by H.S. Norup 🧚♂️
Cover Art by Thy Bui Interior Map by Thy Bui
Published by Pushkin Children's Pushkin Press
A Sarah Odedina Book
We have been looking forward to a new book by H.S. Norup. Now it's here & it's review time!
This is H.S. Norup's third book & if you haven't read the others, you really must! They're not a connected series but each is a perfectly formed, brilliantly creative, special adventure, bubbling with cultural references & delicious folklore-flavoured details.
All 3 books would be great additions to a home bookshelf, school library & superb as a class read. They all offer numerous pathways to topics that could be explored so many ways in classroom study projects.
Have you ever felt like you're being watched? That's how young Alfred felt when he was outside his Grandma's house.
He wasn't exactly happy about having to stay there, but his father was working on a big motorway tunnel construction project nearby, so he had no choice. Alfred meets free-spirited Saga & he's quite relieved to have someone interesting to spend time with in his unfamiliar surroundings, blurred by distant memories.
Thanks to H.S. Norup's wonderful writing style we are completely immersed in Alfred's world & join his unusual activities with Saga.
They're surrounded by vast, maybe mysterious woodland but why doesn't Granny ever venture out there?
A dish of milk quietly put out every evening? Who or what is that for? It just adds a few more levels to Alfred's curiosity.
Joining Saga at a protest against the very project his Dad is working on is a tricky situation for Alfred. Nothing is going to be simple but Saga is a quirky, very determined & enthusiastic individual.
How can turquoise yarn, chalk & a sand-filled hourglass⌛️be the key items to help Saga & Alfred find their way through dark hills & rough tunnels? Sometimes you just can't rely on tech' or a 'phone. *This map (including granny's house & wood carvings) is such a visual treat, allowing us to step right in & explore the landscape of the story locations as we travel through the whole, multi-layered adventure*
There's definitely something unusual about the wood carvings placed in & around granny's house but do they actually move? Are they more than just ornamental additions to the eclectic decor?
*Don't touch them* But why not? Granny offers no explanation at all. Alfred is naturally curious but also sceptical - there's so much missing information about his mum - nobody seems to be willing to share the truth. Is there an actual gravestone? Was it accurate? Alfred's heart is warmed but also puzzled by a water sprite figurine. He'll also find true connection with family & a new best friend, learning how it feels to stand up for things you truly believe in.
With such a unique combination of real-world family struggles, mythology & eco-activism framing this story, Alfred's frustrations stifle his energy.
Whilst fuelling his deep-seated worries, Alfred's personal & physical challenges, threads of faerie creature activity & history weave through the atmospheric, drama-peppered tale. Watch out for eyes looking at you from unexpected places - nobody ever knows when a creature from the faerie realm might choose to visit.
I am very excited to let everyone know about this wonderful story & so grateful to Sarah Odedina, H.S. Norup & Pushkin Press for the chance to have an early read.