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Revision as of 10:59, 14 September 2020
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{{infoboxinfobox1
|title=Noah Barleywater Runs Away
|author=John Boyne
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=240
|publisher=David Fickling
|date=September 2010
|isbn=0385618956
|amazonukcover=<amazonuk>0385618956</amazonuk>|amazonusaznuk=0385618956|aznus=<amazonus>0385752466</amazonus>
}}
Noah Barleywater gets up very early one morning. He's eight years old and he's decided to leave home in search of adventure. Off he goes through the forest and villages until he sees a marvellous tree. As he gazes at it, he meets a friendly dachshund and a (very) hungry donkey who tell him all about the toyshop behind the marvellous tree. And so Noah opens the door and goes in.
Inside are hundreds and hundreds of wooden puppets and a very old toymaker. Things don't work the same way at all inside the shop as out in the world - in fact there's a great deal of magic in the air. But the toymaker is a kindly man and he feeds Noah some scrummy food while the two of them swap stories. The toymaker has had an adventurous life but he also has some big regrets. Noah has led quite a boring life really, but he has some wonderful memories of family life. And as they tell their stories, some serious secrets are gradually revealed...
If they like magical stories, and if they like to deal with serious issues in a metaphorical way, they will love this sweet, funny and kindly book. I certainly did.
PS: Look at that beautiful cover. Mine's a proof copy, so just plain green. I feel quite jealous! My thanks to the good people at David Fickling for sending the book. We also have a review of [[The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne]].
Other fables involving toyshops and puppets include the dark and gothic-styled [[The Toymaker by Jeremy de Quidt]], and [[Puppet Master by Joanne Owen]], a chilling historical fantasy. I think they might also like [[The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick]].
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