Greencoats

Shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award Children's Category 2022

Magic begins when reality is impossible to bear . . .

In 'Greencoats' the magic feels real and the reality magical. Tense, compassionate and lyrical, I devoured it in a weekend. Highly recommended." Caroline Lawrence - author of The Roman Mysteries

August 1940 -

After a bomb explodes in Gwen's street during the Birmingham Blitz, she is sent to the safety of her eccentric aunt's woodland cottage. But she soon discovers that the countryside has its own peculiar dangers. The woods are alive with strange, magical creatures wielding frightening powers. To protect herself and her new friends, Gwen must face them, and outwit them, alone.

Greencoats is a middle grade historical fantasy set in 1940 during the Birmingham Blitz. The story is told from the perspective of a resourceful girl evacuated to Shropshire and brings nature, myth, and history together in a cathartic adventure.

Greencoats is aimed at readers aged 8+ but is loved by adults just as much. Although the main character is a girl, Gwen's friend Eddie has a very important role in the plot, and the book has proved popular with boys as much as girls. The narrative combines a pressing concern for dwindling natural spaces with folklore and mythology, exploring issues of mental health, friendship and the fallout of war.

"The novel is set during the Second World War, when Gwen is sent away to stay with her aunt in the countryside after a bomb falls on their Birmingham street. Aunt Eglantine (Tiny) is a delightfully unusual character with a slightly mysterious past, but she willingly invites Gwen into her life and creates a happy escape for her. The mysteries continue when Gwen ventures into the woodlands. A magical element is introduced through spirits within the trees and skilfully woven with the realistic human stories to create a wonderful world which Gwen delights in exploring."
Rubery Book Award Shortlist Review

Readers who enjoy Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Hilary McKay, Michelle Magorian, Michael Morpurgo, Sophie Anderson, Karen Inglis, and CS Lewis will love the otherworldly adventures through the forest of the Greencoats!

Recommended by KS2 teachers for History, English, Trees & Nature, Understanding the World