Written by A. F. Harrold and illustrated by Levi Pinfold (pub. Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2024)
And only now did he really wonder at the oddness of everything.
Only now?
This woman who spoke so strangely.
This cottage in a clearing that couldn’t possibly fit in the woods he knew.
The rain that was drumming on the windows from heavy dark clouds that hadn’t been there twenty minutes earlier.
Oddness held the door open for fear to step in.
‘I think I’d best get going,’ he said.
Hex never meant for little Sascha to follow him and his best mate Tommo to the swing in the woods. He never meant to throw the stone that knocked her off the swing. He never meant to run and hide. And he certainly never meant to laugh – the reason that Sascha’s sister chases him down and beats him up.
Wounded physically, and by just how unfair it all is, he comes upon the cottage in the woods. An old woman welcomes him in, and offers him the chance for revenge. She can remove those who have hurt him. But what will happen to the world if she does? And what if he’s not the only one who was offered that choice…?
This review will contain some spoilers from the first half of the book.
At the start of the story, we are introduced to Hex. Hex is a rambunctious child who doesn’t really think things through (seeing his inner monologue, I would guess at an undiagnosed neurodiversity). But Hex can also sometimes be a bit of a bully, such as when he held up the wet trousers of a classmate who had an accident for all to see. He’s quick to anger, and slow to take responsibility.
Alone in the woods with the old woman, he feels that nothing was his fault, and he does deserve revenge. Once home, however, he explains to his dad what happened to Sascha, and his bruises. With his support and kindness, he realises that what the old lady suggests is too far.
Unfortunately for him, Sascha’s older sister was given the same offer – and she doesn’t have an understanding adult to talk things through with, to convince her that there is another way to go.
Our focus shifts now to Tommo. Tommo, who has been best friends with Jayce since forever. Tommo, who held up the wet trousers of an unfortunate classmate at school. Tommo who goes to the swing in the woods with Jayce, Jayce’s little sister Sascha trailing behind.
…Hex who?
History has a way of repeating itself though, and it’s not long before Sascha is on the ground crying and Tommo is running through the woods. When’s he’s welcomed into the old woman’s cottage, what will he do?
The story leans on the “Grimm’s fairytales” vibes in a thoroughly enjoyable way, without simply copying them. It leaves us with a feeling of familiarity, without feeling hackneyed or overdone. There were some parts I didn’t see coming, while other parts left me gripping the book silently willing the characters not to do the thing as I could see what would happen next!
The chapters are divided into days/nights spanning Monday to Friday, which is fitting considering how suddenly the world in the book can shift. This shifting also means that we get an insight into the different characters; their backgrounds, their motivations, and their beliefs.
And Harrold tells such a clever story, I cannot emphasise that enough. I really loved seeing how the characters’ actions affect themselves and the world around them, and seeing them grapple with what changes and what stays the same, even if they don’t really know it.
Without giving anything away, I didn’t see the ending coming, nor how they find out what’s going on. Both of these moments were a twist on what we might normally expect from this type of story, and I wish I could tell you why!
(I will say that I would love to see Mimi Jofolofski again; I found her character so unexpected, and would love to know more about what she’s involved with.)
The pictures throughout the book are fantastic; creepy and grim in places, evocative of the strangeness of the situation, and the oppressiveness of the forest and the cottage. The use of shading gives both depth and a sense of foreboding as the story continues. There are also a couple of points where you really feel like you are in darkest night as the background and text colours invert, which I found very effective.
The use of the repeated images when Tommo partially takes Hex’s place in the world is a clever touch. Pinfold could have just drawn completely different pictures, but giving us an image of Tommo running with Leafy or sitting in the cottage, having seen Hex there previously, really drives home the idea of the same cycles repeating.
It’s true what they say that hurt people hurt people, and that you should be careful what you wish for. However, this story makes it clear that there is always a choice – there is always a chance to break the cycle of revenge, and deal with things in a better way.
The writing level is suitable for primary-age readers, though it is worth keeping in mind some of the darker themes. You may find that this is the perfect opportunity to talk to children about vengeance, forgiveness, and how to communicate our troubles productively, subjects that are explored in the story.
It is a brilliant book with fantastic pictures, and it’s easy to see how it was shortlisted for a Yoto Carnegie Medal last year. A genuinely gripping and thoughtful story for readers of all ages!
If you want to step into the woods, you can grab a copy of The Worlds We Leave Behind at the link below.
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Looking for more spooky reads? Check out some of our previous book reviews here.
