Ettie and the Midnight Pool
Julia Green, illustrated by Pam Smy
David Fickling Books

Eleven year old Ettie is living a peaceful life with only her grandma for company. They grow their own food, sell anything they don’t need and the girl spends much of her time listening to stories, reading, sketching, and roaming the beautiful countryside surrounding High Fell House, their home. Ettie’s mother, a doctor, left to go travelling but war, sickness and grounded planes have prevented her from returning or even sending letters. This leaves a deep sadness residing within the girl.

One afternoon while exploring the woods, Ettie spies a girl who seems to be walking with a fox. Enter the mysterious Cora: Ettie finds herself drawn to the stranger and follows her. Grandma is horrified when that evening, Ettie tells her she’s come across the disused quarry, a place that lingers in her mind long into the night, leaving her determined to return the following morning.

When she does so, Ettie discovers Cora is lying hurt in one of the old slate mine tunnels. She just has to help her but without letting Grandma know. A friendship begins to develop: Cora teaches Ettie how to dive into freezing water. Another late return upsets her grandma but Ettie is resolved to keep her adventuring a secret. Grandma however is becoming more and more worried about her grandaughter’s protracted absences and her change of attitude towards their restrained life together, asking lots of questions and even giving her an old watch. Ettie in turn is convinced something secret is being kept from her too.

While Ettie is strongly attracted to Cora’s wild existence, readers have a mounting sense of unease. Maybe Cora can lead Ettie to discover the truth about the secret; on the other hand she could be leading her towards tragedy. Tension mounts to a dramatic climax – a life or death situation – after which Ettie has to face a difficult decision: who is she and what does she want? Cora’s identity remains a mystery though the author’s interweaving of myths provides clues and Grandma eventually shares her tragic tale about the pool and goes on to agree that Ettie should live her own best life, darkness and all.

Enhanced by Pam Smy’s powerfully evocative illustrations, Julia Green’s wonderful descriptions of the countryside, in combination with intrigue and nail-biting moments, make this a mesmerising story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve set the book aside.

Here’s what Emmanuelle (11) an avid reader, had to say about the book:
Julia Green’s new book is thrilling and full of secrecy. Ettie lives in the countryside with her grandma. One day, whilst out in the forest, she sees another girl and follows her to a hidden quarry pool. She soon makes friends with the girl, whose name is Cora. But Ettie notices that she never gives answers to any of her questions about where she came from. Ettie is in awe of the stunning pool but soon discovers that it holds deep and dangerous secrets; so too does Cora.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy adventure, family stories and mystery. It has you hooked right from the beginning and keeps you turning the pages right through to the end. The story builds to the biggest scenes where Ettie finally swims in the quarry pool and learns a massive secret. This reader was left wanting to know more.