The children’s books that shaped 2020
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The children’s books that shaped 2020
It’s been a world-changing year, one that shaped the meaning of what made a successful children’s book. From empowering journals to diverse and inclusive stories, we’ve rounded up the ones that told the story of 2020.
Released only weeks before the UK went into its first lockdown, Struan Murray’s fantastical debut
Orphans of the Tide is set in a city similar to Murray’s hometown of Edinburgh – except that the majority of the city is now underwater. The people believe this catastrophic flooding was caused by a fearsome god know as The Enemy, and when a mysterious boy washes ashore – within the body of a dead whale – the citizens are convinced he must be a vessel for this destructive god. Reminiscent of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, it's an ideal book for fantasy fans seeking an alternate reality to disappear into.