Nicola Skinner is a highly exciting and unique voice in children’s books – she first rocketed to success with her dynamic debut novel Bloom, which went on to become a Guardian Book of the Year and was longlisted for the Blue Peter and Branford Boase book awards. This darkly comic tale cleverly explores childrens’ anxieties surrounding friendships and starting at a new school, perfect for building empathy and sparking discussions.
When lonely Hattie feels out of place at her new school, she creates a scarecrow - Crow. Hattie wants him to guard the den she finds in the playground, the only place she feels happy and comfortable.
Poor Crow really just wants to have fun with the other children, but he takes his job for Hattie very seriously and his behaviour starts to get scarier and scarier. Will Hattie realise that Crow is ruining her chance to make new friends before it's too late?