ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- Bo Delafort is of the riverfolk – generations of people who have lived beside the Thames and gleaned a living from the debris washed up on its muddy shores. She has just turned twelve when she finds a great treasure in the mud – a jewel shaped like the full moon embellished with pearls and rubies. For an impoverished family it can make a great difference, but when she hears the voice of the river, she knows she can't sell it. In amongst this, Bo meets a northern shore boy, Billy – with his musical voice and river-coloured eyes – making an instant friendship. But the treasure is something other people have looked for over the years, and Bo finds herself in danger...
Set in 1918, this combines historical accuracy with river lore and a dash of fantasy, and is an imaginative and beautifully written novel that I enjoyed immersing myself in! Ages 10 Lindy
From the bestselling author of The Miniaturist. Jessie Burton's Hidden Treasure is the phenomenal page-turning story of two children whose lives collide when they find an ancient treasure with the power to return to them the most precious thing they have ever lost
Praise:
‘Pure magic […] the heroine feels as real as Tracy Beaker’ – The Telegraph
Jessie Burton is the author of four internationally bestselling novels for adults, including The Miniaturist and its sequel The House of Fortune, which have been translated into 38 languages and have sold over a million copies worldwide. Her highly acclaimed YA retelling of Medusa was shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal.
Totally transporting and beguiling, Hidden Treasure sweeps you up in its tide and releases you feeling like you’ve discovered treasure * Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars * A jewel of a book. HIDDEN TREASURE is beautifully written, exploring loss and love with a tender touch. Not only that, it is an exciting and absorbing adventure story full of magic and wonder. A rare feat. * Katya Balen, author of October, October * The world of this novel is so real - but so magical. It’s set during WWI, on the banks of the Thames, as two children try to solve an ancient river mystery. Like all the best children’s books, it isn’t just for children but for anybody who believes in love and magic and trying to do the right thing. I can’t wait to read it to my small boys when they grow up * Abigail Dean, author of Day One * A glorious, glittering story that shines with magic, friendship and wonder. Unmissable. * Pari Thomson, author of Greenwild: The World Behind the Door * A gripping, high-stakes mystery with so much heart, I loved it * Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den * A beautiful and moving story * Louise O'Neill, author of The Surface Breaks * A captivating mystery, full of charm and twists and a fascinating old London. Burton effortlessly combines a high-stakes mystery and characters with true emotional depth. A story that stayed with me long after turning the final page * A.F. Steadman * It’s stunning, so finely crafted it’s as if the author found it shaped and complete like a treasure itself. I loved it entirely. The river setting and old London, and the history and the characters. All the interwoven layers of story telling. Bo and Billy River and Eddie will be with me for a long time. -- Hilary McKay What a gift of a book. Jessie Burton hits the absolute sweet spot of peril and joy, of adventure and delicious detail, with characters that felt absolutely real to me. It’s a future classic. * Francesca Segal, author of The Innocents * An intriguing concept. * Kirkus Reviews * Pure Magic – the heroine feels as real as Tracy Beaker * The Telegraph *