From acclaimed author and Costa winner Hilary McKay comes The Time of Green Magic: a beautiful, spell-binding novel about new families, a magical old house and a mysterious cat . . .
When Tom and Polly marry, blending their single parent families together, their children find it hard to relinquish their old lives. Max realizes his birth dad will never come home now, while Abi suddenly finds herself a middle child, expected to share far too much - especially with grubby little Louis. The family start over together, stretching their finances to the limit and renting an eerie, ivy-covered house, big enough for all of them.
But when the children are alone there, strange things start to happen. Worried, Louis summons comfort from outdoors, and a startling guest arrives - is it a cat, or an owl, or something else? Abi reads alone, tumbling deep into books. Max loses his best friend and falls in love.
Meanwhile, Louis' secret visitor is becoming much too real. And when Max and Abi too start to see the great spotted cat-thing that arrives in the night, it becomes a problem the three of them must find a way to solve - together. But where has the creature come from, and how will he get back?
When Tom and Polly marry, their single-parent families find two halves don't make a whole. Max knows his dad will not be home again now. Abi finds herself a middle child and suddenly expected to share far too much. Especially with grubby little Louis. Then the family move home and stretch their finances to the limit renting an eerie, ivy-covered house. Strange things happen there when Esme, the art student, is the only one in charge.
Worried Louis summons comfort from outdoors, and a startling guest arrives. Abi reads alone, tumbling deep into books. Max loses his best friend and falls in love. All three grow further apart than ever. Meanwhile, Louis' secret visitor is becoming much too real. As understanding grows between the children at last, they too see the great spotted cat-thing that arrives in the night. Iffen is the problem they must find a way to solve. Where has he come from, and how can he go back? Will Louis ever manage to say goodbye?
A story of dark winter nights when Iffen prowled home and hearts, books became doorways that opened into worlds, and the ivy house was full of green magic.
Hilary McKay has a rare gift for novels about families and their interplay.
