The Land of Neverendings

Kate Saunders

Oct 2017 · Faber & Faber

About this ebook

As hilarious as it is heartbreaking, another future classic from Costa Winner Kate Saunders ( Five Children on the Western Front).
Emily watched, in a trance of astonishment, as the bear opened the picnic basket, took out a tartan rug and spread it on Holly's bed.
And then the penguin spoke.
Actually spoke .
'What's going on? This isn't Pointed End!'
The bear said, 'It looks like a human bedroom. We must've come through the wrong door.'
'But there aren't any doors to the hard world in Deep Smockeroon! And we don't have a human bedroom any more. We're in a box in the attic.'
What if there exists a world powered by imagination?
A world of silliness, where humans and their toys live on long after they've left the Hard World . . . and what if the door between that world and this one was broken?
Welcome to the Land of Neverendings.
Moving, raw and funny in all the right ways, The Land of Neverendings is a rip-roaring adventure, but it also gives an honest portrayal of grief for young readers, and shows us that whilst sadness does exist in the world, it doesn't have to cancel out happiness, or silliness, even when you lose someone you love.
'This is written from the heart and can't fail to make yours sing.' The Times

'Imagination, memories and new beginnings triumph.' The Sunday Times
'A beautiful and often very funny book about imagination, family and love.' BookTrust
'Funny and tender, heartbreaking and life-affirming.' Bookseller

Ratings and reviews

When I first read this title, I believed that this book was some kind of Peter Pan Retelling. A land based on the imagination of children with the called "Neverendings" - can you blame me. This is basically me saying that without actually reading the synopsis, I went in thinking that I'd be getting a Retelling of one of my favourite fairy tales, but I got something much different and much better! The Land of Neverendings is a hilarious and gorgeously imagined children's book where toys live their own lives and are reunited with their owners when they leave our world. My Thoughts: 1. Since I've almost crossed the realm of teenage-Dom, this book was a very quick and fun read for me. I loved getting into Emily's mind, feeling the grief and loss of losing her sister, losing her one old friend and making new ones and also watching her reactions as the toys and their imagined stories came to life in front of her very eyes. 2. The toys in this book were HILARIOUS. There were refined penguins who opened up a bed and breakfast, nun barbie dolls, various societies that had been formed among the toys and even a prison doll who only knows how to get in trouble. 3. Amidst all the hilarity, I especially loved that there was loss of a loved one too young being dealt with in an affirming and yet real manner. 4. Which of course, bring me to Ruth, our main character, Emily's elderly next door neighbour who lost her son in a drunk driving accident. I loved the support that they were able to give each other, the no questions asked belief and most of all, the chocolate biscuits. 5. Another character I TRULY loved was Martha, Emily's new friend. I loved her honest goodness that wafted off the page, her unwavering loyalty and her kindness. She makes me think ofall the brilliant friends I made in middle school. Despite the fact that this is a children's book I still loved every second of reading it. The Land of Neverendings is a hilarious, show stopping marvel from a true creative genius. 4.5 stars.

About the author

Kate Saunders began her career as a professional actor but moved into journalism following the publication of her first novel, The Prodigal Father, in 1986, for which she won the Betty Trask Award. Since then, Kate has written many books for adults and children. Saunders won the annual Costa Children's Book Award for Five Children on the Western Front, a highly acclaimed contribution to the classic fantasy series by E. Nesbit. Kate was twice shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal with Five Children on the Western Front and The Land of Neverendings. Kate's other novels include Storm in the Citadel, Catholic and Sex (co-authored with Peter Stanford), Wild Young Bohemians, Beswitched, The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop, Magicalamity and many more.
Kate wrote and reviewed for newspapers and magazines including The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Daily Telegraph and Cosmopolitan. She was also a regular contributor to radio and television, including appearances on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour and Start the Week. She was a guest on the first episode of the long-running news quiz programme, Have I Got News For You, and her acting work includes an appearance in Only Fools and Horses. The BBC children's series Belfry Witches was based on Kate's children's books about two mischief-making witches. Kate lived in London with her family.