LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
What might it be like to live surrounded by clocks? Lots of clocks, so that when they all strike you need to cover your ears whilst all their bongs and trills happen. Set in Edwardian Cambridge this is the story of Helena, her Parrot, Orbit, and her father who is employed to keep all the clocks in the house going, the clocks must not stop, or else Helena and her father will lose everything they own.
As Helena settles into this new home, she realises that the owner, Mr Westcott, is obsessed by the clocks, there are strange happenings in the house, and glimpses of a strange history to the place. Will Helena and her father get to the bottom of the problems here, or will they lose all their possessions because a clock is allowed to stop?
On the surface this is a delightfully odd and slightly sinister story with much to be uncovered as the story develops. It is also an exploration of grief and the strange thoughts that can obsess people after a close bereavement. But the overwhelming message is that friendship, love, empathy and memory are vital to everyone, no matter how strange they may seem. The friendship and caring exhibited between child characters in the story wins out over what seem like insurmountable odds – for a very satisfactory conclusion.
Tricia Adams
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About
The House of One Hundred Clocks Synopsis
JUNE, 1905. Helena and her parrot, Orbit, are swept off to Cambridge when her father is appointed clock-winder to one of the wealthiest men in England. There is only one rule: the clocks must never stop. But Helena discovers the house of one hundred clocks holds many mysteries; a ghostly figure, strange notes and disappearing winding keys... Can she work out its secrets before time runs out?
The second book from an astonishing new voice in middle-grade historical fiction, A.M. Howell. Combines mystery and history, with an Edwardian backdrop of invention and change, perfect for fans of Emma Carroll and Hilary McKay.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781474959568 |
| Publication date: |
6th February 2020 |
| Author: |
A.M. Howell |
| Publisher: |
Usborne Publishing Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
336 pages |
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Press Reviews
A.M. Howell Press Reviews
Praise for The Garden of Lost Secrets:
“An impressive debut with a gripping plot as well as authentic historical detail” Daily Mail
“Atmospheric, full of period detail and most importantly thrilling” The I
“This is a touching story about courage and friendship” The Daily Telegraph
"Fans of Emma Carroll will adore this historical tale of derring-do and righted wrongs" The Times
Author
About A.M. Howell
A.M. Howell has always been inspired by the stories around her, and how imagination can unlock the secrets of the past. Her thrilling historical mysteries have garnered great critical acclaim and award wins. Since her 2019 debut The Garden of Lost Secrets, A.M. Howell has fast cemented herself as a stand-out author of thrilling middle-grade historical fiction. She has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim, twice being afforded the prestigious Times Children’s Book of the Week slot, and with The Telegraph calling her “a hypnotically readable writer, who keeps the pulse racing”.
A.M. Howell is the recipient of the Mal Peet Children’s Award for The House of One Hundred Clocks which was also the overall winner of the East Anglian Book of the Year Award, the first time a children’s book has won this prize, whose past recipients include Sarah Perry.
After hearing about the discovery of a 100-year-old gardener’s notebook at the National Trust’s Ickworth House in Suffolk, A.M. Howell found herself wondering who it could have belonged to, and so The Garden of Lost Secrets was born. She continues to be inspired by the stories around her, and how imagination can unlock the secrets of the past. Her bestselling series, Mysteries at Sea is inspired by her own childhood travels on ships.
After completing a BA and MA at the University of Manchester, A.M. Howell now writes policy documents for local government. She lives in Suffolk with her husband and two sons
Image credit to Tom Soper
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