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.
