Yvonne Battle-Felton

For fans of "The Lottery" and The Hunger Games, this novel set in a small town with a sinister tradition is chilling in the best possible way. "Curdle Creek is a thoughtful, sinister tour-de-force."―Tananarive Due, L. A. Times Book Prize-winning author of The Reformatory Welcome to Curdle Creek, a place just dying to make you feel at home. Osira, a forty-five-year-old widow, is an obedient follower of the strict conventions of the remote all-Black town that's stuck in the past and governed by ominous rituals including a one in, one out population policy. Osira has always been considered blessed, but her luck changes when her grown children run off to parts unknown, escaping Curdle Creek's harsh traditions, she comes in second to last in the Running of the Widows, and her father flees after his name is called in the annual Moving On ceremony. Forced to jump into a well in a test of allegiance, Osira finds herself transported first back in time, and then into another realm where she must answer for crimes committed by Curdle Creek. Exile forces her to jump realms again, landing Osira even farther away from home, in rural England. Safe there as long as she sticks to the rules, she quickly learns there are consequences for every kindness. Each jump could lead Osira anywhere but will she ever find a place to call home? Curdle Creek is an American gothic in the tradition of Shirley Jackson that offers a mash-up of the surreal and literary horror that will appeal to fans of Ring Shout, The Salt Grows Heavy and Lovecraft Country. Yvonne Battle-Felton's fever-dream of a tale is layered and eerie and quite unlike anything else.

"For fans of "The Lottery" and The Hunger Games, this novel set in a small town with a sinister tradition is chilling in the best possible way. Welcome to Curdle Creek, a place just dying to make you feel at home. Osira, a forty-five-year-old widow, is an obedient follower of the strict conventions of the remote all-Black town that's stuck in the past and governed by ominous rituals including a one in, one out population policy. Osira has always been considered blessed, but her luck changes when her grown children run off to parts unknown, escaping Curdle Creek's harsh traditions, she comes in second to last in the Running of the Widows, and her father flees after his name is called in the annual Moving On ceremony. Forced to jump into a well in a test of allegiance, Osira finds herself transported first back in time, and then into another realm where she must answer for crimes committed by Curdle Creek. Exile forces her to jump realms again, landing Osira even farther away from home, in rural England. Safe there as long as she sticks to the rules, she quickly learns there are consequences for every kindness. Each jump could lead Osira anywhere but will she ever find a place to call home? Curdle Creek is an American gothic in the tradition of Shirley Jackson that offers a mash-up of the surreal and literary horror that will appeal to fans of Ring Shout, The Salt Grows Heavy and Lovecraft Country. Yvonne Battle-Felton's fever-dream of a tale is layered and eerie and quite unlike anything else."

'A gorgeously written, surrealist folktale that goes bone deep. Compelling, thought-provoking, thrilling, haunting, Yvonne Battle-Felton's Curdle Creek is simply a marvel' Paul Tremblay, author of THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD and HORROR MOVIE'A thoughtful, sinister tour-de-force' Tananarive Due, L. A. Times Book Prize-winning author of THE REFORMATORYWelcome to Curdle Creek. We're dying to make you feel at home. Osira, a forty-five-year-old widow, is an obedient follower of the strict conventions of Curdle Creek, an all-Black town in rural America governed by a tradition of ominous rituals designed to keep the residents safe. Curdle Creek has one particularly strict policy: one in, one out. And one day, it is Osira's turn. Forced into the great unknown. The sinister reality of her birthplace unravels around her. As she comes face-to-face with those she believed were lost, Osira must reckon with all she has ever been told and confront the insidious cruelties of inheritance.'From the start, there are echoes of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, but readers who think they know where this is going will be surprised, as Osira's story has many weirder twists and turns ahead' Guardian'Tautly written, utterly gripping, Yvonne Battle-Felton's novel invites the reader into a world of mystery and mythology' Carolyn Ferrell, author of DEAR MISS METROPOLITAN

It is 1910 and Philadelphia is burning. The last place Spring wants to be is in the run-down, colored section of a hospital surrounded by the groans of sick people and the ghost of her dead sister. But as her son Edward lays dying, she has no other choice. There are whispers that Edward drove a streetcar into a shop window. Some people think it was an accident, others claim that it was his fault, the police are certain that he was part of a darker agenda. Is he guilty? Can they find the truth? All Spring knows is that time is running out. She has to tell him the story of how he came to be. With the help of her dead sister, newspaper clippings, and reconstructed memories, she must find a way to get through to him. To shatter the silences that governed her life, she will do everything she can to lead Edward home.

Discover six new tales of wit, courage and power in this new treasury from Ladybird Books. Join six kings, queens and warriors from around the world as they battle for crowns, vanquish dark forces and claim their thrones in this colourful illustrated collection of Ladybird Tales. Includes a special introduction from Game of Thrones actress Gemma Whelan. Perfect for bedtime, to read aloud or to enjoy alone, these exciting stories taken from myth and legend show that there is more to royalty than bows and curtsies.

It is 1910 and Philadelphia is burning. The last place Spring wants to be is in the run-down, colored section of a hospital surrounded by the groans of sick people and the ghost of her dead sister. But as her son Edward lays dying, she has no other choice. There are whispers that Edward drove a streetcar into a shop window. Some people think it was an accident, others claim that it was his fault, the police are certain that he was part of a darker agenda. Is he guilty? Can they find the truth? All Spring knows is that time is running out. She has to tell him the story of how he came to be. With the help of her dead sister, newspaper clippings, and reconstructed memories, she must find a way to get through to him. To shatter the silences that governed her life, she will do everything she can to lead Edward home.

From the Women's Prize for Fiction longlist and the Northern Writer's Award Winner comes. . . REMEMBERED 'Compares with Toni Morrison's Beloved' Guardian 'Powerful, unapologetic, revealing' The Herald'This book feels vital for our time' Irish Times 'It's haunting and militant and very visceral and compassionate' Diana Evans'Some books both break your heart and set you free. Remembered will change you' Rachel EdwardsIt is 1910 and Philadelphia is burning . . . The last place Spring wants to be is in the rundown, coloured section of a hospital surrounded by the groans of sick people and the ghost of her dead sister. But as her son Edward lays dying, she has no other choice. There're whispers that Edward drove a streetcar into a shop window. Some people think it was an accident, others claim that it was his fault, the police are certain that he was part of a darker agenda. Is he guilty? Can they find the truth? All Spring knows is that time is running out. She has to tell him the story of how he came to be. With the help of her dead sister, newspaper clippings and reconstructed memories, she must find a way to get through to him. To shatter the silences that governed her life, she will do everything she can to lead him home.

Superheroes have always been with us, from gods with mighty powers to human heroes who don disguises to save the day . . . Join six larger-than-life mythic and legendary heroes from around the world in this colourful, illustrated collection of Ladybird Tales. Meet tricksters, fighters, shape-shifters and even people who save the day with just the power of speech. Anansi the Spider-ManLoki and the Magical HammerHanuman, Demon FighterInanna in the UnderworldShahrazad the StorytellerThe Legend of Hua Mulan Perfect for bedtime, to read aloud or enjoy alone, these thrilling tales breathe marvellous life into ancient tales. Includes a special introduction from award-winning author David Solomons.

Remembered is the debut historical fiction novel by Yvonne Battle-Felton, a story where Spring, an emancipated slave, is forced to relive a haunting past in order to lead her dying son home.