The long-awaited and hugely original follow-up to the phenomenally successful Wonder was worth waiting for!

There are moments when you realise that the decision you’re making will reverberate for the rest of your life. This is a story about making brave choices.

It’s 1860s America, the sheriffs and their deputies have a perilously thin grip on the prospectors, bounty-hunters and criminal gangs hiding in the unmapped land. Tensions between abolitionists and slavers are about to blow up into the Civil War, and the land is haunted by the ghosts of eradicated Indigenous people. In a quiet corner of this semi-lawless land, young Silas Bird learns about the science of astronomy and photography from his genius father, a wonderfully liberal and open-minded man reminiscent of Harper Lee’s Atticus Finch.

Palacio thoughtfully explores the father-son relationship, the strength of which is tested when the father’s real identity is brought into question after he is abducted by a criminal gang. Against all advice, Silas decides to go after his father. And yet he doesn’t feel alone, accompanied as he is by the mysterious pony that appeared just at the right time, and his best friend, Mittenwool, who just so happens to be a ghost. With captivating storytelling, startling revelations, and vivid characterisation, we are led to the heart of the criminal network and deep into the mysteries of Silas’ own life.

The historical setting is faultless, easily ranking with the work of Francis Hardinge or Emma Carroll, but at its heart this is a timeless story about hope, bravery, and how to keep going when everything around you keeps changing. Like Wonder, it’s about being true to yourself. This is a work of real quality, and sure to be regarded as a classic of children’s literature.

(Review by Tim)