
Publisher: | Penguin Random House Australia |
ISBN: | 9781761045936 |
Awards Year: | 2023 |
Category: | Book of the Year: Older Readers |
Publisher Link: What we all saw
Blurb
Witches only exist in stories. Everyone knows that. But what if the stories are real?
FOUR FRIENDS. FOUR TRUTHS. ONE NIGHTMARE.
If you wander into the wood …
If you hear scratching sounds from the Old Quarry …
If you go too close to the edge …
WATCH. OUT.
The CBCA judges say...
This thrilling, gripping and tense story holds attention from the very beginning. It discreetly but clearly examines several themes; the persecution of women, the power of class, the futility of war, the value of strong family values and the disadvantages of being poor. These themes are deftly woven together and taken to a logical and believable conclusion. Narrated from the omniscient perspective of an adult, the story is retold through the eyes of the younger characters adding depth and credibility to the dialogue and actions. The description of the main setting is eerily convincing and the characters are authentic neighbourhood kids. This is a haunting but fun story which interlaces a multi-layered historical record over several generations and ends with a startling finale.
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