By Ewa Jozefkowicz (author)
"In a nutshell: grief and loss turned into hope and resilience "
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Izzy feels as if colour is leaching from her world, and literally. Plagued by nightmares of a shadowy, threatening figure, when she wakes in the morning colours appear to have been stripped out of the mural her mother painted for her. With her mother in a coma following an accident, Izzy’s world is already changed utterly, but extra pressure is added by her former best friend’s thoughtless, casual cruelty. Meeting Toby, whose own life was changed after a terrible accident, and the discovery of a young cygnet that needs their help, gradually restores Izzy’s understanding of her world.
A touching novel of hope, friendship and resilience written with quiet assurance and a real sense of loss and recovery.
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2019. Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award, 2019. First the accident, then the nightmares. The shadowy thief steals all the colours from Izzy's world leaving her feeling empty and hopeless. Will her new neighbour and a nest full of cygnets save Izzy and solve the mystery of the colour thief? A heartwarming story about families, friendships, school, nature, hope and self-confidence. After a frightening car accident, Izzy's mum is in a coma. Her family is in pieces. Her best friend at school has dumped her. And her nightmares are haunted by a shadowy man stealing all the colours from her world. She's trying so hard to be brave, but Izzy thinks everything is her fault. Then she meets her new neighbour, Toby, paralyzed after a skateboarding accident, and together they find a nest of cygnets who need rescuing. Particularly the odd one out, called Spike. Will saving Spike save Izzy? Will she and Toby solve the mystery of the colour thief and bring hope and happiness back to Izzy's life? Written with insight, compassion and empathy - an authentic story about real life and how to survive it.
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'Moving and emotionally highly charged, this is a haunting story that will stay with you long after the last page is read' Parents in Touch
. 'A very thought provoking book; deeply moving with a very tragic story which could happen to anybody in real-life ... This is a fantastic story inspired by life' Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books
'Paints a convincing picture of a harrowing time in a young life ... By no means a gloomy read, offering ample humour, hope and optimism' Booktrust
'This extremely readable novel lays bare the emotions of friendship and family, as well as exploring the impact of nature on our urban lives, and the ways in which we can find hope and confidence in ourselves' Minerva Reads
. 'A really impressive nuanced debut looking at how to cope with and survive life' Fiona Noble, The Bookseller
Ewa Jozefkowicz's debut novel The Mystery of the Colour Thief , published by Zephyr in 2018, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Girl 38: Finding a Friend blends contemporary times with WWII Poland. The Key to Finding Jack is about the special bond between siblings. The Cooking Club Detectives tackles the impact of food poverty on children today. The Dragon in the Bookshop blends Polish folklore with a magical quest. And The Wolf Twins is a rewilding adventure. All are published by Zephyr.
Ewa lives in London with her husband and twin daughters.
Photo credit Marcin Markiewicz
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Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2019. Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award, 2019.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Mystery of the Colour Thief and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
The Mystery of the Colour Thief features in the following genres: Stories about Family and Friends, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback, Hardback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Mystery of the Colour Thief was written by Ewa Jozefkowicz and published by Zephyr an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
The Mystery of the Colour Thief has 201 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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