The Time of Green Magic

By Author / Illustrator

Hilary McKay

Genre

Magical Realism

Age range(s)

Publisher

Pan Macmillan

ISBN

9781529019247

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

20-08-2020

Synopsis

From Costa Award-winner Hilary McKay comes The Time of Green Magic: a beautiful, spell-binding novel about family, magic, an old house and a mysterious visitor . . .

Abi and her two step-brothers, Max and Louis, find that strange things happen when they are alone in their eerie, ivy-covered new house. Abi, reading alone, finds herself tumbling deep into books, while Louis summons a startling guest through his bedroom window. Even Max has started to see shapes in the shadows . . . Their busy parents see none of it - but Louis' secret visitor is growing too alarming to keep secret, and he finds he cannot manage without Max and Abi's help. Can they find out where the mysterious creature has come from - and how to get it back there?

'An instant classic' New York Times. 'Wise and kind . . . full of characters you will give your whole heart to' Anna James. 'The emotions of real families have always been [McKay's forte], but in this evocative novel she makes something fantastical happen' Sunday Times

Reviews

The Time of Green Magic is spellbinding. It speaks of the magic of books, the reality of family relationships (sometimes strained, but at times protective and reassuring), of imagination and its potential to transport us all to different worlds. The writing is flowing and subtle, with dialogue and characters that are totally believable.

A brief summary: Louis and Max have Polly. Now they're claiming Theo, too, whom Abi did have all to herself until they became a new blended family and moved to the ivy-covered house. Little Louis wants Abi's Granny Grace too, and Rocky, her rocking horse. So things are a bit fraught, especially when Polly goes away for work and the house seems to take on a life of its own. At least Louis' babysitter, Esme, brings calm, but she also brings her art portfolio – cave drawings which Louis has a hand in creating and which, like the house and Abi's books, have a dangerous life of their own. So dangerous that the children have to band together to overpower and outsmart the monstrous (Louis would add 'lovable') cat, Iffen, which appears and grows before their eyes.

I shall definitely recommend it to those (particularly KS2 children), both girls and boys, who like realism laced with a touch of fantasy. It would also make an excellent class read, although there will be many who would enjoy curling up with it alone on a dull day, perhaps when the doors and windows are firmly shut.

224 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Jane Rew, school librarian