Corrine loves treasure hunting on the beach, just as she did with her grandfather before he passed away.
One day, her eye is drawn to a beautiful conch shell. To her shock, a pin-sized girl peers out. Kauri is a Democonch, a tribe of tiny people who criss-cross the world with the tides, protecting nature.
But now they’re under threat. What they need is a human child to help them, a shell keeper . . .
The Shell Keepers is my debut novel and one from my heart. It started as a story for my nephew, but it grew into a story for my younger self. Corrine, our protagonist, is mixed heritage, like me, and I drew on my experiences of growing up in two cultures and visiting my English grandparents at the coast to shape the story.
It’s been a pleasure for me to explore the world of the Democonch, tiny people living in shells, and to weave in themes of family, heritage, environmental protection and magic. And it is a delight to now share this book with children and see how it can spark their own imagination.
The Shell Keepers is a lovely book to read, especially aloud, as the Democonch speak a slightly different version of our language!
With echoes of The Borrowers, and a strong environmental message, this warm, sunny, fantasy adventure celebrates diversity, tolerance and respect for the natural world.
Overall, this book is an amazing read. I recommend this book to all the nature-loving readers out there.
With themes of belonging, identity, environment and activism, all beautifully wrapped up in a sunny adventure and a treasure hunt set in a coastal haven, this is ideal for summertime reading
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If you would like me to speak at your school or at an event about the Shell Keepers please contact me.
