"A mysterious and evocative coming of age story which explores hidden depths and family secrets."
June 2024 Book of the Month
This mesmerizingly beautiful and lyrical tale introduces us to 12 year old Ettie, living in a world affected by an unspecified war and a sickness which sounds very much like the pandemic. She lives in the remote self-sufficient High Fell House with her Grandma, having been left behind by her Mother, off travelling to places where she could make a difference as a doctor.
It was only supposed to be temporary, but when all the planes were grounded and no one could travel, she could not get back and they have not heard from her in over three years. This sadness lurks deep within Ettie despite her love for their life, living in harmony with the beautiful natural world around them that is described so vividly. But Ettie is on the cusp of adolescence and ripe for wondering if there is more to life and more to her story than she has been told.
Enter the mysterious Cora who leads her to the beautiful but dangerous quarry pool and the hidden caves beneath. Ettie now feels bold and brave like her Mother and resents the restrictions and warnings coming from her Grandma. She knows a secret is being kept from her and thinks Cora could lead her to it, but could she be leading to darkness and tragedy?
The tension builds inexorably to the dramatic conclusion. Not everything is spelled out for the reader who is given space to form their own conclusions in this haunting, intriguing tale. There is a wonderful use of myth and traditional tales to underpin the message that you cannot, and should not, try to protect children from the dark side of life. We cannot fully appreciate the light without understanding the darkness that exists. Superbly descriptive writing, evocative illustration and psychological depth make this an unforgettable read.
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This mysterious story is full of adventure and nature. Read it to find out the secrets of the deep water pool.
This book is about Ettie who lives with her Gran. She meets a mysterious girl called Cora and they together explore an underwater world in a hidden quarry pool. There are lots of secrets to find out about that link Ettie to the past and the dangerous pool is involved but Gran won't tell them why.
I liked this book because there are lots of descriptions of Ettie's life with Gran and all about the nature of the place that they live in. I liked the pictures around the edges of the pages that show the beautiful nature that Ettie and her Gran love. Ettie likes to be adventurous and I wanted to see what she would do next. I wanted to keep reading to find out what secrets Gran was keeping from her and to see if she would survive exploring the underwater cave.... Read Full Review
Super fun adventure story.
Super fun adventure story. The main character Ettie is really brave. I enjoyed the descriptions in the book as it really helped me to imagine the story.... Read Full Review
Ettie And the Midnight Pool is a tale about exploring friendships, curiosity and discovering who you are and the excitement that comes with it.
Ettie and The Midnight Pool is a book about bravery, rebellion and discovery. One of my favourite scenes is when Ettie finally meets Cora, and she is opened to a whole new world of mystery and wonder. I enjoyed that scene so much, because it not only sets up the plot, but it also starts off all the rebellion that grows under the guise of curiosity and exploration.
The grandmother is also a key part of the story, she shelters her granddaughter, in the hopes of keeping her from the dangers of the outside world. In doing this, her grandmother hides from her the true cruelty and shocking reality in life of how some things don’t have a happy ending.... Read Full Review
