MEDIA REVIEWS FOR SHADOW FOREST/SAMUEL
BLINK
Shadow
Forest is a fascinating and magical tale
about two unfortunate children whose lives
are turned upside-down in a matter of moments.
. . This is an outstanding piece of literature.
For someone’s first children’s
book it is a great piece of work. Yusuf
Hassan, The Times
Weaves
horror and humour into a 
terrific
tale. Amanda
Craig, Best summer
reads, The Times
Crisp
dialogue, fast-paced action, short chapters,
and a wry narrative voice bring this tale
to life. . . amid
the comedy, the author skillfully maintains
true suspense that builds to an exciting
finale. An encounter with a "Truth
Pixie," for instance, is mostly comical,
except for the fact that the creature 
tries
to make Samuel's head
explode. All of the characters, human and
otherwise, have strong voices and individual
quirks that make them interesting and easy
to keep track of through several simultaneous
plot threads. The lessons that Samuel learns
about courage and empathy over the course
of his adventures come through clearly without
seeming heavy-handed. This book should be
popular with fantasy fans, and also makes
a good choice for those new to the genre.
Steven Engelfried,
School Library Journal
A
really great read that is difficult to put
down. TBK
This
is a seriously good book! Teen
Titles
What
a cracking read. The author, Matt Haig,
is able to transport the reader to another
land in the Shadow Forest. The book deals
with hard issues, such as death of parents
and the hopelessness after the needless
death of the main character's parents, and
the subsequent after-shocks. His sister
deals with the issue by not being able to
talk or sing, as she had done before the
tragic death. The book also deals with issues
such as love of two people and not giving
up hope after the enforced separation of
the two adults who become an important part
of the children's lives. .
. I will not give the ending away, but Matt
Haig spins an enchanted tale, using Norwegian
and Norway as his backdrop. It enables the
reader to lose themselves, and even adults
would find this a great read. . . I would
recommend this book to able readers and
ones that need stretching as it would be
a great book for art and visualisation.
Sally Saunders,
TES.co.uk
a
brilliant read, packed full of imagination
and with a host of fascinating characters.
. . Shadow Forest is destined to capture
10-13-year-old readers' imaginations with
every chapter leaving them wondering what
will happen next . . . Holly
Beale, Western Morning News
This book is a real children’s book.
A timeless classic that I’m so proud
to be publishing. Matt Haig knows that all
the best adventures happen when parents
aren’t around so he kills off the
parents in this book in the first chapter
and sends two orphans to live abroad with
their strange aunt next to an enchanted
forest. Their aunt has many rules but the
main one is: Don’t go into the forest!
And so, as in all the best children’s
books, the children end up in the forest
and have the most incredible of adventures
meeting shadow witches, truth pictures,
two-headed trolls, sleepy slemps and the
terrifying huldres. A wonderful book to
be read by torchlight under the covers!!
Charlie Sheppard,
my . . . erm . . . editor
Excellent
fun, no matter how old you are! BBC
Radio Leeds
As
Autumn approaches (not that we had a brilliant
summer to start with) this is the perfect
book to read under the covers by torchlight,
a fast-paced adventure story which is so
polished that it's hard to believe it's
Matt Haig's first foray into the world of
children's literature. . . Marvellous stuff
for confident readers. Stacia
Briggs, Norwich Evening Times
Considering
that Matt Haig's first two novels for adults,
THE DEAD FATHERS CLUB and THE LAST FAMILY
IN ENGLAND (to be published in the United
States in 2008), were told from the point
of view of a young boy and of a dog, respectively,
it's probably not too surprising that this
immensely talented literary newcomer should
eventually turn his attention to a children's
book featuring --- you guessed it --- a
young boy and a dog. SAMUEL BLINK AND THE
FORBIDDEN FOREST is a sparkling juvenile
debut by a writer who understands how children
think --- his sense of fantasy is simultaneously
playful and sinister, and his sophisticated
tone and themes ensure that kids won't feel
patronized (and that grownups who pick up
the book won't be disappointed either).
Anyone who reads the extensive (and hilarious)
cast of characters at the novel's opening
won't be too surprised that Samuel and Martha
Blink's parents are horrifically and suddenly
killed
before the end of chapter one. Following
this accident, Samuel and Martha, who has
become mute with grief, are sent to Norway
to live with an aunt they've never met.
With humorous asides, occasional interruptions
from the author and a playful storytelling
style, SAMUEL BLINK AND THE FORBIDDEN FOREST
is likely to appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket's
novels. Haig's tale, however, is deeper,
more complex and richer than Snicket's snarkier
fare. Samuel and Martha's grief manifests
itself in occasional nastiness, rudeness
and depression. But that doesn't make these
kids any less likable --- it just makes
them real and heightens the novel's emotional
stakes. Even the Changemaker has a sympathetic
core, one that the children must use all
their empathy to discover before it's too
late. Inspired by Norwegian folklore (and
by the author's own boyhood summers in Norway),
Matt Haig's debut novel for young readers
is a superb, briskly plotted fantasy that
will appeal both to kids and to his growing
numbers of adult readers.
Norah
Piehl, kidsreads.com
The
story is a wonderful mix of reality, fantasy
and fairy tale with the occasional interjection
from the author. The fantastic creatures
that are described along with some of the
more humorous events are well illustrated
by Sandy Nightingale. It is a big book but
it is a gripping page turner of a story
that will enthral an audience of 8-12 year
olds with its quirky manner and exciting
story line. Louise
Ellis-Barrett, Writeaway
This
book is greatly entertaining and an older
reader will breeze through it in 3 or 4
hours, however it is an interesting 3 or
4 hours where you will meet a whole variety
of new and interesting creatures. From a
family of four trolls who share one eye
between them to a fanatically religious
rabbit and everything in between including
the evil huldres and the truth pixie. Something
is not right in Shadow Forest and little
does he know but Samuel Blink is going to
play a large part in getting it right! Some
excellent characters, some slight mild terror
but a great story for older children to
enjoy. Darker than some stories, but no
worse than a Grimms Tale! . . . If you are
looking for something that has elements
of the BFG, the Witches and the Twits then
this is definitely a great choice!
