The Notted Island

About this book

In a world before colour, the residents of Last Island strive to be the model of a perfect community to entice Colour himself to visit and breathe life into their black-and-white world. 

But the local Nott (a deity whose task it is to draw the curtain of night over the island each evening) does not quite fit in with their vision. She is somewhat unreliable and often late to bring in the night sky, causing unusual daylight hours that the townsfolk can’t abide. 

So when a mysterious salesman arrives, offering a state-of-the-art fully automated sky, the residents of Last Island are eager to buy into his scheme. But young Tisky is not convinced. 

She believes that their local night-bringer deserves one final chance. Striking out to the farthest side of the island with a plucky shadow for a sidekick, she seeks to find the island’s Nott and halt the dastardly salesman’s plans for good. 

This irresistibly imaginative fantasy tale has the same magical, cosy feel as classics like Howl’s Moving Castle as readers explore the island and its whimsical characters with the resilient Tisky. There is a charm and lightness to the text and, as a shorter novel, it is a compelling and undaunting middle grade book. 

With luscious illustrations from author-illustrator Katherine Child throughout, this is a great choice for those readers who enjoy the kind of unique inventiveness present in Studio Ghibli films.