The White Hare: A West Country Coming-of-Age Mystery

A beautifully written coming-of-age novel nominated for the 2017 CILIP Carnegie Prize from an acclaimed literary voice. A lost boy. A dead girl, and one who is left behind. A village full of whispers and secrets. When the white hare appears, magical and fleet in the silvery moonlight, she leads them all into a legend, a chase. But who is the hunter and who the hunted? 'There's magic in Michael Fishwick's The White Hare, a haunting story of a troubled London teenager [and] a tender reflection on father-son relationships' EVENING STANDARD. 'Finely tuned prose, a rich sense of place, magical folklore elements, multi-dimensional characters, and a well-paced plot create a suspenseful contemporary tale of grief, retribution, and healing' KIRKUS, Starred Review. 'Myth, mystery, love and loss collide in an utterly gripping, deeply atmospheric, coming-of-age novel' THE BOOKSELLER.

About the Author :
Michael Fishwick is a publisher and novelist. He has written two other acclaimed novels, Smashing People and Sacrifices. Michael Fishwick is a publisher and novelist. He has written two other acclaimed novels, Smashing People and Sacrifices.

Review :
There's magic in Michael Fishwick's The White Hare, a haunting story of a troubled London teenager [and] a tender reflection on father-son relationships Finely tuned prose, a rich sense of place, magical folklore elements, multi-dimensional characters, and a well-paced plot create a suspenseful contemporary tale of grief, retribution, and healing Myth, mystery, love and loss collide in an utterly gripping, deeply atmospheric, coming-of-age novel This is the best sort of magical realism Beautifully written, with lyrical evocations of the rural setting and a tense playing out of a myth that seems all too real, this is an all too believable blend of magic and realism. The striking cover and delicate line drawings which pepper the pages make it a lovely object as well as a gripping read The launch title for Head of Zeus's new children's imprint, Zephyr, and it sets the bar very high... Fishwick's depiction of place and landscape as well as his creation of the atmosphere and mythology of the novel is excellent... it is exactly the sort of book that deserves to figure in the reading lives of young people' It's got a clarity about what it evokes, and a sterling mood to its pages. It could do very well indeed for this new imprint A magical and thoughtful tale about the place where old and new communities meet, this is also a sensitive, well-told story about the rifts that occur in families and friendships, and how they can be healed. Fishwick's writing is fine and stylish and never loses the grip of a slowly building, powerful story Fishwick's sense of wonder (childlike but never childish), expertly paced plot and relatable characters make it a highly original and deeply moving read Handsomely produced, with delicate line drawings, this is a skilfully told and original novel Alongside the magic and the fables, there are some difficult and bang up-to-date modern themes running through this book, and the author has combined the two very well. His attention to detail, his description of the countryside and his well-rounded and realistic characters work so well together to create an enjoyable and quite different story for children and young adults... Fishwick has a rich imagination and is a skilled writer. The White Hare is thought-provoking and a pleasure to read' One of the best books I've read this year. I loved the book so much because it drew me in instantly... Without a shadow of a doubt 5/5 rating. Go buy the book now!' Both the reader and story are richly imbued with the essence of the countryside and nature... A great look at a teenager finding his place in a new world' Gripping... a modern day fairy tale' A wonderfully atmospheric novel. It's a real achievement to combine a family drama about grief, family and friends with a central mystery which has a dangerous edge to it, all magically bound up in nature and legend, but Fishwick has done it with consummate skill. This novel should delight the 12+ audiences of its primary target, but it also entranced me (9/10) If you like your stories lilting and poetic do give this one a read The further along I got the more the suspense built up and more than once I felt a chill run down my spine A gripping novel of rural intrigue, loss and awakening A stunning coming of age tale interwoven with folklore, mysticism and villainy at the village fete His tense relationship with Sheila, the new woman, and her daughters, shows Fishwick to be a keen observer of blended-family life, particularly in Robbie's relationship with his stepsisters, which is edged with resentment and rivalry but also affection and friendship