Lob

by Linda Newbery

He's older than anyone can tell. Older than the trees. Older than anybody.

For as long as she can remember, Lucy has wanted to catch a glimpse of the mysterious green man who lives in Grandpa Will's Lob.

You have to be very special to see him; that's what Grandpa says. Lucy's parents think Lob's just imaginary, but Lucy knows he exists. And she can't believe it when she finally spots Lob in the gooseberry bushes.

But Lucy's world is about to be shattered by a terrible event. What will happen to Lob now - and will she ever see him again?

Linda Newbery, with the vivid embroidery of Pam Smy's illustrations, has conjured a real green man right out of the woods and stories of legend.

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Nature, Young Adult, British Literature

224 pages, Paperback

Published October 9, 2014

About the author

Linda Newbery's latest novel for adults is THE ONE TRUE THING. She has published widely for readers of all ages, and is a Costa Prize category winner with SET IN STONE, a young adult Victorian mystery. She has twice been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, with THE SHELL HOUSE and SISTERLAND.

With friends Adele Geras and Celia Rees, Linda hosts the literary blog WRITERS REVIEW, which features reviews, recommendations, interviews with authors and insights from booksellers.

Linda is an active campaigner on animal and environmental issues and has published a guide to compassionate living: THIS BOOK IS CRUELTY FREE - ANIMALS AND US.

She lives in rural Oxfordshire.

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

The Green Man is an elusive creature that only those willing to take the time are able to see.
Grandpa and Lucy, who spend their days in the garden have this gift. Lob, the green man, is their friend. He helps them with their chores silently and secretively. When Lucy is forced to leave her home and move to London after Grandpa dies, she wonders if she will ever see Lob again. What follows is an imaginative journey. It is both Lucy's story of adjusting to life in a new place and having new, mature responsibilities. It is also the story of Lob's journey and all the unlikely and uncomfortable situations he gets himself into along the way.

In this creatively designed book, time marks the chapters and full page illustrations weave in and out of the text seamlessly. The font changes as we hear the story from Lob's perspective as well.
Newberry has created a legend well worth your indulgence. Recommended for all young readers. -David K.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my 10 year old granddaughter, after her class had performed a dramatised version of the story of Lob, the green man. After she had read it - again - she passed it on to me. Thank you, Aimee - what a delightful book!

Those privileged to be able to see Lob are given all the help they need to make their gardens and allotments grow well. They are the people who are in tune with their natural surroundings and find joy and contentment through being part of the natural world. The story is also about loss and finding yourself.

As well as being a good story, there are some beautifully drawn illustrations and poetic passages included. Lob by Linda Newbery has become one of my favourite children's books!

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandpa Will is one of the rare few who can see Lob. Lucy can see him, too, but how can she become a farmer when she lives in an apartment in London?

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I loved this. 9 year old granddaughter wasn’t in the least interested.

[noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love u lob 😭😭😭

[Jumaymah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really♾️ good👍👍👍👍👍👍👍thank you for your support 👍

[Emma Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Stand quietly in a park, garden, or the woods one day. Listen! Watch! If you are one of the lucky ones, you might see him. Lob! A green man.”

Lob's main character is little Lucy, who loves visiting her grandpa and helping him in his vegetable garden. He teaches her all about seeds and watering and weeding, but Lucy is not grandpa’s only helper. Lob is a little eternal man, who lives in the garden and keeps out of sight. Only special people can see him. Grandpa has been able to see him for many years, and Lucy learns to see Lob too. Lob helps out in the garden, weeding, tidying and polishing grandpa’s tools.

Linda Newbery really brings to life the magical qualities of a garden, and Lob may well encourage kids to get out in the garden – if only to see whether they can spot Lob for themselves.

However, Lob isn’t all about magic and sweetness and light. Without giving away the plot, I can say that Lucy and Lob’s idyll doesn’t last and they both have to face up to harsh realities. When I started the book I thought it might make a nice bedtime story for my nieces (they’re three and five), but they’re too young for Lob for a while yet. I know age ranges for children’s books are controversial, but the rBooks website suggests that Lob is suitable for 7-9 year olds.

I will say that the magic returns for a lovely, happy ending that involves lots of plants! All-in-all Lob is a magical book, and would make a great read for a child that’s into gardening or just loves being outdoors. And there’s the potential for really bringing Lob to life, by recreating Lucy’s artistic endeavours, as well.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy's grand father lives in the country and loves to garden. Teaching Lucy to plant and appreciate the earth and all it yields, he credits Lob for some of the harvest. Lob is a green man as old as the earth, seen only by sensitive people.

When Lucy observes Lob from the corner of her eyes, she feels blessed. Lob imparts a good feeling to those who respect him.

When Lucy's beloved grand father dies, and the cottage is torn down to make way for a large development of houses, Lucy worries about Lob.

Living in London, Lucy obsesses. As Lob intuitively makes his journey from the cottage to London, along the way he meets some nasty people who cage him and try to harm him. These passages are strongest when we see the dark side of Lob, portrayed as a feral creature unafraid of snarling, biting and spitting.

The story, augmented with the black and white illustrations of Pam Smy, is delightful.

[Srinidhi.R Srinidhi.R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very magical and entertaining..brought tears to my eyes reading the last part of the book..great work of fiction! thumbs up!!

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cute, and probably worth a re-read. Glad I picked this up at HBP for a dollar.

