Our February Children’s Book of the Month is The Song Walker by the 2022 Edward Stanford Children’s Travel Book of the Year winner Zillah Bethell.
The Song Walker is an extraordinary new story of friendship, discovery and courage from Zillah Bethell, author of The Shark Caller which won the Wales Book of the Year and the Edward Stanford Children’s Travel Book of the Year 2022.
“There are three questions that I need to find the answers to: Where am I?
What am I doing here?
And…Who am I?”
When a young girl wakes up in the middle of the desert, she has no idea who she is. She’s wearing one shoe, a silky black dress, and she’s carrying a strange, heavy case.
She meets Tarni, who is on a mysterious quest of her own. Together, the two girls trek across the vast and ever changing Australian Outback in search of answers. Except both are also hiding secrets…
An extraordinary new story of friendship, discovery and courage from Zillah Bethell, author of The Shark Caller which won the Wales Book of the Year and the Edward Stanford Children’s Travel Book of the Year 2022.
In the best tradition of Katherine Rundell, Eva Ibbotson and Geraldine McCaughrean The Song Walker is set to become a modern day classic with key themes of friendship and of finding the courage to move on both physically and emotionally.
The ever changing Australian Outback provides a stunning backdrop to the story. Members of the Alyawarre Community were pleased to read the book and happy to allow Zillah to use their name for which both author and the publisher thank them.
Recommended for ages 9+
The Song Walker by Zillah Bethell is available now for £7.99.
Author Biography
Zillah Bethell was born in the shadow of the volcano Mount Lamington in Papua New Guinea. She grew up without shoes, toys or technology. Consequently she spent a lot of time in the sea swimming and in canoes. Zillah’s family returned to the UK when she was ten, and she now lives and walks in the hills of South Wales. A few of her favourite things include swimming in the rain, cheesy fridge magnets, Chopin, dancing and diphthongs.
More from Zillah Bethell:
£7.99
Winner of the 2022 Edward Stanford Travel Awards, Children’s Travel Book of the Year. Dive beneath the waves with this spell-binding adventure of friendship, forgiveness and bravery, set on the shores of Papua New Guinea