Toby Alone

LoveReading4Kids Says

Winner of the 2009 Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation. It is the second time translator Sarah Ardizzone has won the Award: she took it in 2005 for Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac. She received it at the English-Speaking Union from Anthony Horowitz, who had taken no part in the judging but who later confided that Toby Alone was his favourite book on the shortlist.

What the judges said: An inventive adventure in a miniature world. Although just one and a half millimetres tall, Toby is a hero on a giant scale in this eco-story about the need to conserve resources. Toby's fight to save the tree from the predators who want to make use of it is passionate and exciting.

We think it's an exciting, gripping fantasy story of a miniature world under threat and a boy hunted by his own people. In a sentence, The Borrowers for the 21st Century. Be prepared to be transported into this amazing miniature land where dangers lurk around every nook and cranny for a boy who must try to stop the wonton destruction of his world, which in turn is bringing potentially unstoppable climate change. It'a a real page-turner and heart-rending too with some wonderfully detailed line illustrations, which compliment the story so well. Translated from the French by the award-winning Sarah Adrizzone and itself winner of numerous awards including France’s prestigious Prix Sorcieres and, in translation, Italy’s Premio Andersen prize.  

The other titles shortlisted for the Marsh Award were Tina's Web, Letters From Alain, My Brother Johnny, When the Snow Fell, and Message in a Bottle.

The sequel to Toby Alone, Toby Alone 2: Toby and the Secrets of the Tree is now available

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