At the End of Holyrood Lane

by Dimity Powell, Nicky Johnston (Illustrator)

Overview

Flick is just like any other youngster. She loves to chase butterflies and jump in autumn leaves. But life at the end of Holyrood Lane is often violent and unpredictable due to the constant storms that plague her home, causing her to cringe with dread and flee whenever they strike. Flick tries her best to quell her fears and endure the storms' persistent wrath until, one day, with nowhere left to hide Flick summons the courage to face her fears by asking for help to overcome them. At the End of Holyrood Lane provides a sensitive glimpse into one aspect of domestic violence and how it can affect young lives. Designed to be visually arresting, emotionally incisive, and ultimately uplifting, it is a tale of anxiety shown through the eyes of a small child with an intense dislike for thunderstorms - a fear shared by many young children. This clever duality of meaning is able to evoke a gentle awareness for young readers who may be suffering their own domestic torment but who are too scared or unsure of how to seek help and shelter from their own storms, whatever their nature. This is the second book by the acclaimed author–illustrator team of Dimity Powell and Nicky Johnston, who specialise in handling difficult subjects with sensitivity and hope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781925335767
Publisher:	Exisle Publishing
Publication date:	09/04/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 9.50(h) x (d)
Lexile:	620L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Dimity Powell is a writer of children’s stories and a reviewer of books, and also acts as a Books in Homes role model.

Nicky Johnston is an educator, speaker and author/illustrator. She is passionate about promoting emotional resilience in children and raising awareness of mental health issues.

Editorial Reviews

"At the End of Holyrood Lane is a beautiful, non-didactic exploration of family violence. Unlike many other books broaching the subject, it deals with verbal abuse directed at the child protagonist. The illustrations show the parent figure in silhouette as a storm, and the other adult figure as a refuge from the storm. Highly suitable for teachers to read to Early Primary classes." - Dr Zewlan Moor, Byron Bibliotherapy

“At The End of Holyrood Lane is a beautiful story about a little girl who is terrified by the storm that chases and scares her but when Flick reaches out for help she finally becomes safe and the sunshine comes out. Dimity Powell should be commended for the gentle way in which she approaches the challenges faced by so many children growing up in a house of violence. RizeUp is proud to support Dimity and her beautiful story and we are sure it will touch the lives of so many children and their parents in a positive way.”- Nicolle Edwards, CEO, RizeUp

"At the End of Hollyrood Lane, is timely in sending a message of hope to a child witnessing the scourge of domestic violence in their family."-  G.E. Poole, Registered Psychologist and Regional Director, Act for Kids

“The poetry and vivid use of language is exciting and will encourage creativity and love of language in young children. Above all, Dimity’s skills in and focus on mediating social and emotional skills and competencies to children, will encourage them to see help in dark times and help them to navigate through stormy weather and understand that it will pass”. - Leslee Edwin, Think Equal,

From the Publisher

2018-09-17

A young girl conquers her fear of storms and learns to ask for help.

At her home beneath the beech trees at the end of Holyrood Lane, young Flick loves to frolic, cavort, and play in the sunshine. She dreads the unpredictable arrival of storms that hurt her ears, ruin her fun, and make her feel small. During the storms, she hides on her own from the thunder. One day, while chasing a rainbow, Flick finds herself caught amid the dark clouds, winds, and rain with no time to hide. Vivid language and personification heighten the intensity of the storms, giving them force and raging emotions. When storms arrive, they "bully the curtains," "smother sunshine," "ransack fun," and "fume." The watercolor illustrations that accompany the text fill the pages, leaving no space without a purpose. Swirling clouds in deep grays and blues press in on Flick, even when she hides inside under the laundry basket or her bed, capturing the energy of her frightened imagination. Although the story focuses on the theme of overcoming fears, the text never invalidates Flick's concerns. In order to face what frightens her, Flick learns that she can seek help when she feels overwhelmed. Flick, who presents white, appears alone throughout save one illustration in which she shares an umbrella with a mostly hidden companion, a device that focuses readers' attention on her agency and choice.

Expressive illustrations and text rich with poetic vocabulary share a sensitive story with a message about asking for help when a situation feels scary. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews