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Children of Winter
Catherine and her family are out for a walk when a sudden storm blows up. The children take shelter in a deserted barn which seems strangely familiar, although they have never been there before. As the daylight fades, Catherine senses the secrets of the surrounding hills press in upon her, secrets from another, older time.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 1995
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247 people want to read
About the author
Berlie Doherty
115 books85 followersBerlie Doherty née Hollingsworth is an English novelist, poet, playwright and screenwriter. She is best known for children's books, for which she has twice won the Carnegie Medal.She has also written novels for adults, plays for theatre and radio, television series and libretti for children's opera.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 5, 2020
This year I plan to go through the children’s books still on my shelves from years ago and keep any that my grandchildren might like. I’d highly recommend “Children of Winter”, probably for children of ten years old and up. Published in 1985, it won the Carnegie Medal, and deservedly so. It’s sensitively written and has all the elements of an excellent children’s tale. Three children from the English town of Sheffield become children of the past, in the seventeenth century when plague was rampant in England. This is not a history book, but an imaginative survival story told through the experiences of the three children, who have been sent away by their parents in an attempt to protect them from infection. They spend the winter in a barn at some distance from their village. The desperation of the children’s situation is well conveyed, and their pluck and perseverance wins through. A more adult note is struck once during the narrative, when a woman who has buried her husband and all her six children threatens the hideaways; but this potentially frightening incident is kept well within the bounds of children’s understanding. The story may obliquely refer to the actual story of the village of Eyam in Derbyshire, where the plague was allegedly brought from London in a merchant’s cloth, and the villagers quarantined themselves; but the inspiration for it appears to have been an actual “cruck barn”, which the author was taken to by the children of a school in Sheffield. I looked up a “cruck barn” and found the following link interesting.
https://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/prac...
The only criticism I could make of this book would be the author’s use of “thee” in the plural, when as far as I know it was only used in the singular, as in the familiar forms of ‘you’ in many languages today. Perhaps this was a dialectal use. Anyway, it certainly wouldn’t prevent my giving the book five stars!
https://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/prac...
The only criticism I could make of this book would be the author’s use of “thee” in the plural, when as far as I know it was only used in the singular, as in the familiar forms of ‘you’ in many languages today. Perhaps this was a dialectal use. Anyway, it certainly wouldn’t prevent my giving the book five stars!
July 28, 2012
This book by Berlie Doherty has a gripping story line set in 1666, at the time of the Great Plague. It is about three siblings who shelter in a barn in order to survive. They are told to stay there all alone by their parents who want to give them a better chance of survival. The children are so close to home but are unable to get there; not knowing what will happen to their family and neighbours back at the village.
I really love the way Berlie Doherty writes imaginatively and adventurously starting off the story in contemporary times, then transporting back to the times of black death. Although at times the book can be a little boring, the ways the children are made to react to situations is made to come alive so well that it keeps you wanting to find out what happens next.
The historical details of everyday life make this book perfect for history lessons, or for PSHE to teach around the topic of refugees, or even for Literacy lessons for group reading where children can use their own imagination to guess what happens next, discuss descriptive language, and learn new vocabulary.
I would say that an appropriate age range for this book would be years 4 and 5 (age 8-10) when children's writing is expected to become more independently fluent and descriptive.
I really love the way Berlie Doherty writes imaginatively and adventurously starting off the story in contemporary times, then transporting back to the times of black death. Although at times the book can be a little boring, the ways the children are made to react to situations is made to come alive so well that it keeps you wanting to find out what happens next.
The historical details of everyday life make this book perfect for history lessons, or for PSHE to teach around the topic of refugees, or even for Literacy lessons for group reading where children can use their own imagination to guess what happens next, discuss descriptive language, and learn new vocabulary.
I would say that an appropriate age range for this book would be years 4 and 5 (age 8-10) when children's writing is expected to become more independently fluent and descriptive.
May 16, 2023
I first read this in primary school when we were learning about the plague in Britain, though this is a fiction book. I hadn't read it since then, but remember being captivated by it. Turns out I still love it today as an adult -- it’s brilliant. It’s a simple tale, but not boring, and is very well written. It would be perfect to be made into a children’s one-off TV drama or something.
Although it starts in the present day, three children are somehow transported back to 1666, before coming back to present day at the end. I can see why it would aid learning as it describes life at that time: families being separated, great fear of catching the disease, rationing food, the harsh Winter drawing in and how the children survive alone though it. It seems pretty authentic to me. Alright, if you're an expert on the subject you could probably pick holes in it, but remember that this is aimed at children. There's just enough for them to get a feel for this time in history and hopefully inspire further learning.