Rob Allwright, Soteriamag
laconic
English humour and fantastically drawn characters
make this a gripping story.
Heute, Germany
Actually
I am no fan at all of fantasy stories, but
I enjoyed this book very much. It is easy
to read, exciting and very well written.
It is full of surprises, so you never know
what will happen next. And it is also no
typical fantasy story; it plays in a fantasy
world, i.e. the shadow forest, but it actually
concerns family and a brother and sister's
love, and that's what attracted me straight
away to it. Stella,
14 years old, HR-online, Germany
A
unique and fantastic story. Shadow Forest
is a highly engaging tapestry drawn from
myths, fabulous creatures and unique creations,
which are excitingly intergrated by the
author into the real-life situation of a
brother and sister. . . . A heart racing
read. Stefanie
Eckmann Schmechta, Kinderbuch-Couch, Germany
The
book's baddie, Professor Horatio Tanglewood,
is a highly original creation. . . Indeed,
Shadow Forest is an unusually original,
fantastic and exciting book, which contains
some new variations on well-known themes.
A book absolutely worth reading. I love
this book! Sonja,
10 years old, Fantasy Guide, Germany
I
really enjoyed this book because it is gripping
and exciting and because it gives a brilliant
list of all the humans and other creatures,
who occur in this book in the first few
pages. Lukas
Vonscheidt, 10 years old, children's editor,
Buecherkinder, Germany
Haig
stocks this delightful original fantasy
with witches, trolls, pixies and more, but
his invented world, with its shadows and
secrets, is rich in unexpected humor, heartbreak
and terror. . . The author offers a compelling
story of two children struggling with grief
and the adjustment to their strange new
home, a rich sense of place at the haunted
edges of a Norwegian forest, and memorable
characters, including a terrifyingly sinister
villain. Jean
Westmoore, The Buffalo News NY
Un-put-downable
for fans of Lemony Snicket, Steve Barlow
and Steve Skidmore. An intriguing mix of
fantastic original and mythical creatures.
Suitable for 9+. 5 stars out of 5. Joe,
member of Simply Books' junior book reviewers'
club, Cheshire
I
liked the way it keeps you in suspense and
they only just escape. 9-12 year olds who
like adventure and fantasy will enjoy this
book. 5 stars out of 5. Yemi,
member of Simply Books' junior book reviewers'
club, Cheshire
it
is easy to read, excitingly and imaginatively
written . . . and it is also no typical
fantasy story . . . with provocative twists
and turns throughout. HR2
Radio, Germany
an
unusual adventure that is guaranteed to
pull you under its spell. Mega
Hiro Magazine,
Germany
AUDIO
BOOK REVIEWS (narrated by Simon Vance)
Simon
Vance brings Matt Haig's magical tale to
life, employing his vast vocal talents to
immerse the listener in an eerie world populated
by a fearful aunt, a faithful dog, a fanatical
hermit, and fantastical Norse creatures.
Vance's skill with accents gives each character
a unique voice and breathes life into all.
audiobookreferenceguide.com
BOOK
TRADE REVIEWS
Following the death of their parents, Samuel
and his sister Martha move to Norway to
live with their eccentric Aunt Eda and her
faithful dog Ibsen. Her house borders a
mysterious forest populated by strange and
dangerous creatures. Sam and Martha are
immediately banned from entering into the
forest so no prizes for guessing what happens
next! This is a tall tale full of action,
wit and a whole host of imaginative beasties
culled from Norse folklore. The story is
enhanced by an unsentimental and gentle
exploration of how the children cope with
their grief and the whole thing is told
in a refreshingly clear and uncluttered
way. It's good old fashioned solid storytelling
- I can't recommend The Shadow Forest enough!
Kirsty McClymont,
Waterstone's Ayr
If you were brave enough to step beyond
the boarders of Shadow Forest than you will
undoubtedly be foolish enough to meet a
few huldre-folk, truth pixies and Trolls.
In the wake of the unfortunate death of
their parents, Samuel and Martha are unwillingly
reassigned to the care of their distant,
Norwegian Aunt Eda. The prim white cottage
is boarded by a sinister forest with a terrible
reputation, feared by all in the village
of Flåm. Feeling careless and distraught
with life, Samuel takes no heed to everyone’s
warning and decides to investigate. Discovering
more than he necessarily wanted too Samuel
is troubled to witness that Martha has entered
Shadow Forest. Echoing Terry Pratchett’s
use of comical fantasy to convey deeper
meanings, Matt Haig boldly narrates a tale
to set the heart rate going. ‘Shadow
Forest’ contains amusing characters
formed from myth nonetheless cloaked in
their own distinctive eccentricity. While
meant to appeal to a young audience, Haig
assuredly paints characters in humanistic
colour; people aren’t just black and
white, wholly evil or entirety good. Forthright
and witty ‘Shadow Forest’ promises
that Matt Haig will be a future name to
watch out for. John
Lloyd, Waterstone's Bath
Matt
Haig creates a funny magical pleasure of
a read, which captivates readers into a
mythical Norwegian world with his first
children's book. Topbooks,
Aachen Bookshop, Germany
