I think Liz Hyder is a phenomenal writer of adult fiction and I adored The Gifts (reviewed here) and The Illusions (reviewed here), so when lovely Vicki Berwick at Pushkin Press asked me if I’d like a copy of Liz’s latest children’s book The Twelve, illustrated by Tom de Freston, I simply couldn’t resist. My huge thanks to Vicki for sending me a copy in return for an honest review.
Published in hardback by Pushkin Children’s Books on 10th October 2024 and coming in paperback on 9th October 2025, The Twelve is available for purchase in all the usual places including here.
The Twelve
It’s supposed to be a treat for Kit, a winter holiday by the coast with her sister Libby and their mum. But when Libby vanishes into thin air, and no one else remembers her, Kit is faced with a new reality – one in which her sister never existed.
Then she meets Story, a local boy who remembers Libby perfectly. Together they embark on a journey beyond their wildest imagination into a world steeped in ancient folklore. Can Kit and Story uncover the secret of the Twelve and rescue Libby before Time runs out?
My Review of The Twelve
Kit’s younger sister Libby is heading to the tower for midnight.
Used to Liz Hyder’s excellent writing for adults, I had high hopes for The Twelve. I cannot express enough how far those hopes were exceeded. The Twelve is totally brilliant. I’ve seen comparisons between Liz Hyders’s children’s books and those by the likes of David Almond and Alan Garner. I think that is to do this author a disservice. She is a magnificent writer with a compelling, beautiful and mesmerising style of her own, without the need for comparison.
The plot is bewitching. It’s fast paced and exciting with twists and revelations that hold the reader captivated. I resented having to set the book aside to carry on with real life. There’s an element of fantasy woven into a story that involves danger and quest, family and friendship, and that is so vividly written that descriptions are almost painfully beautiful. I was transported right to the heart of settings because Liz Hyder knows exactly how to hone her prose until it is distilled into the most intense and affecting language. Tom De Freston’s stark, perfectly executed, illustrations add a contrast that makes both images and narrative so impactful.
The characters are rounded and just perfect for the target audience. I thought the way Kit receives insidious texts from Jemima was inspired. Jemima lurks in the background of Kit’s life even when she’s on holiday many miles away, in the same way that real life bullies are permanently in the minds of their victims. Despite her anxiety over Jemima, Kit, however, is a true role model. She doubts herself but is courageous and loyal. Her determination to find Libby is exemplary. Story too is fantastic. I loved the way that, despite being an educational no hoper, his full potential is realised. As most of the action involves just Kit and Story, there’s an intimacy that hits hard at the heart of the reader.
Themes in The Twelve are pitch perfect. Along with the bullying in the background, aspects like the environment, nature, bravery, trust, deception, self sacrifice, family, friendship and love ripple through the book; all of them intersecting exactly like real life. There’s much to learn here even whilst being entertained completely.
I could not have enjoyed The Twelve more. You’ll find it hard to find a better book for youngsters aged around 10-14. I thought The Twelve was utterly stunning. Liz Hyder is, quite simply, a superb author and The Twelve deserves to be ranked amongst the all time greats of children’s fiction. It’s an unmissable, mesmerising tale told by a skilled and compassionate writer. Fantastic!
About Liz Hyder
Liz is a writer, creative workshop leader and freelance arts PR consultant. In early 2018, she won The Bridge Award/Moniack Mhor’s Emerging Writer Award. Bearmouth, her debut novel for young adults, was published by Pushkin Press and won the Branford Boase Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Award for Older Readers. It is also published in America, France, Norway, Italy and the Czech Republic as well as the UK and Commonwealth. The Gifts was her debut adult novel.
Originally from North-East London, she has lived in South Shropshire for over a decade.
For further information about Liz, visit her website or follow her on Twitter @LondonBessie and Instagram.
English (US) · 