Sadly Children of Winter seems hard to get hold of now which suggests it might be out of print. That’s a real shame as I’m sure children today would love it just as much as I did. One of my all-time favourites.
Although it starts in the present day, three children are somehow transported back to 1666, before coming back to present day at the end. I can see why it would aid learning as it describes life at that time: families being separated, great fear of catching the disease, rationing food, the harsh Winter drawing in and how the children survive alone though it. It seems pretty authentic to me. Alright, if you're an expert on the subject you could probably pick holes in it, but remember that this is aimed at children. There's just enough for them to get a feel for this time in history and hopefully inspire further learning.
Sadly Children of Winter seems hard to get hold of now which suggests it might be out of print. That’s a real shame as I’m sure children today would love it just as much as I did. One of my all-time favourites.
January 25, 2016
An interesting flash back in time to 1666 when some children hide in a barn for the winter, in the hope to survive the plague. We were desperate to find out how it ends. It ends in a way that is open ended but we think there are some clues in there to hint to you what happens. This book was a page turner and both of us felt the need to interrupt several times to say "don't let them in ! "
August 28, 2022
I'm rating this book 2 stars but it is not necessarily the author's fault. Let me explain.
I picked this book up on our recent travels to England because I liked the cover art (which was not as you see pictured here). I saw that it was originally published in the 1990's but was republished in 2019. Upon reading it, I suffered some rather strong conspiracy theory suspicions about the book's republication date.
Doherty wrote this piece of historical fiction about the black plague in the 1600's. She describes how a mother sent her three children to live in a remote location in the woods to keep them safe from all human contact. And the book is very descriptive as to how the plague could be spread merely by someone sneezing in the same room as yourself. She describes grocery deliveries and the need to burn the cloth the food was delivered to the children in. In so many ways this book smacked of 2020 -- which is NOT the author's fault. She wrote this book in the 90's. But the specifics and, again, the republication date were just too darn suspicious for me.
I think it would be hard for anyone to read this book and not think about the chaos which was 2020. The fear. The suspicion. The isolation. It is all made very real in this book. A little too real. Since I firmly believe we've suffered at the hands of fear for a few years too long, I would NOT recommend anyone read this book. At all. More to send a message to the publisher than anything else.
(Also suspiciously -- this book was in the marked down section of the bookshop where I purchased it. As if it was no longer relevant. Yes, I do conspiracy theories really well.)
I picked this book up on our recent travels to England because I liked the cover art (which was not as you see pictured here). I saw that it was originally published in the 1990's but was republished in 2019. Upon reading it, I suffered some rather strong conspiracy theory suspicions about the book's republication date.
Doherty wrote this piece of historical fiction about the black plague in the 1600's. She describes how a mother sent her three children to live in a remote location in the woods to keep them safe from all human contact. And the book is very descriptive as to how the plague could be spread merely by someone sneezing in the same room as yourself. She describes grocery deliveries and the need to burn the cloth the food was delivered to the children in. In so many ways this book smacked of 2020 -- which is NOT the author's fault. She wrote this book in the 90's. But the specifics and, again, the republication date were just too darn suspicious for me.
I think it would be hard for anyone to read this book and not think about the chaos which was 2020. The fear. The suspicion. The isolation. It is all made very real in this book. A little too real. Since I firmly believe we've suffered at the hands of fear for a few years too long, I would NOT recommend anyone read this book. At all. More to send a message to the publisher than anything else.
(Also suspiciously -- this book was in the marked down section of the bookshop where I purchased it. As if it was no longer relevant. Yes, I do conspiracy theories really well.)
February 25, 2025
This book was really good as it covered the topic of the black death. If you’re 10-12 learning about the black death, you should read it as it gives you an idea of what happened to some people during the time.
January 24, 2022
One of my winter reads, and I can't think how this one escaped me - probably because it is a children's book, I imagine. I am immediately drawn into timeslip stories, mainly because I think it is genuinely possible to pull back the curtain that separates past and present. In a recent TV dramatisation of The Amazing Mr Blunden, Simon Callow, in character, says that "time is not a straight line, it's more like a vast wheel on which we stand at different points, rarely meeting", and I agree with him.
The tale begins when Catherine Tebbutt, who is about 13, is out on a walk with her parents and two younger siblings Patsy and Andrew on the moors several miles from Sheffield when a storm suddenly whips up and the children take shelter in an old cruck barn. Catherine knows it is there, but cannot explain how she knows, never having seen it before. Once inside, the children play a game in which they imagine they are characters from the past, of the same ages as themselves, who also took shelter in the barn to escape the plague 320 years earlier. Their parents have told them to stay there until they receive a message that it is safe to leave; and not to let anyone in.
