The Teller of Tall Tales

Liz Hyder returns with an immersive folklore-inspired novel for young readers and deftly explores themes of family estrangement, friendship and bereavement through the developing relationship between a teenager and the grandmother they haven’t seen since babyhood.

Oma lives alone in her cottage with Tig the cat, her memories and an almost overwhelming sense of guilt and loss. And now her quiet life is interrupted by visits from a grandchild on the cusp of adulthood: a grandchild with questions about why they have been kept apart for so long, one who wants answers (and not just about the mysterious scar on their wrist). Each monthly visit they share reveals more about the family’s long-held secrets and how the line between lies and the truth can so often be blurred.

The novel is also infused with Oma’s love of the land, built on the lives of previous generations who have lived near the forest. Each month she weaves a tale for her grandchild that is steeped in folklore, magic and truths both harsh and fantastical. The interpolated tales are added depth and richness by Tom de Freston’s superb black-and-white illustrations. From the revenge-tinged darkness of The Day of the Stag to the tenderness and homecoming Oma and Tomas share in The Wanderer of Worlds, each superb spread and vignette enhances the beauty and insight of Liz Hyder’s storytelling.

The pain of separation and adolescent confusion are written compellingly and with great sensitivity, and the second-person narrative immediately draws the reader into an absorbing, otherworldly experience. Liz Hyder also addresses the issues of grief and depression in a way that is thoughtful, reflective and non-judgemental.

The Teller of Tall Tales is a must for school library shelves and one that would also engage book groups.