The Hideaway

Review 'The new book by the amazingly gifted Pam Smy ... What an exquisite and beguiling interweaving of word and image' -- Anthony McGowan 'Pam Smy has absolutely gone and done it again, you know. In #TheHideawayBook she crafts a deeply sensitive and emotionally complex story yet tells it with such a masterful touch that it will stay with you for days, months, years... A delicate fusion between word and image in which the latter dances across the closing pages to a most beautiful, haunting melody' -- Mat Tobin, education influencer ‘Heartbreaking yet heartwarming … Smy’s artwork lends the book a wintry, dramatic feel, but when it comes time for the spirits of the graveyard to be reunited, her spreads are full of joy' -- BookTrust 'Partly told in atmospheric black-and-white images, this is a book about a serious issue that also offers warmth and magic' -- The Sunday Times 'Partly told in atmospheric black-and-white images, this is a book about a serious issue that also offers warmth and magic.' -- The Sunday Times 'The Hideaway by Pam Smy is a work of art. Smy is [a] genius writer and illustrator... and takes children's books to another level. Highly recommend' -- David Walliams 'The Hideaway by Pam Smy is a work of art. Smy is [a] genius writer and illustrator... and takes children's books to another level. Highly recommend.' -- David Walliams 'An original, haunting story’ -- The Bookseller 'Absolutely marvellous. I could say more but don’t want to give any spoilers! … Preorder now!' -- Adele Geras 'The new book by the amazingly gifted Pam Smy ... What an exquisite and beguiling interweaving of word and image.' -- Anthony McGowan ‘Heartbreaking yet heartwarming … Smy’s artwork lends the book a wintry, dramatic feel, but when it comes time for the spirits of the graveyard to be reunited, her spreads are full of joy.' -- Book Trust 'This will be a treat' -- Katherine Woodfine 'A deeply touching, highly illustrated story ... Smy's poignant book conveys the small cruelties of domestic abuse and the abiding, ineffable power of love via restrained text and expressive black-and-white images' -- The Guardian 'Powerful and moving ... Sensitively told, the story is emotionally charged, lingering with the reader long after reading ... Beautifully produced ... with wonderful black and white pictures ... Atmospheric and touching, ‘The Hideaway’ is a beautifully told, sensitive story' -- Nothern Somerset Teachers Book Award 'Two alternative narratives bound around one story. Beautifully presented with a tender yet powerful story around family and domestic abuse. So well told ... A huge achievement.' -- Mat Tobin, education influencer 'Very excited to start reading this' -- Jenny Jacoby 'Powerful and moving ... Sensitively told, the story is emotionally charged, lingering with the reader long after reading ... Beautifully produced ... with wonderful black and white pictures ... Atmospheric and touching, ‘The Hideaway’ is a beautifully told, sensitive story.' -- North Somerset Teachers Book Award 'Atmospheric greyscale illustrations on every page of Billy’s story extend our understanding and deepen the emotional impact of the text… The emotional arc of the story is well-paced and judged… the framing of Billy’s real-world experiences within an illustrated ghost-story enables complex ideas and emotions to be explored in a sensitive and age-appropriate way.' -- Books for Keeps 'Oh good golly!' -- Mat Tobin 'Gorgeous' -- Caroline Fielding ‘Every so often a story comes along that sticks with you long after you've read it, and we think the tale of Billy McKenna in The Hideaway will have that effect on a lot of people… Utterly compelling’ -- BookTrust 'The power of Smy’s book lies in its meticulous description of the emotions surrounding domestic violence and the detailed steps that might be taken in the hope of resolving such a situation. The book is beautifully illustrated, containing one section that is deliberately wordles