Cuckoo Song

Frances Hardinge spent a large part of her childhood in a huge old house that inspired her to write strange stories from an early age. She read English at Oxford University, then got a job at a software company. However, a few years later a persistent friend finally managed to bully Frances into sending a few chapters of Fly By Night, her first children's novel, to a publisher. Macmillan made her an immediate offer. The book went on to publish to huge critical acclaim and win the Branford Boase First Novel Award. She has since written many highly acclaimed children's novels, including Fly By Night's sequel Twilight Robbery, as well as the Carnegie-shortlisted Cuckoo Song and the Costa Book of the Year winner, The Lie Tree.

It's a compulsive read without naked demands for attention; the tension is, for the most part, in uneasiness and anxiety, in a nagging feeling that things aren't right. It's done incredibly well, to my mind. breathesbooks.wordpress.com This story is really clean, but outstandingly creepy, and I'm completely entranced by the world that Hardinge created... The writing- oh my goodness, the writing is superb. There are deeper themes than just that of a girl trying to find herself: the effects of war on a societal level as well as personal; the depths of cruelty people can be capable of in the name of vengeance; autonomy; forgiveness; love. I'm not eloquent enough to say how amazing I think this book is and I can't recommend it highly enough! NetGalley The most original mid-fantasy I have read in a long time... a little book bundle of literary magic. tessburton.wordpress.com Hardinge brings sophistication and literariness to children's fiction whilst never skimping on the entertainment and satisfaction quotient. dancingonglass11.blogspot.co.uk I love this book so much I tried to savour it like I do with sweets! thesweetreview.wordpress.com This melange of the historical and fantastical in Hardinge's gloriously rich metaphor-laden style is unlikely to be to every child's taste-but it's probably too good for them anyway. NetGalley This book is a work of art. Every sentence is an elegant, perfectly constructed gem thewhisperingofthepages.blogspot.co.uk A strange tale of fantastical beings, strange occurrences, buried secrets and ultimately, family relationships of all shapes and sizes under-mountain.blogspot.co.uk Frances Hardinge, author of the award-winning novels Fly-by-Night, Twilight Robbery and A Face Like Glass, puts an imaginative spin on the well-worn tales of changelings in her new YA novel Cuckoo Song. telegraph.co.uk It's magical, menacing stuff theguardian.com This multi-layered fantastical novel is one to curl up with and savour. I can't recommend it highly enough. Guardian The sense of identity that Frances creates in all of her characters, whether minor or major, makes real, tangible, interesting personalities that are a genuine joy to spend time with. -- Frances Hardinge Interview with Holdfast holdfasrmagazine.com 'All was perhaps. Nothing was certain. And that, that was wonderful.' I am opening this review with Cuckoo Song's closing words because there is a wonderfulness about them, an intrinsic quality to those words that at once show the excellence of the book at a sentence level and also perfectly encapsulate the thematic core of the novel: its heart and soul, if you will... a supremely well-written novel thebooksmugglers.com Cuckoo Song is a deeply moving, multi layered book about finding oneself, where magic and the aftermath of World War I walk hand in hand. blurbarians.blogspot.co.uk An irresistible novel, which I absolutely adored. Not many authors can conjure such an utterly brilliant modern fairytale. theguardian.com With its creepy undertones, authentic backdrop and arresting storyline, Cuckoo Song is the ideal book to get teenagers reading ... and thinking. lep.co.uk Cuckoo Song was a wonderful, sad and chilling book that I couldn't put down. booksandenchantment.blogspot.co.uk Strange, creepy and wonderfully written ... a magical read that's about as unique as you can get! throughthegateway.blogspot.com A beautifully-written and captivating novel. -- Katherine Woodfine booktrust.org.uk