Catherine imagines herself as a previous Catherine Tebbutt and the story shows the resourcefulness of and relationship between the siblings as they survive a winter on limited supplies of food, not knowing what each day will bring, or what has happened to their family, friends and neighbours. They learn to forage, to run a home, focus on the important things, entertain themselves and each other and to hope; keeping a candle burning the whole time they are there. It gives a good insight into history in a way that is understandable. The present day storm acts as a metaphor for the plague, and the story ends when their parents appear at the barn door to tell the children the storm is over, mirroring the end of the plague in the 17th century; the knock comes when the candle finally blows out.
I like that the ending is ambiguous without any obvious happy ending; a good children's tale should entertain, but also make you think and question, stretch and challenge. This works well whilst remaining within the levels of understanding of the target age group. I think that Catherine survived the plague, though, because of the strong implication of the contemporary family being her descendants. However, I would have liked to see the impact on the 'now' children, as this wasn't presented at all. What did they learn, think, and consider as a result of their journey into the past? The Children of Winter uses the timeslip device, but here it is simply used as a vehicle to tell the story of the plague of 1665/6, rather than to change or understand history or impact on the present. Again, of course, this is a children's story.
It was good to read a solid traditional story for kids and the illustrations brought it to life - these were really cool. I also found a video of the Channel 4 dramatisation on YouTube which was very faithful to the story and worth a watch.
The tale begins when Catherine Tebbutt, who is about 13, is out on a walk with her parents and two younger siblings Patsy and Andrew on the moors several miles from Sheffield when a storm suddenly whips up and the children take shelter in an old cruck barn. Catherine knows it is there, but cannot explain how she knows, never having seen it before. Once inside, the children play a game in which they imagine they are characters from the past, of the same ages as themselves, who also took shelter in the barn to escape the plague 320 years earlier. Their parents have told them to stay there until they receive a message that it is safe to leave; and not to let anyone in.
Catherine imagines herself as a previous Catherine Tebbutt and the story shows the resourcefulness of and relationship between the siblings as they survive a winter on limited supplies of food, not knowing what each day will bring, or what has happened to their family, friends and neighbours. They learn to forage, to run a home, focus on the important things, entertain themselves and each other and to hope; keeping a candle burning the whole time they are there. It gives a good insight into history in a way that is understandable. The present day storm acts as a metaphor for the plague, and the story ends when their parents appear at the barn door to tell the children the storm is over, mirroring the end of the plague in the 17th century; the knock comes when the candle finally blows out.
I like that the ending is ambiguous without any obvious happy ending; a good children's tale should entertain, but also make you think and question, stretch and challenge. This works well whilst remaining within the levels of understanding of the target age group. I think that Catherine survived the plague, though, because of the strong implication of the contemporary family being her descendants. However, I would have liked to see the impact on the 'now' children, as this wasn't presented at all. What did they learn, think, and consider as a result of their journey into the past? The Children of Winter uses the timeslip device, but here it is simply used as a vehicle to tell the story of the plague of 1665/6, rather than to change or understand history or impact on the present. Again, of course, this is a children's story.
It was good to read a solid traditional story for kids and the illustrations brought it to life - these were really cool. I also found a video of the Channel 4 dramatisation on YouTube which was very faithful to the story and worth a watch.
November 8, 2022
After a recent visit to Eyam in Derbyshire - the village that closed itself off from the outside world after The Plague arrived in a bolt of cloth from London in 1665, killing first the unfortunate tailor, and thereafter many more - I discovered Berlie Doherty had written Children of Winter, taking inspiration from Eyam's sad but fascinating story. And more recently than that, spending a weekend in a tiny cottage in a nearby Peak District village seemed like the perfect occasion to read it.
A narrative praised by Ian McMillan for being a great example of resilient-kids-isolated-from-adults, in the vein of The Famous Five, Doherty focuses on the emotional upheaval of a family of children forced to make a hopefully-temporary home of the local cruck barn, not knowing when - or even if - they will see their parents again. Heavy material indeed for a children's book.
The frame story - a sort of modern mirror family - bridges the two Eyams: separated by hundreds of years, but the one very much relatable to the other; the reader's connection to Catherine, Tessa, and Dan is strengthened by the perspective of Catherine, Patsy, and Andrew. Using a frame story also allowed the author to fashion a more ambiguous ending, and whilst I struggled not to imagine the worst, I was able to rationalise a semi-happy ending . Doherty's Afterword provides the permission for this, in addition to the historical context, making Children of Winter an educational, if challenging - at times heartbreaking - read.
