After the snow by S.D. Crockett is set in a world in the midst of an ice age. The hero is 15 year old Willo who lives in the wilderness far from the city and government control. Then one day whilst Willo is out his family are taken. Willo sets out to get them back. On his journey he finds Mary a girl from the city who is dying from starvation but rather than leave her Willo makes the difficult decision to take her with him. This would seem to weaken his own chances of survival. As they head for the city they face danger and violence but the journey is also one of friendship and self-discovery. Join Willo and the dog spirit inside his head as they face an amazing adventure which at times is bleak but which ultimately ends on a note of optimism.
An excellent book, Willo is a wonderful voice. A must read for all who loved the
Chaos walking trilogy by Patrick Ness.
From the book jacket "An unforgetable adventure story that will quicken your pulse and chill you to the bone."
"Harrowing but hopeful" Observer.
The bride's farewell by Meg Rosoff is one of a number of books on display throughout the Library united by the theme 'Journeys'. The bride's farewell is a beautifully written historical novel set in the 1850s in the area around Salisbury. On the morning of her wedding Pell Ridley rides out of her village on her horse -Jack- accompanied by her mute brother Bean. Their journey takes them on an adventure, through good times and bad, until they all find their rightful place in the world. I really adored this book, the characters are beautifully imagined - even the horse, Jack and Dicken the dog. The countryside and the poverty of the time are well described and Pell's family story is both shocking and moving.