Carl is visiting the Peak District with his parents, living in a small ancient cottage. He appears to be running away from whatever happened on March 13th… Whilst walking in the hills he gets lost – but is directed and taken home by a lad and his dog - who just melts away. Was this really a ghost, or is it the ancient local myth of the Lost Lad? Did he imagine it all?
Doherty has written over 60 books for children and young people, and we can see why her books still command an audience and gather new fans with every new book. The sense of loss and confusion surrounding Carl is palpable – the reader aches to help him and to wish him ease in his grief and confusion. The landscape plays a vital part and is evoked with a great deal of love and affection by an author who values the contribution landscape can make to an atmospheric story like this.
The characters feel totally authentic – particularly Carl’s parents in their support for him in his loss, and the farmer Al with his countryman’s love of the healing power of the land. I am not a fan of ghost stories in their usual lurid form, but this is so gentle and empathetic that I would not hesitate to recommend this as an excellent read to all.
When Carl visits the Peak District with his parents to try and recover from the fallout of a horrific accident, he becomes caught up in the mysterious tale of the Lost Lad. Are the hills actually haunted or is Carl being chased by his own demons?
As past and present collide, Carl must learn to come to terms with the loss of his best friend, Jack and find a way to move on.
Berlie Doherty is the author of the best-selling novel, Street Child, and over 60 more books for children, teenagers and adults, and has written many plays for radio, theatre and television. She has been translated into over twenty languages and has won many awards, including the Carnegie Medal for both Granny Was a Buffer Girl and Dear Nobody, and the Writers’ Guild Award for both Daughter of the Sea and the theatre version of Dear Nobody.
She has three children and seven grandchildren, and lives in the Derbyshire Peak District.
To read a question and answer session with Berlie Doherty please click here.
