and yes, Charmed Life is probably my favourite too.

I love the bit where Cat defiantly and disbelievingly lights the match! And again, the plot twist with his sister (and his OTHER sister) struck me as completely outside the normal expected plot space.