WINNER OF THE TIMES/CHICKEN HOUSE CHILDREN'S FICTION COMPETITION 2019
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE 2022
'A joy of a book: rich, warm, powerful storytelling' KATHERINE RUNDELL
'A thrilling adventure bright with the gorgeous colours of Nigeria – glorious!' JASBINDER BILAN
'An excellent book ... rich in tradition and realism.' HANNAH GOLD, AUTHOR OF THE LAST BEAR
'[A] beautifully evoked story' THE TELEGRAPH
City girl Simi is sent to stay with her long-lost grandmother in a remote Nigerian village. There's no TV, internet or phone. Not a single human-made sound can be heard at night, just the noise of birds and animals rustling in the dark forest outside.
Her witchlike grandmother dispenses advice and herbal medicine to the village, but she's tight lipped about their family history. Something must have happened, but what?
Determined to find out, Simi disobeys her grandmother and goes exploring. Caught in the sinking red quicksand of a forbidden lake, her fantastical journey begins ...
Paperback, 288 pages
Age: 9-12 years old
ISBN 9781913322366