A word about the cover art for the edition I read, which Karl James Mountford designed using a digital screen printing method and two-colour palette to gorgeous effect. The overlapping and richly-textured reds and blues highlight the contrast between the harsh winter conditions, and the warmth of lives being lived. Close inspection will reveal smoke rising from only some of the houses illustrated - a rather tragic fact, but typical of the incredible attention to detail, and the careful reproduction of much of the story within his design. The simple, black and white sketches included in the body of the text are by Ian Newsham and readily convey and atmosphere of place.
Content Warning
A narrative praised by Ian McMillan for being a great example of resilient-kids-isolated-from-adults, in the vein of The Famous Five, Doherty focuses on the emotional upheaval of a family of children forced to make a hopefully-temporary home of the local cruck barn, not knowing when - or even if - they will see their parents again. Heavy material indeed for a children's book.
The frame story - a sort of modern mirror family - bridges the two Eyams: separated by hundreds of years, but the one very much relatable to the other; the reader's connection to Catherine, Tessa, and Dan is strengthened by the perspective of Catherine, Patsy, and Andrew. Using a frame story also allowed the author to fashion a more ambiguous ending, and whilst I struggled not to imagine the worst, I was able to rationalise a semi-happy ending . Doherty's Afterword provides the permission for this, in addition to the historical context, making Children of Winter an educational, if challenging - at times heartbreaking - read.
A word about the cover art for the edition I read, which Karl James Mountford designed using a digital screen printing method and two-colour palette to gorgeous effect. The overlapping and richly-textured reds and blues highlight the contrast between the harsh winter conditions, and the warmth of lives being lived. Close inspection will reveal smoke rising from only some of the houses illustrated - a rather tragic fact, but typical of the incredible attention to detail, and the careful reproduction of much of the story within his design. The simple, black and white sketches included in the body of the text are by Ian Newsham and readily convey and atmosphere of place.
Content Warning
February 6, 2021
Another lovely read. However this book was passed on to me and I had not looked at the storyline till I was a few pages in to it. Then I realised it was about the plague, quite a good book to be reading at present! It is a childrens book set in a village at the time of the plague. They are sent by their parents to go and stay in a barn outside of the village which has been affected by the plague, so that hopefully they are protected away from the plague, social distancing. For a few months the children have to look after themselves.
December 18, 2024
I think this book would have been better without the start and end in modern day. The historical part is about three siblings who live in a barn outside a village where the plague is running rife. There were some gripping parts in it, like when a villager, Maggie Hobbs, discovers where they are and tries to catch them because she lost all her children in the plague. However, the ending of the book is poor and we are left on an unsatisfactory cliffhanger which really could have been tied up by the modern day element. I'm surprised this book won the Carnegie. Must have been a slow year?
December 29, 2022
I really wasn’t a great fan of this book, it was a nice easy read but the time slip element really confused me. I didn’t like how we never found out if Dan dies from the plate or not. It changes time frame just as we see the story pick up. I’m sorry but I wasn’t a of this book and wouldn’t recommend it, personal preference. Don’t be offended.
July 9, 2017
Bought this because of subject, even though it's written for children (hence read in one day). Impressed, I got really engrossed in their struggle to survive the winter and one reason it was read in one sitting was I really wanted to know the outcome.
January 7, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was quite a cozy read, and I became quite attached to Dan, Tessa and Catherine. It did take me a bit of time to get into it, but I am really pleased I stuck with it. It will definitely be a book I cherish forever and reread from time to time, and for me is an absolute classic.
May 25, 2025
This book was one of my favourites in Junior School - absolutely fascinated me back then.
Really enjoyed re-reading it again!
The writing style is so engaging and the plot is different from anything I had read before (when i was little) - great book, great author.
Really enjoyed re-reading it again!
The writing style is so engaging and the plot is different from anything I had read before (when i was little) - great book, great author.
September 15, 2017
A sweet little book. An easy read.
October 24, 2017
Loved this book when I was younger and read it again as an adult. Brought back so many memories.
October 16, 2020
A easy read for childrens and adults, but sad and macabre ...
December 1, 2020
I read it in two hours. It was thrilling , all i wanted is to know if the children survived
February 3, 2021
This book was ok I didn’t like it that much I thought the illustrations were cool too love the black and white effects
September 27, 2023
Interesting look at the plague, but not as much was done with the timeslip elements as I'd have liked to see.
