‘Almost unbearably moving story of love, loss and the devastating effects of war as seen through the eyes of a 13-year-old girl in 1916 and then later as an elderly woman’
Financial Times
‘Vivid and exciting’
School Librarian
A wonderful novel, written in a style as lucid and compelling as that of Patricia Highsmith’
Independent on Sunday
Patrick Cooper was born in Wales in 1949. He grew up in mid-Wales with dogs and ponies and old books. He has always loved the sea and mountains. When he was young his favourite books were E. Nesbit’s novels and The Sword in the Stone. He has a BA in Modern Languages from Oxford and an MA in Social Work from Manchester. He initially worked as a social worker and for the last 12 years has worked in children’s theatre as a puppeteer/performer, writer and director.
He enjoys travel and has travelled extensively in Europe, Asia and Australia, theatre and is interested in Buddhism. He now lives in Devon and is married with two children who are at primary school. When he is not writing or looking after the children, he spends most of his time going to schools and festivals performing and leading workshops.
'Excellent. [Out of Shadows is] the latest lacerating addition to the boarding-school-as-living-hell genre ... read on if you have the courage. The author attended a similar establishment at the age of 12, and gives every indication of knowing exactly what he is writing about.'
Independent
Elmer's Special Day
by David McKee
'The first Elmer book seemed like a great and original one-off, McKee's extraordinary imagination and colourful art have between them maintained originality and delight over all these years: amazing.' Chris Brown, School Librarian
