Maria's Island
Age 9+
General Fiction Family & Home Stories
A dramatic and moving story set in the same world as the international bestseller The Island from the celebrated novelist Victoria Hislop.
The absorbing story of the Cretan village of Plaka and the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga – Greece's former leper colony – is told to us by Maria Petrakis, one of the children in the original version of The Island. She tells us of the ancient and misunderstood disease of leprosy, exploring the themes of stigma, shame and the treatment of those who are different, which are as relevant for children as adults. Gill Smith's rich, full-colour illustrations will transport the reader to the timeless and beautiful Greek landscape and Mediterranean seascape.
Creators
Victoria Hislop worked in publishing, PR and as a journalist before becoming a novelist. Her adult fiction books include The Island, The Return and, most recently, Those Who Are Loved, all of which have been bestsellers. She divides her time between Kent and Greece, and this is her first book for children.
Reviews
A beautiful story of family, friendship, and saying goodbye. This is a story of hope
The Herald Sun
