About the Author

Lucy Strange worked as an actor, singer, and storyteller before becoming a secondary school English teacher. She lives in Kent, England. The Secret of Nightingale Wood is her first novel.

Reviews

Praise for Sisters of the Lost Marsh* "So engrossing a tale and world that readers won't want to come up for air... Willa's innate goodness and iron will carry her through adventures and physical trials, pitting her against superstitions and fairy tales alike." -- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review* "Via taut pacing, complex plotting and memorable heroines, Strange (The Ghost of Midnight Lake) renders a standout work of historical fantasy, weaving nuanced familial and social dynamics against an atmospheric marshland setting." -- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review"Strange has crafted a novel that is ideal for fans of Alcott's Little Women, and those who like stories of capable and tenacious girls overcoming adversity."-- School Library Journal"One of my very favorite children's writers...Lucy Strange gets better and better. I read this in a single sitting: luminous, atmospheric storytelling." - The Bookseller"A richly characterized fantasy with the intensity of realism, Strange's well-crafted story is an adventure told with feeling." -- Sunday Times, Children's Book of the Week (also chosen as one of the best children's books of 2021)"A gripping gothic novel ... Eerie and atmospheric, this is perfect wintry reading." -- The Guardian"This spooky and beautifully written story makes perfect reading as the nights draw in." - The Week Junior, Book of the WeekPraise for The Ghost of Midnight Lake"A pitch-perfect page-turner. Strange's writing makes for a compelling read full of vivid descriptions and characters that are well-imagined and richly drawn. Agatha is a strong and capable female lead, vulnerable enough to be believable and brave enough to remake her life. The story hits the right note thanks to expert plotting and pacing, with each twist and turn setting up what's to come." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review"In her third novel, Strange is at her assured, brilliant best." -- The Guardian"A spooky, addictive tale of friendship and family." -- The Times (Children's Book of the Week)"A beautiful, haunting ghost story, full of vividly written characters...brimming with magic and mystery." -- Booktrust"Family secrets, a ghost girl and a forbidding manor house that goes up in smoke - this new story from Lucy strange is a classic gothic novel for beginners with affectionate nods to Jane Eyre and Rebecca." -- The Times, Book of the MonthPraise for The Secret of Nightingale Wood: Shelf Awareness best Children's Book of the YearKirkus Best Book of the YearAmazon Best Book of the YearA Telegraph Top 50 Book of the YearA Waterstones Book of the Month Pick2018 Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year* "In an imaginative, compelling first-person narration, Henry wraps her story in fairy tales, exposing her guilt, grief, isolation, and fear as she unravels the stunning secrets of Nightingale Wood." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review* "A brave heroine propels this strong and richly layered novel, a memorable portrait of grief, resilience, and rebirth." -- Publisher's Weekly, starred review*In her debut novel, Strange tells a lovely, extraordinaryily enchanting coming-of-age tale." - Shelf Awareness, starred review"From the first page, I was entirely smitten and compelled to read on until I finished this mysterious and poignant story." -- Pam Munoz Ryan, author of Newbery Honor Book Echo and Esperanza RisingPraise for Our Castle By the Sea: * "A plot summary can only hint at the satisfaction of reading this tightly interwoven story with its haunting setting and memorable characters." -- Booklist (starred review)* "Strange seamlessly blends a local legend of four girls turned into ancient standing stones on the lighthouse's clifftop into a larger story...A standout historical novel with a memorable protagonist, strongly sketched setting, and a compelling, twisty plot." -- Publisher's Weekly (starred review)* "Lucy Strange's second middle-grade work features elegant prose and an enchanting protagonist. Pet is earnest and unwavering, and the "small, mousy, and unimportant" girl at the beginning of the story is quite different from the strong young woman who emerges by the end... This haunting, historical novel is sure to touch young readers' hearts." -- Shelf Awareness (starred review)"The slow dismantling of Petra's faith in her loved ones adds a delicious instability to the growing unease of this WWII thriller. -- Kirkus Reviews