Fablehouse - E L Norry

It's 1954 and in post-war Britain Heather lives in a home set away from the village.  Mrs Isold looks after Heather and the other 'brown babies' who were born to African-American soldiers and British white women during the war.  Heather's sense of self-preservation means that she is reserved around the other children; however, after a trip to the local cairn, she begins to make friends.  She, Lloyd, Nat and Arlene quickly become close so when they discover Pal, who seems to have lost his memory, they vow to look after him.  Not long after this though, other children at Fablehouse begin to behave strangely. With the help of Pal (who remembers that he is a Black Knight from the time of King Arthur), Heather and her friends are faced with the challenge of their lives for it is up to them to save the residents of Fablehouse from the fae who are determined to takeover humans.  

Heather is  struggling in so many ways when we first meet her: she is determined to keep her head down and stay out of trouble in Fablehouse but this is isolating her; she is also struggling with the fact that her mother hasn't been able to look after her and she is trying desperately to understand this.  I'm not surprised that she keeps herself to herself and is reluctant to make friends; it's a lot for her to have to deal with.  However, every member of Fablehouse is dealing with similar issues.  They live in a time that is very different to today and we see that in different guises in the book. 

This is a historical book with a magic woven into it.  I was fascinated to discover that Fablehouse is based upon a real orphanage that was set-up after the war for the babies like Heather and her friends and that Emma draws on her childhood experiences as well - that made the book all the more poignant for me.

Fablehouse is a tale of belonging, finding and believing in yourself; it's about acceptance and inclusion; it's about friendship and strength, and it's about finding the missing pieces in life.  

This is a beautifully told story with huge dollops of heart and love stirred in. Publishing on the 8th June, Fablehouse is a book that will stay with you long after you have read the final page.