There are still gothic elements to White Crow, but this feels like something of a new direction for Sedgwick. This is essentially a contemporary tale of two girls' friendship in a long, hot, tense summer, but it is interwoven with a 17th century tale of bizarre experiments into the afterlife. It is an original and exceptional novel of tragedy, angels, devils and friendship. -- Fiona Noble THE BOOKSELLER In Sedgwick's hands however we have a pared down glittering gem for older YA readers who are interested in things that are obscure and obscured... I will be pondering the story of these three characters long after I close the book, turning and turning their fates until I reach an accommodation between my understanding, the things I don't understand and the things that there will never be an answer to - until finally I can put the book away. MIDDLETON AND FERMOY BOOKS Described as a modern gothic thriller, complete with angels and devils, it's a tale of two girls and their friendship in a long, hot, tense summer, but it is also interwoven with a 17th century tale of bizarre experiments into the afterlife. Perfect for fans of the The Twilight series but much more sinister and impeccably written! LOVEREADING Marcus Sedgwick cleverly leaves questions unanswered, and there's much to ponder, not least the very sinister side to this intriguing, intelligent book for older teenagers, one whose obvious quality - in both imaginative and narrative force - makes it stand out. -- Karen Howlett CORNFLOWER BOOKS BLOG a story both chilling and beautiful in equal measures... Sedgwick has an extraordinary gift of being able to blur the lines between individual themes and characters. This is a book that deals with many questions about mortality and death, yet it never forces these ideas down your throat. Likewise, you warm to Ferelith even as she terrifies you. This is a love story and a horror story all at once. AMO (Alternative Magazine Online) There are moments at the end of White Crow that actually made my breath catch at the back of my throat. I never excepted a book featuring two young girls, aimed at younger readers, would connect with me and affect me so profoundly. Yet the ending is so shocking, perfect and right, that it wouldn't surprise me if it manages to reduce many readers to tears. This is a scary, heart-warming, intelligent book. The words of my review have in all likelihood not done it justice. Ten out of ten AMO (Alternative Magazine Online) Sedgwick is one of our most versatile children's writers - he can make young ones laugh and draw older readers into atmospheric, chilling dramas with equal skill. This may be his most ambitious book yet... It's a demanding read... explores religion, death, friendship, truth and love with an intensity that confident older readers will immerse themselves in. -- Sally Morris DAILY MAIL A powerful thriller. Tense thought-provoking and original DAILY EXPRESS Overall, another masterful novel from an author of the highest calibre. Scary? Yes. Gothic? Certainly. I highly recommend this to all readers except the faint hearted. The plot will grip you from start to finish and will make you want to turn all the lights on. This book is the whole terrifyingly dark package! THE BOOKETTE 'A compelling novel full of secrets and mysteries, Sedgwick doesn't mess about, drawing the reader in quickly and then skilfully managing the reveal of information. Full of tension and evocative imagery, the novel's twin narratives evade melodrama and keep the mystery going right to the end. SFX One of the pleasures of this dark teenage novel is the way it slowly gives up its secrets. Summarising the plot quickly risks spoiling some of this, but suffice to say this is a triple narrative... The voices of modern teenagers and of a man of the cloth in the 1700s are equally convincing, as these contrasting narratives converge in an ingenious story full of tension, twists and horror. Reading it is like agreeing to a dare, compelling you to keep going into a frightening unknown. -- Nicolette Jones SUNDAY TIMES This is chilling stuff with the spooky fiction skilfully blended with the workaday truth to make one doubt both. For those over 12. -- Toby Clements THE TELEGRAPH ...modern gothic thriller, by master of the macabre Marcus Sedgwick... Ideal to fill the Twilight-shaped gap this summer. LIVING NORTH This book is a fairly daring mixture of gothic horror and existential speculation. Does God exist? If so, what are the consequences? If not, what then? As is typical of Sedgwick's work, what might have been a simple tale of friendship between two girls turns out to draw the reader into more profound reflections about the nature of human life and death. The narrative is fast paced and dark. The characterisation of the two protagonists is powerful... BOOKS FOR KEEPS This is a superb contemporary gothic horror story, ostensibly for teenagers but with a lot to say to adults too. Beautifully written and irresistably dynamic, it explores themes of heredity, of good and evil, of the possibility of redemption and of the vital necessity of love, wherever it may be found. (from audio book reviews) THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY ...there's blood, plenty of it, but this is properly spooky, genuinely chilling stuff. This horror seeps rather than gushes. -- Keith Gray THE SCOTSMAN this is intelligent writing dealing with everything from corrupting obsession to friendship, in a modern gothic mystery where ideas and images linger long after the final word has been read, and take flight. -- Philip Ardagh THE GUARDIAN Full of taut atmosphere, Sedgwick's plotting and writing style build up unbearable tension in the book's second half. This chilling and demanding novel isn't one for the faint-hearted but many will be reading until the early hours of the morning. If you're into classy teen horror, then WHITE CROW should be at the top of your reading list. -- John Millen SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ...a few good hours reading till its truly, deeply disturbing ending. BOOKSMUGGLERS I loved how Marcus touched on some really interesting concepts with this novel. Of heaven and hell and faith and belief with the experiments the two men carried out. Ferelith and Rebecca's friendship was so tenuous and it leaves reader questioning how well do you really know anyone? I loved the relationship between Rebecca and her father, so very raw and painful. And yet neither one was able to find the words to say to the other to make things right. And yet it is terrifying. And beautiful. FLUTTERING BUTTERFLIES BLOG White Crow is an intelligent and thoughtful book whose themes of afterlife, faith and death - both human mortality and the demise of a town itself ? are explored delicately. Two strong female leads drive a story that is both chilling and memorable in equal measure. Highly recommended. FANTASY BOOK REVIEW WHITE CROW will also be enjoyed by adults as well as teenagers. An elegant gothic thriller, it's the story of two youngsters: city girl Rebecca who has moved to a seaside village with her troubled policeman father, and Ferelith, a mysterious creature who has dropped out of school and lives in a rectory with some hippy friends. Partly inspired by the true account of a scientist who tried to communicate with the dead, it's jaw dropping and scary. DAILY EXPRESS I liked this book because it was scary, good and fantastic. It is very surprising and makes you keep reading it. I liked this book so much I would read it again and again because it is such a fantastic book. I would recommend it to anyone that like a gothic thriller. TEEN TITLES
