About
Song Beneath the Tides Synopsis
Ally arrives from England with her brothers to stay for a month in Africa - weeks of running wild on an unspoiled, untamed coast amid mangrove creeks, vast white sandy beaches, coral reefs and warm seas. But on their first walk through the forest to the beach, Ally is swamped by a sense of an unseen presence close to her - of being spoken to.
The feeling increases as a local teenager, Leli enthusiastically sweeps her into the world of his village and their offshore island (Kisiri - the place of secrets). It's the beginning of a friendship that swiftly becomes an intense, overwhelming bond between them. Kisiri is a place of local legend, protected and feared: village youngsters dare each other to go there. Village elders forbid it. Ally and Leli feel drawn to it, and land on its shores. At once Ally feels again that invisible presence, a whispered voice. But fear can change things, divide people.
The bond between Ally and Leli feels unbreakable. But suddenly everything, everyone, conspires to drive a wedge between them. She is, after all, an outsider - a visitor, no more. Only weeks away, she will leave for England, simply walk away, never to return, how can she possibly share, or help?
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781913101091 |
| Publication date: |
8th July 2021 |
| Author: |
Beverley Birch |
| Publisher: |
Guppy Publishing Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
307 pages |
| Suitable For: |
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| Other Genres: |
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Press Reviews
Beverley Birch Press Reviews
A rich and gripping novel that explores the lasting impact of colonialism...a unique and fresh story for YA readers. It presents challenging themes in an accessible, engaging and thought-provoking way and at its heart it is a story about hope and the importance of working together. - The Scotsman
A stunning and sophisticated combination of romance and mystery and is sure to be devoured by teenagers and adults alike.... a story that's rich with history, folklore and mysticism. As a reader you are swept away by the evocative language and the brutal descriptions of threats to an established and sacred way of life. - Reading Zone
A complex and lyrical adventure that's part ghost story, part thriller, part love story. Compelling, atmospheric and beautifully written. - WRD About Books
a thrilling adventure with important things to say, and it is superbly written. I strongly recommend it. - Just Imagine
A magical layered story weaving past and present that stole my heart. - Jasbinder Bilan, Costa Award-winning children's author of Asha and the Spirit Bird
So beautifully drawn, haunting and so heartbreaking ... yet so life affirming... - Sarah Mussi
A tender love story that turns eerie, fierce and political, with a strong message about community and resistance. - Liz Flanagan
Author
About Beverley Birch
Beverley Birch grew up in Kenya and first came to England, where she now lives with her husband and two daughters, to study for her A-levels. After completing an MA in Economics and Sociology, Beverley became an editor at Penguin. Within a few weeks she was offered the chance to work on children's books and has been involved in children's publishing - as both editor and writer - ever since. She has had over forty books published, from picture books and novels to science biographies and retellings of classic works. All her titles have received critical acclaim and her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. Beverley spends three days a week commissioning children's fiction for Hodder, and the remainder of her time on her own writing. She is currently working on a novel for teenagers.
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