Furthermoor follows twelve-year-old Bren, who, having recently suffered the tragic loss of his sister Evie, is living as a shadow – going through the motions of daily life at home and at school, but never really present, never really in the moment. Worse still, Bren is plagued by the school bully, Shaun, who not only preys on Bren’s insecurity and cowardice, but has recently set his sights on the new kid too. Shaun and his gang make Bren’s life a living hell – a fate he’s resigned himself to, and even learned to live with. Bren’s only solace is Furthermoor: a world he’s imagined, a world he can escape to where he is safe, and Evie lives on. When Bren climbs through the canopy of crystal leaves into his mechanical forest, with its shimmering lake and beautiful meadow, he is in control. With the turn of a few cogs on his watch, he can create stunning works of nature and magnificent creatures. But as Bren’s real life takes a turn for the worse, strange things start to happen in Furthermoor too, with the emergence of Featherly, a dark and malevolent creature who seems hell-bent on destroying Furthermoor and Bren himself. Can Bren overcome his deepest fears and darkest thoughts in order to save himself?
After reading Darren’s previous titles, and particularly enjoying The Memory Thieves, I couldn’t wait for Furthermoor, and absolutely devoured it. Darren’s writing is beautiful, the descriptions of Furthermoor and world-building are exquisite, but this book is so much more than a portal-type adventure novel. The most prominent theme is that of grief and loss. Darren’s signature exploration of the big issues is, as usual, thought-provoking and brutally honest. I really felt Bren’s pain and suffering, not just in the moments of violence or bullying, but also in those vulnerable moments where he was alone, or in the awkwardness of his parents trying to navigate family life having lost a child. Grief can be a challenging topic for a middle grade audience, but Darren really conveys the nuances, the emptiness, and the numbness. Added to the ruthless campaign of bullying that Bren experiences, Darren really taps into the very real anguish that many teenagers face every day.
When Bren’s torment begins to permeate Furthermoor, Featherly reminds Bren that everything that happens there is Bren’s own perception. The strength of Bren’s own dark thoughts and feelings is enough to destroy everything good he has created, and that is an incredibly powerful metaphor for those experiencing grief and suffering. I can’t remember another middle grade to young adult title with such a striking take on the pain of loss and the effect it can have on the mental health and self-worth of those left behind. Bren’s story is haunting and poignant and will remain with me, as I hope it will remain with young readers, serving as a reminder that finding your voice in your darkest moments is tough, but when bravery and courage prevail, the darkness can be overcome.
Learning Links:
- Clear links to PSHE work on grief/loss and bullying.
- Perfect to link to work on Anti Bullying weeks – both the scenes involving the bullying and confronting the bully.
- Descriptive writing work based on Furthermoor – worldbuilding etc.
Trigger Warnings: Grief, Loss of a sibling, Loss of a child, Mental health, Bullying, Violence.
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