The Boy Who Lost His Spark

From Maggie O'Farrell, the best-selling and award-winning author of Hamnet – now a Bafta and Golden Globe-winning film starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal – comes a stunningly illustrated picture book about a boy who overcomes the unhappiness of moving house and, through the power of storytelling, regains his inner spark.

- An ideal gift and a truly enchanting read.
- Perfect for children aged 5-8 with themes of family bonds, dyslexia, moving house, myth and folklore.

When Jem and his family move to the countryside, he doesn’t like his new home one bit. It’s an old cottage on the side of a hill, where strange things keep happening: shoes are filled up with conkers, the stairs become tangled in a woollen maze. Jem’s sister Verity is certain it is the work of a ânoukaâ, an ancient creature from local folklore that lives deep down inside the hill. Jem, however, is adamant that there is no such thing...

But this small mythical creature, so attuned to the hearts and minds of others, does exist. And, what’s more, it is determined, through mischief and mayhem, to help Jem reignite the spark within himself once more.

- WINNER of the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Honour Award for Fiction
- Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration
- Best Children’s and YA Books of 2022, Guardian
- RTE.ie Best Irish Children's Books of 2022

The second book in a trilogy of modern fairy tales by Maggie O'Farrell and Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini featuring children with real life problems and the mythical creatures that attend to them. Look out for Where Snow Angels Go and When the Stammer Came to Stay.

âAn autumnal balm for anyone in need of a little magic in their lives." – Alex O'Connell, Children's Book of the Week, the Times

âA glorious book, perfect as a gift.â – LoveReading4Kids

âThis beautiful book will tug at the heart of any reader regardless of age. […] No one would be unhappy after seeing the stunning illustrations that accompany this extraordinary story.â – Sunday Times

âA gentle, empowering tale with entrancing illustrations.â – Daily Mail

âWonderfully magical" – Mariella Frostrup, Times Radio

âDramatic, incredibly evocative and full of atmosphere this is a stunning read." - Armadillo Magazine

âThe Boy Who Lost His Spark, undeniably has a magical, timeless quality to it, reminiscent of those ancient Celtic legends. […] timeless" – Irish Independent

âExploring how we deal with pain, loneliness and tough emotions when we face changes and challenges, it’s a beautiful book for everyone." – Pick Me Up’s Book of the Week

âAn enchanting book. The stunning illustrations are such a treasure, creating an atmosphere and sense of wonder about the story.â – The School Librarian

âA really delightful story for 7-9 years. The story is beautifully told and the full colour illustrations are just gorgeous and really enhance the text. I loved it and it is an ideal book for an adult to read to a child or class or for a child to read alone.â – Read for Good