April 5, 2024
4.5 stars. Well written, harrowing, yet uplifting.
November 20, 2022
Originally published on the 1990s, a YA book which has striking parallels with the last couple of years. The plot reminds us that pandemics have struck before and how our basic instinct for survival and to protect family is the same, whatever the century. In the afterward explanation about the village of Eyam the plight of the villagers was very moving ; the parallels and contrasts with recent lockdowns was stark- helping a neighbour or thinking of community was to court disaster. Read on a dark blustery Sunday, a brief gem from an author who understands children and historical context.
September 13, 2012
Ever since I was a child I've loved survival stories, and I remember really enjoying this one. On a second reading as an adult I still found it a nice read. The story follows three children in 1666 as they survive a Winter in an old barn where their parents have sent them to avoid the plague ravaging their village. If you're looking for action and lots of things going on then this isn't the book for you. What it does give is a realistic insight into the time and the situation, and with the three children of varying ages you get to experience with them a variety of emotions from childish innocence in Dan, to the worries of Catherine, thrust into adult responsibilities.
I thought the idea of using a modern family as a link to the corresponding family in 1666 was a neat idea, but that it wasn't utilised to full effect. We only got the first chapter and a very brief final chapter with the 'modern day' Tebbutts, and I think a few more encounters with them would have fleshed out the connections nicely. I also found the ending to be a bit too ambiguous.
There are a few potential issues for younger readers. Firstly, it may be difficult for children unfamiliar with Yorkshire dialects - there's a lot of 'thees' and 'thas' thrown around. Also, when a writer is presenting characters from a different time period it's still important to make them relatable to a modern audience, but with this book being written in the 1980s I feel that it may no longer be successful with that.
On the whole I would recommend it for any kids who are interesting in survival stories or learning a bit about what life was like in the 1600s. It's an easy enough read if they can handle the dialect.
I thought the idea of using a modern family as a link to the corresponding family in 1666 was a neat idea, but that it wasn't utilised to full effect. We only got the first chapter and a very brief final chapter with the 'modern day' Tebbutts, and I think a few more encounters with them would have fleshed out the connections nicely. I also found the ending to be a bit too ambiguous.
There are a few potential issues for younger readers. Firstly, it may be difficult for children unfamiliar with Yorkshire dialects - there's a lot of 'thees' and 'thas' thrown around. Also, when a writer is presenting characters from a different time period it's still important to make them relatable to a modern audience, but with this book being written in the 1980s I feel that it may no longer be successful with that.
On the whole I would recommend it for any kids who are interesting in survival stories or learning a bit about what life was like in the 1600s. It's an easy enough read if they can handle the dialect.
December 20, 2011
I visited Eyam years ago and was completely obsessed with it's history. Full of that morbid fascination so peculiar to children of a certain age I read everything I could get my hands on about Eyam, it's people and the Black Death. I thought them all terribly brave and couldn't believe that one village had taken such a brave stance against a seemingly unbeatable enemy. Had Berlie Doherty's book been about at the time I would have gobbled it up and looked for more. Her writing is pitch perfect for younger readers (and this book is very much aimed at the nine-twelve bracket – I think most teen readers would find it rather young for their increasingly sophisticated tastes) and The Children of Winter will give those who pick it up not only a thrilling tale of survival and adventure but also an interesting snapshot of English history that will hopefully have them looking for more.
May 20, 2014
I read this at school, with my class as a child and it was so magical I always remembered it as an adult and until now I didn't know what it was called, just one line that stuck out in my head about it, once typed into google, I am now rejoined with the book that fascinated me so much as young person as it has as an adult, well worth a read!
March 7, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was quite a cozy read, and I became quite attached to Dan, Tessa and Catherine. It did take me a bit of time to get into it, but I am really pleased I stuck with it. It will definitely be a book I cherish forever and reread from time to time, and for me is an absolute classic.
A great book to start the year off with and can’t wait to talk about it at book club
A great book to start the year off with and can’t wait to talk about it at book club
April 3, 2020
While not as compelling as the author's Deep Secret, this one makes very good use of the timeslip structure. Some great historical details of everyday life, and the children's reactions to their situation come across very well.
February 2, 2014
Interesting story line which tries to make history more relevant today. As a social studies teacher, we will soon be studying the Plague. I'll definitely be pushing this book for my students to read as an additional text.
August 17, 2012
This quite unsettled me as a kid, but I loved it all the more for it. It's a quick read, and I've revisited it often!
January 27, 2013
one of my fave books from my childhood
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews