Description

A breathtaking new novel from the Nero Prize-winning author of The Twelve, Liz Hyder, filled with striking black & white illustrations by Tom De Freston.

You haven’t seen Oma in years. Mum and Dad have kept your grandmother away, scared of something that happened when you were too young to remember. So what’s made them change their minds?

Once a month, you’re allowed to visit Oma at her remote cabin that feels like a dream. And once a month, she tells you a tale that transports you to a different world. To a land of possibilities – of dragons and giants, gods and monsters, of wild quests and strange adventures. Yet she refuses to share the most mysterious tale of all – the reason she has been absent from your life for so long.

As your world fractures under pressures from home and at school, could Oma’s secret be the key to unlock everything?

Praise for The Teller of Tall Tales:

‘Poetic, warm-hearted and raw’ Frances Hardinge, author of The Lie Tree

‘A book to treasure’ Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear

‘Tender and powerful, this is a hauntingly beautiful ode to the power of imagination’ Anna James, author of Alice with a Why

‘Modern and thrilling’ Sally Gardner, author of Maggot Moon

Publisher Review

Poetic, warm-hearted and raw, this is a tribute to story-telling, love and the glorious mess that is human relationships — Frances Hardinge, author of The Lie Tree Both timeless and contemporary, this beautifully crafted story captures the richness of imagination, the depth of emotion, and the complexities of what it means to be human. Woven throughout is a profound love of the natural world, while Tom de Freston’s exquisite illustrations add another layer of magic. A book to treasure — Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear Liz Hyder plays with the soup of fairy tales and comes up with something modern and thrilling… It is a joy, aided and abetted by some wonderful illustrations by Tom de Freston — Sally Gardner, author of Maggot Moon Poignant, moving and respectful of the complex challenges faced between parents, grandparents and children, The Teller of Tall Tales is an immersive, emotional rollercoaster of a story. It is in turns joyful, freeing, deeply moving and wildly imaginative — Sita Brahmachari, author of Artichoke Hearts Tender and powerful, this is a hauntingly beautiful ode to the power of imagination. — Anna James, author of Alice with a Why The Teller of Tall Tales is a beautifully dark story with a golden underbelly. I adore the way Liz Hyder pushes boundaries with each new book. Together with the haunting artwork from the wonderful Tom De Freston it is a book to be treasured. Its themes of family, teenage angst and the power of stories to give us courage and resilience shine bright from each page. I couldn’t put it down. — Jasbinder Bilan, author of Naeli and the Secret Song A highly imaginative and moving love letter to the power of story-telling and the bonds that bind us — Iqbal Hussain, author of The Night I Borrowed Time The Teller of Tall Tales is a beautifully woven tale, with threads of stories that help to bring understanding of complex family relationships. With Tom de Freston’s artwork, it’s a book to treasure — Gill Lewis, author of Song of the River A beautifully written novel, moving, epic and timeless — Finbar Hawkins, author of Ghost A beautiful story filled with fairytales just the way your grandmother used to tell them, while reminding us that knowing where you come from is integral to understanding who you are — Kereen Getten, author of When Life Gives You Mangoes This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Stunning. Wonderful. An imaginative feast. Funny, magical, inventive, touching, uplifting. I cried through lots of it, in wonder, through connection, at the sheer all-encompassing heart of it — Eloise Williams, author of Gaslight Brilliantly written, really moving and interspersed with fairytales that could stand alone whilst being integral to the story, and with stunning atmospheric illustrations, I loved it — Mike Edwards, author of Riverskin This book is a moving, lovely, beautiful read — Catherine Johnson, author of Sawbones Astonishing… It has made me fall in love with storytelling all over again. It’s timeless, beautiful, whimsical, full of heart and kindness — Caryl Lewis, author of The Danger of Small Things This rich, moving and cunningly inventive novel explores imagination, storytelling, identity, passion, protest, friendship, family and – perhaps most of all – love — Darren Simpson, author of Thirst Liz Hyder is a born story teller – spend any time at all in her company and you will be rapt or giggling caught up in her brilliant retellings — Nicola Davies, author of Big Blue Whale This book is simply astonishing… it’s enthralling and beautiful with so much depth and lore — Eibhlis Carcione, author of Black Gables -Praise for The Twelve * — * The ancient past is rendered vividly in this book that is ideal for tweens and teens who love beachcombing for fossils * Time’s Children’s Book of the Week * Dark, dreamy, surreal and beautiful. Liz Hyder is a sublime writer. — Katya Balen What a fabulous book. Hauntingly beautiful, this is such a special time slip story with themes of bullying, coming of age and courage. It’s also a true love song to nature. With breathtaking art by Tom de Freston. — Hannah Gold Channelling the dark menace of classic British fantasy writers such as Susan Cooper and Alan Garner, this is a beguiling tale of ancient magic, good and evil, deeply rooted in the Welsh landscape * Observer * Haunting and resonant * Guardian, A Book of the Year * Just in case you were in any doubt, Liz proves herself the undisputed heir to Susan Cooper and Alan Garner with this utterly entrancing and haunting YA time slip adventure as Kit looks for a sister who appears to have not just vanished but never even existed, with magnificent illustrations by Tom de Freson. Liz’s deep knowledge of folklore and uncanny ability to summon a sense of magic, unease and mystery from the most unexpected corners of the British landscape is so beautifully and deftly handled here, a masterclass in dark fantasy. — Piers Torday -Praise for Bearmouth * — * An extraordinary dystopian novel… compelling and original * Sunday Times, Book of the Year * One of the most vivid, tough, bold and gripping books I’ve read in a long time – and it’s utterly original, the kind of story to carry you away — Katherine Rundell Like nothing I have read before… hand-in-mouth gripping… [Hyder] will become a household name and her books a curriculum staple * The Times, Children’s Book of the Month * One of the most ambitious and darkly brilliant YA books I’ve read. It’s provocative, tender, claustrophobic and epic. It blew my mind — Kiran Millwood Hargrave