The Short Knife

By: Elen Caldecott

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Paperback | 4 March 2021

At a Glance

Paperback
400 Pages

Age
11+

Grade
K+

Dimensions(cm)
2.6 x 19.8 x 13

Paperback

$24.75

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A wonderfully unique story of family, identity and language, set as the Saxons invade Britain in the 5th Century.

It is the year 454AD. The Roman Empire has withdrawn from Britain, throwing it into the chaos of the Dark Ages. Mai has been kept safe by her father and her sister, Haf. But when Saxon warriors arrive at their farm, the family is forced to flee to the hills where British warlords lie in wait. Can Mai survive in a dangerous world where speaking her mother tongue might be deadly, and where even the people she loves the most can’t be trusted?

About the Author

Elen Caldecott graduated with an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University and was highly commended in the PFD Prize for Most Promising Writer for Young People. Before becoming a writer, she was an archaeologist, a nurse, a theatre usher and a museum security guard. Elen's debut novel, How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant, was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Prize and longlisted for the 2010 Carnegie Medal.

Industry Reviews

"A distinctive and engrossing tale"
David Almond

"It is full of thrills and kills ... while not scrimping on plot and character. Caldecott writes with a breezy lyricism ... The story of a divided Britain and the girls' mission to rebuild their family and survive in a country they barely recognise feels relevant and important"
Alex O'Connell, The Times

"Bright and real as the midsummer sunlight, and as powerfully drawn as a sharp, short knife"
Hilary McKay

"I just loved The Short Knife. Beautifully written, lyrical and powerful - it's a fascinating insight into dark and desperate times which I found utterly absorbing. Grim and gritty but ultimately uplifting - it's a beautiful tribute to the courage and ingenuity of sisters"
Tanya Landman

"A strong immersive historical novel that explores themes that still resonate - loyalty, belonging, difference, self, family, dispossession"
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