Kit's Wilderness; Heaven Eyes

The numerous layers of Kit's Wilderness run as deep as the disused coal mines which have now been grown over by the 'wilderness' of his title. These wasted landscapes, both above and below the ground, are linked by their power to generate the stories which scatter their share darkness. It falls to 13 year old Kit to inherit some of these stories from his grandfather and to realise their magical qualities in helping him and his community to confront the terrifying 'game' called Death. This confrontation, particularly that part of it which involves Kit's encounters with his contemporary, John Askew, the game's apparent controller, provides the opportunity - brilliantly seized - for an enthralling, atmos-pheric and frequently poignant narrative. Fans of Skellig will not be disappointed!

In Heaven Eyes Erin and her friends January and Mouse are parentless children living in a home called 'Whitegates'. They have run away on earlier occasions but the adventure which results in their meeting Heaven Eyes is an altogether more profound experience. It starts as a freedom-seeking jaunt down river on a roughly constructed raft, but soon becomes a voyage of discovery involving the navigation of the river's dark waters and their hidden Black Middens. Here reside Grampa, his secrets and his treasures; here too is the moon-pale Heaven Eyes, endowed with the gift of seeing through the world's troubles to the Heaven underneath. At times mystical, at times matter of fact, this is a tale of dreams, memories and mysteries, confirming its author's status as one of our most hypnotic storytellers.