The Billow Maiden
As seen:
By James Dixon, and and, Tamsin Rosewell
avg rating
3 reviews
Ailsa’s mum is ill, not the first time, so they spend the summer with her aunt and uncle. Aunt Bertha, Uncle Nod and their dog Moxie live on an island off the coast, by a beautiful fishing village surrounded by beaches and clifftops. Ailsa and Moxie spend their whole time there exploring these beaches and cliffs, until one day they find a hidden cave. Inside the cave, they find Hefring, a strange woman not keen on strangers.
Ailsa slowly gets to know who Hefring is. She is a selkie, a mermaid, a billow maiden from ancient myth. However, she is stuck on land and slowly dying. It is up to Ailsa and her new friend Camilla to save her, but there are plenty of obstacles in the way – not least Ailsa’s own fears and her mum’s illness.
The Billow Maiden is a beautifully told tale of friendship, family, healing and transformation from a stunning new writer for children.
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James Dixon, in this debut novel, has crafted a tale that is sure to be a classic. Elements of folklore, steeped in history, and shrouded in mystery of an island landscape. I simply loved the relationship between Alisa and Moxie - gentle and empathetic and virtually wordless.
Ailsa’s mum is sick again and they both go to be looked after by her uncle and aunt, who live by the sea. It’s not long until a strange lady is discovered in the caves by Ailsa and she has a huge effect on her life and the people around her. Her wise words sum up this book and why I would recommend it to others:
“Aye, a story - where all the best magic happens.”
Magic for the reader of this book, is the opportunity to learn about friendship, courage, Norse tales, journey on a big adventure, tinged with a little sadness but restored with a beautiful ending.
It took me a few chapters to become invested in this book but once I was, I just wanted to keep reading.
You can feel the emotion coming through the pages of this book, the depth of Ailsa's feelings as well as Uncle Nod and Aunt Bertha.
Loved the link to norse mythology.
