Hilary McKay

From Costa Award-winner Hilary McKay comes The Time of Green Magic: a beautiful, spell-binding novel about family, magic, an old house and a mysterious visitor . . . Abi and her two step-brothers, Max and Louis, find that strange things happen when they are alone in their eerie, ivy-covered new house. Abi, reading alone, finds herself tumbling deep into books, while Louis summons a startling guest through his bedroom window. Even Max has started to see shapes in the shadows . . . Their busy parents see none of it – but Louis’ secret visitor is growing too alarming to keep secret, and he finds he cannot manage without Max and Abi’s help. Can they find out where the mysterious creature has come from – and how to get it back there? 'An instant classic' New York Times 'Wise and kind . . . full of characters you will give your whole heart to' Anna James 'The emotions of real families have always been [McKay's forte], but in this evocative novel she makes something fantastical happen' Sunday Times

The Time of Green Magic

Kim Tyo-Dickerson

Entrancing audiobook reading experience full of realistic blended family tensions and swirling, uncanny magic flowing through the family's new home, a house with room for all three children to explore who they are now that they are siblings. McKay's writing goes from realism to fantastical seamlessly. Voice performance by Saffon Coomber was brilliant, varying between matter-of-fact narration, humorous interpretations of each family member's unique voice, deft interweaving of external and internal emotions, and then terrible foreboding as the green magic grows, shifts, and threatens.

I loved this listening experience with my own two children as we commuted to school each day so much that I bought the hardcover to have on the shelf for us to remember sharing this story and to re-read one day for a new way of enjoying McKay's writing.

Elizabeth Garza

Cute but kinda chaotic 

Yes, I picked this book up because the cover. It’s gorgeous! And the story is cute, but it was kind all over the place. Well, for this adult brain it was. I do think that a child would like it. It’s a good story that deals with how impactful change can be on a child’s life and how resilient and adaptable they are.

“Possibly the finest writer of our time.” —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes a beautiful, enchanting story about a girl adjusting to her new family and their new house—which just might be magical. When Abi’s father marries Max and Louis’s mom, their families start over together. Abi suddenly finds herself the middle child, expected to share far too much—especially with grubby little Louis. Then they move into an eerie, ivy-covered house, big enough for all of them. But for the children, strange things start to happen in that house. Abi reads alone, and finds herself tumbling so deep into books, they almost seem real. Louis summons comfort from outdoors, and a startling guest arrives—is it a cat or something else? Max loses his best friend…and falls in love. Meanwhile, Louis’s secret visitor is becoming much too real. Now Abi, Max, and Louis must uncover the secrets of their new home—for there can be danger in even the most beautiful magic. From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes a story that is at once enchanting and thrilling—if you don’t get lost in it first.

Kimi 

This book was enjoyable. I like the characters growth throughout all of them. The writing flowed well and good. The story was some fantasy, magical realism but mostly contemporary. I’m not a huge fan of contemporary so this may be why I gave it an average rating. When there were parts that had a magic moment is when I liked it but during the parts of daily characters lives I found my interest died off. Overall I think this is a great read for middle grade kids and I think they would enjoy it regardless.

Jennifer

Catherine Chen

From acclaimed author and Costa winner Hilary McKay comes The Time of Green Magic: a beautiful, spell-binding novel about new families, a magical old house and a mysterious cat . . .When Tom and Polly marry, blending their single parent families together, their children find it hard to relinquish their old lives. Max realizes his birth dad will never come home now, while Abi suddenly finds herself a middle child, expected to share far too much - especially with grubby little Louis. The family start over together, stretching their finances to the limit and renting an eerie, ivy-covered house, big enough for all of them.But when the children are alone there, strange things start to happen. Worried, Louis summons comfort from outdoors, and a startling guest arrives - is it a cat, or an owl, or something else? Abi reads alone, tumbling deep into books. Max loses his best friend and falls in love. Meanwhile, Louis' secret visitor is becoming much too real. And when Max and Abi too start to see the great spotted cat-thing that arrives in the night, it becomes a problem the three of them must find a way to solve - together. But where has the creature come from, and how will he get back?

The Time of Green Magic

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