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Original poster

Children's books set in Cornwall

37 replies

Orlando · 31/07/2012 14:39

Driving down to St Ives at the end of the week, and trying to think of books to download from Audible to make the journey and sitting for hours in traffic jams pass more quickly. Have got the latest Ingo installment, and a Lauren St John one (Dead Man's Cove?) but wondered if anyone could suggest anything else? It's mainly for youngest dd (10) as the older ones will be plugged into ipods, though last year it became apparent that they'd been stealthily listening all along when they both cried at the end of War Horse. Any suggestions gratefully received.

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martinbudden · 11/12/2015 12:50

Green Smoke by Rosemary Manning is wonderful. I loved reading it when I was about 8 years old. The following year my dad took me exploring at Constantine Bay (where the book is set), we followed the description of how to get to the dragon's cave, and guess what... the cave is really there, exactly as described! Warning: don't try to get there at high tide. Low tide is completely safe so long as you don't mind scrambling over rocks (personally I love scrambling over rocks!).

There is also an old edition of The Night Before Christmas which has hand-drawn illustrations of the same section of cliff, with the lone house above the cave featuring as the house where not a creature was stirring (not even a mouse). Unfortunately I can't find that edition on Google, but I can tell you that this is the house illustrated in the book: goo.gl/maps/XfQdGfy8VTs

If you look at the cliff edge at 10 o'clock from the pinned house you can see the shadow of Green Smoke's cave entrance.

Clockingoff · 09/03/2015 16:08

I'm not sure if it's the kind of book you're thinking of, but the Malory Towers books are all set in Cornwall.

LIZS · 08/03/2015 19:30

The White Horse of Zennor and other short stories - Michael Morpurgo

BikeRunSki · 08/03/2015 19:24

The Once and Future King - TE White

hels71 · 08/03/2015 19:10

Mermaid house by Gwendoline Courtney is set in Cornwall I think.

thewhistler · 03/08/2012 20:29

Little white horse is devon but lovely.

meditrina · 03/08/2012 00:45

I can't remember if the setting is identifiably Cornwall, but A Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge is a lovely book (and I'd assumed Cornish as a main character is called Loveday).

thaliablogs · 03/08/2012 00:41

if we're on noel streatfield there is of course 'the house in cornwall' which is a wonderful thriller.

thewhistler · 02/08/2012 21:33

Goldengrove by Jill paton-Walsh. A teen book.

There must be some Agatha Christies.

Jamaica inn for the teens, and for all of them, tho dorset not cornwall, moonfleet.

There was a wonderful children's story called the young detectives set in cornwall.

King Arthur and the knights of the round table, re told by roger lancelyn green. Tintagel here we come.

Tarka is devon too, but still good.
The once and future king.

Original poster
Orlando · 02/08/2012 09:41

You lot are blimmin' brilliant. Leaving at lunchtime if I get off mn and get my arse in gear so I've written down all these titles and hope I can find a few in the bookshop there. I really hope they have the Susan Cooper ones - I love those children's books from way back, by writers like Penelope Lively and Nina Beachcroft, and Noel Streatfeild of course. I ordered a secondhand copy of one of hers that I remembered reading when I was a kid - The House In Cornwall. Bloody brilliant, but it hasn't arrived yet. (Am all over the Mousehole thing, but thanks for the tourist alert as I have myself sniggered to hear people talking about Aln-wick in Northumberland and I-am in Derbyshire etc.) Met a friend in the library yesterday who is going to Cornwall the week after us and has younger dcs so passed on the Green Smoke and Sand Horses rec to her (and felt very smug and knowledgeable).

Gobblers, that's the one! Were you here back in those days too?!

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PomBearWithAnOFRS · 02/08/2012 00:54

oops, just saw you have them - DOH!
I third (or however many) Susan Cooper though - both Over Sea Under Stone and Greenwitch are set in Cornwall.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 02/08/2012 00:53

There's Ingo and The Tide Knot. I forget who they're by, they are about two children who discover they are half merpeople.

reshetima · 01/08/2012 20:36

With working link www.whitegauntlet.com.au/noelstreatfeild/ChildFiction/BooksAppleBough.htm

reshetima · 01/08/2012 20:35

Apple Bough by Noel Streatfeild is delightful and set partly in London and partly either in Devon or Cornwall (cannot remember and no info online). See www.whitegauntlet.com.au/noelstreatfeild/ChildFiction/BooksAppleBough.htm for more info.

BlueChampagne · 01/08/2012 14:00

Troy Town by Arthur Quiller-Couch might be one for you, or to read aloud. Also Armorel of Lyonesse (Walter Besant).

BlueChampagne · 01/08/2012 13:54

Thank you everyone for reminding me of Green Smoke! Also loved Susan Cooper. Happy memories Smile

jopaca · 01/08/2012 13:14

Over Sea Under Stone by Susan Cooper is brilliant, might seem a bit dated at first but perfect for that age group.

Cassettetapeandpencil · 01/08/2012 12:52

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GobblersKnob · 01/08/2012 12:42

Orlando, bat motifs? What something like this??? GrinGrin

GobblersKnob · 01/08/2012 12:40

Hmmft at Cassettetapeandpencil

I think you will find the book reads 'They say in in the Cornish way 'Mouzel', but you may say it as you choose'.

Grin
Cassettetapeandpencil · 01/08/2012 08:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Orlando · 01/08/2012 07:58

Ahhh - that scarf (eagerly tries to re-establish S&B credentials). Back in my most regular posting days mners were identified by bat motifs (can't for the life of me remember why) or the GF 'babies on rockets' t-shirts. Scarf is much more easily incorporated into normal dressing.

We used to go to St Ives a lot when I was a kid as my grandfather was a vicar in a church outside Penzance, but it's been YEARS since I was there last. Great to know about the bookshop, and to have some titles to look out for. I love a locally set holiday book, me. Thanks for all the replies.

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GobblersKnob · 01/08/2012 07:29

Mn scarf here, easy to miss if you don't hang out in S&B, though, bit of a cult thing.

Don't know if you have been to St. Ives before, but there is a brilliant bookshop at the end of Fore Street which carries everything 'local' and has all the kids stuff, the owners are lovely, worth going for a browse.

Original poster
Orlando · 31/07/2012 22:52

Am really loving all these suggestions - thanks loads. Saw the Iain Lawrence one on maples' link wearymum - looks good, wonder if I'll be able to find it in a local bookshop. I think all mine have read the Zanzibar - MM is a perrenial favourite. I was going to push Jamaica Inn into dd1's bag, but will have a look for The King's General too - haven't come across that, so big thanks for the suggestion.

Just looked up The Sand Horse on Amazon, Gobblers - looks absolutely fab (sniff). Shall be exchanging meaningful looks with all pom bear-carriers, but what is this mn scarf of which you speak? I've been here for more years than I care to count, but am such an erratic poster it could easily have passed me by [out of touch emoticon]

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