The Billow Maiden by James Dixon

The Billow Maiden by James Dixon

By James Dixon (author) , Tamsin Rosewell (illustrator)

"A beautifully told tale of friendship, family, healing and transformation "

Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19

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Lyrically told, and with some fine magic and mythology infusing the story, The Billow Maiden is a thoughtful story that gently explores dealing with sadness with a fittingly happy resolution.

Ailsa is used to the times that her mum can no longer cope but they leave her feeling sad and confused - even when she and her mum are being safely looked after at her Uncle Nod and Aunt Bertha's home on a remote island.

But, when Ailsa, accompanied by Uncle Nod's giant dog, comes across a tumbled down cave on the shoreline she makes an unexpected discovery. Who is the mysterious woman trapped down amongst the rocks?

Can Ailsa help to release her and how can her recovery help Ailsa's mother? Ailsa's discovery leads her to making a new friend and together the two girls revisit and repair family problems from the past.

Ailsa's mum is ill, not the first time, so they spend the summer with her aunt and uncle. Aunt Bertha, Uncle Nod and their dog Moxie live on an island off the coast, by a beautiful fishing village surrounded by beaches and clifftops. Ailsa and Moxie spend their whole time there exploring these beaches and cliffs, until one day they find a hidden cave.

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Inside the cave, they find Hefring, a strange woman not keen on strangers. Ailsa slowly gets to know who Hefring is. She is a selkie, a mermaid, a billow maiden from ancient myth. However, she is stuck on land and slowly dying. It is up to Ailsa and her new friend Camilla to save her, but there are plenty of obstacles in the way - not least Ailsa's own fears and her mum's illness.

The Billow Maiden is a beautifully told tale of friendship, family, healing and transformation from a stunning new writer for children.

James Dixon is a London-born, Glasgow-based novelist, poet, and playwright. His debut novel, The Unrivalled Transcendence of Willem J. Gyle as shortlisted for the 2018 Somerset Maugham Award by the Society of Authors. His debut play, It's My Turn , was performed as part of the 2019 Edinburgh Science Festival, aimed at younger audiences. The Billow Maiden is his first novel aimed at younger readers.

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Ailsa's mum is ill, not the first time, so they spend the summer with her aunt and uncle. Aunt Bertha, Uncle Nod and their dog Moxie live on an island off the coast, by a beautiful fishing village surrounded by beaches and clifftops.

The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Billow Maiden and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-10 years old

The Billow Maiden features in the following genres: Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Fantasy / Magical, Featured Books for 9+ readers, Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month, Mystery / Mythology, Children’s / Teenage: General interest

Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.

The Billow Maiden was written by James Dixon and published by Guppy Publishing Ltd

The Billow Maiden has 265 pages

£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.

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