Synopses & Reviews
The Night Rainbow is the story of a little girl named Pea, the world she creates to win back her mother's love, and the stranger she trusts to save them both.It is summer in the south of France, and Pea and her little sister Margot spend their days running free and inventing games in the meadow behind their house. But Pea is burdened with worries beyond her five and a half years. Her father has died in an accident, and her mother has just lost a baby. Maman is English, isolated in this small, foreign village, and in her sadness has retreated even further. Pea tries her best to help, makes Margot behave, brings home yellow flowers, but she can't make Maman happy again.When Pea meets Claude, a man with a dog who seems to love the meadow as she does, she believes that she and Margot have found a friend, and maybe even a new Papa. But why do the villagers view Claude with suspicion and what secret is he keeping in his strange, empty house?Beautifully written, haunting and full of surprises, The Night Rainbow is a novel about innocence and experience, grief and compassion, and the blessings and perils of imagination and truth.
Review
"One of the most remarkable features of The Night Rainbow is the language, shaped entirely through Pea's perceptions. The children's powerful imagination and cleverness define the narrative...King's story of a young child's quest for a light in the profound darkness of her life reaches deep into the complexities of human consciousness." -- ShelfAwareness "With a narrative voice reminiscent of young Jack from Emma Donoghue's Room, observing evreything but lacking the wisdom to truly understand the grown-up world, this surprising and enchanting first novel is enthusiastically recommended." -- Library Journal "King accurately captures the speech rhythms and partial understanding of a small child. Well-written and sometimes quite moving." -- Kirkus Reviews "Poetic, engaging...King's authorial voice shines through Pea, as her skillful narrative is childishly authentic without being cloying or cutesy. Reminiscent of Myla Goldberg's Bee Season and Emma Donoghue's Room but decidedly lighter...Gorgeously written and deeply heartfelt." -- Booklist
Synopsis
It is summer in the south of France, and Pea and her little sister Margot spend their days running free, inventing games in the meadow behind their house. But Pea has worries beyond her five and a half years. Her father has died in an accident, and her mother has just lost a baby. Maman is English, already isolated in this small, foreign village, and in her compounded grief, she has retreated even further. Pea and Margot stay out of her way and try to make things better, but they can't make Maman happy again.
When Pea befriends Claude, a man who seems to love the meadow as she does, she wonders if he could be a new papa. But why do the other villagers view Claude with suspicion, and what secrets does his large empty house hold?
Beautifully written, haunting, and full of surprises, The Night Rainbow is a novel about innocence and experience, grief and compassion, and the blessings and perils of imagination.
Synopsis
It is summer in the south of France, and Pea and her little sister Margot spend their days running free, inventing games in the meadow behind their house. But Pea has worries beyond her five and a half years. Her father has died in an accident, and her mother has just lost a baby. Maman is English, already isolated in this small, foreign village, and in her compounded grief, she has retreated even further. Pea and Margot stay out of her way and try to make things better, but they can't make Maman happy again. When Pea befriends Claude, a man who seems to love the meadow as she does, she wonders if he could be a new papa. But why do the other villagers view Claude with suspicion, and what secrets does his large empty house hold?Beautifully written, haunting, and full of surprises, The Night Rainbow is a novel about innocence and experience, grief and compassion, and the blessings and perils of imagination.
Synopsis
A powerful debut about grief and salvation, told from the perspective of one little girl with a valiant imagination.
About the Author
Claire King was born in England, educated at Cambridge, and is the fiction editor for The View from Here magazine. Her short stories have been shortlisted for the BBC's Opening LInes program and the Bristol Short Story Prize. She lives in the south of France with her husband and two children. This is her first novel.