The Lovely Dark

by Matthew Fox

★★★★

My thoughts

The Lovely Dark is an unusual book that explores the deep and complex idea of an afterlife. Although the theme of death is strong throughout the book, this doesn't stop the adventure and excitement that captures the reader's attention and keeps them reading on. In fact, despite the focus being death, I actually found this book incredibly calming to read and thought that the afterlife seemed rather peaceful!

I loved the plot twists in this book and found it very easy to keep reading - I couldn't put the book down without knowing what would happen to Ellie and whether she would make it home to her new baby brother! I also loved how the story touches on sensitive topics such as grief, illness, mental health in such a gentle and compassionate way that reassures the reader while encouraging them to think deeply about their own lives.

Overall, this is a refreshing and unique book that offers much excitement and plenty of opportunities to discuss sensitive but important topics that may otherwise be tricky to approach.

Dive Deeper

Key information

Author: Matthew Fox

Illustrator: Izzy Burton

Release Date: 6th July 2023

Book type: Chapter, 272 pages, paperback

Reader level: Confident reader (8+)

Overview

Recently, Ellie's life has changed in many ways: she has moved house, the pandemic has put life on hold, her baby brother has just been born and her grandmother has passed away. Before long, another tragedy hits after Ellie is convinced that she has seen her doppelgänger which means only one thing... she is going to die. While on a school trip with her new friend Justin, her greatest fears become reality and she finds herself trapped in the afterlife. She knows that she doesn't belong here, but how do you reverse the effects of death?

At first. Ellie finds comfort in the fact that she has Justin beside her but soon realises that they cannot remain together in the underworld. Stuck in Eventide house (a boarding school for dead children) on her own, Ellie begins to explore this new world and any way back to the living. Despite their promise to see each other, Justin never makes it to their meeting point but instead begins to leave mysterious messages in dirt. Ellie realises that something isn't right and is more determined than ever to make it out of this bizarre place and back to her family, even if that means being a ghost.

Each day, Ellie leaves Eventide House in the hope of finding someone, or something, to guide her home, but the afterlife is nothing like the world that she knew and time seems to be slipping away. Was she really destined to die on that frightful day, or will she find a way back to the life that was stolen from her?