[Sem · Rating 2 out of 5]

This began as a 4 star read and then proceeded to shed stars at an alarming rate.

[Mary Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that holds a special place in my heart. It’s gorgeous…just gorgeous. There is so much about the power of love, belief, growing up, gardens, green spaces and the world around us in this little book intended for 7-10 years olds. It is heart-warming and inspiring. Lobs’ journey after he leaves the cottage-garden takes us across country, down noisy, dirty roads and highways. One bit I particularly love is Lobs’ impression of arriving at the Chelsea Garden Show in London. His astonishment and adaptability at the rapid construction of all these green and growing gardens that spring out of nowhere says something poignant and important about the pace of nature and the patience of the gardener. Just magical!

[Bookewyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful little book that is perfect for pagan families and anyone who loves green spaces, growing things. Lucy’s grandfather tells her the story of Lob, the ancient ‘Green Man’; she learns to garden and has a deep respect for nature. She learns that he is never far, but always drawn to the wild places. There are also lessons about not trying to control nature; death and rebirth. Magic can be found everywhere, if you look for it.

The Green Man is an ancient story spanning centuries, and the world. It is found in the Arthurian legends, Robin Hood, the pagan celebrations of the wheel of the year, the solstices, the equinoxes. You will find his face on many old English pubs, churches, homes, and especially, gardens. The Green Man has a lesson to teach all of us.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lucy loves spending time at Clunny Cottage, out doors in the garden with her Grandpa Will, helping in the garden and sharing in the secret of Lob. Lob, a green man made of the stuff of earth that only a select few could see. When Grandpa Will suddenly dies Lucy struggles with the loss of both her beloved Grandpa and their shared secret. The monthly chapters provide a timeframe for story as the focus alternates between Lucy's grieving process and Lob's journey. Younger readers may struggle with the slow pace and unfamiliar legend.

[Beatrix12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo libro, era molto convincente, sia dalla copertina, sia dalla trama, e così anche nel contesto letterario, devo dire che alcune parti erano tristi (per esempio, il nonno che era morto), ma oltre a ciò è strutturato molto bene, racconta di azioni che fanno gli umani veramente bizzarre (per esempio, quando piove, nel libro racconta, che noi umani scappiamo, ci tiriamo il cappuccio sulla testa, anche se…la pioggia non fa male, anzi aiuta la terra a rigenerarsi!). Per finire, concludo dicendo che darò a questo favoloso libro (che ti fa affrontare la VITA come è)… 5⭐️

[Shahrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story perfectly blurs the edges between reality and garden magic. This book will take you on a magical journey through the seasons with young Lucy who gains a passion for gardening and nature through her grandpa. The reader joins in with her discovery of the magical mysterious green man Lob. The story took some unexpected twists and turns. Some funny, some sad. I love the amazing illustrations through out.

[Ashleigh Hawkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, it is about a young girl who has a creature in her garden,
Follows Lucy through the seasons of a year and how LOB, helps her grow through helping the garden grow. Touches upon death, relationships, nature and just growth of a child in general.
Sort of between reality and fantasy

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a gardener, children's lit lover, and aficionado of fairy lore, of course I loved this. It's sweet but not sickly sweet, just the right length for a simple story about family and magic and believing in yourself (and the journey of Lob the green man to find his new Person)

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, gentle story about Lucy and her ability to see Lob, a ‘green man’. Themes of nature, family (especially the bond between a grand daughter and her grandfather) and grief. Beautiful illustrations accompany the lyrical text.

[Elitsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy read and easy to understand. It gave a slightly melancholy vibe and explained the importance of green living and growing things in our planet. Simple but with a meaningful message behind it.
(Reader, 10yr old)

[Elizabeth Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet story based on the Green Man. It's a little deep for a children's book, but overall it was satisfying to read, and I bet it would be perfect for Pagan children!

[Elizabeth Molyneaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet story based on the Green Man. It's a little deep for a children's book, but overall it was satisfying to read, and I bet it would be perfect for Pagan children!

[Salma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was a kid. Can't believe I've found it again

[hels · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving story that has inspired me to get on the allotment list. Beautiful illustrations.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story 🥰

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy loves spending time with her grandfather in his garden where he tells her stories of a mysterious helper who lives in his garden named Lob. Lob is a Green Man who is rarely seen but his presence is felt in the energy in the air, the thriving garden, and the little jobs that are mysteriously finished. Her grandfather tells her that only special people can see Lob, and Lucy works hard to try to see him. Eventually she catches moving leaves, then bright green eyes, but little more because Lob is so shy. Lob has been working in that garden for years, but when a sad event happens to her grandfather and to the garden and his home, Lob must find a new place to live. Lucy, mourning her grandfather, hopes that Lob will come to her home in London and live in the park nearby. After months of waiting, she wonders if Lob was really real after all. Meanwhile, Lob has been struggling to find a place to live and work where he is understood.

Newbery has written a novel for young people that has a lovely old-fashioned feel to it. After the changes at the garden and cottage, the story has alternating chapters of Lob and Lucy. Readers will never question that in this book, Lob is most definitely real. The adventures that Lob has in getting to a garden where he can work and be appreciated really carry the book forward. Additionally, the wonder of gardens and growing things is a special element here that weaves throughout the book. It is a joy to read a modern book for children that has its roots so firmly in the soil.

In the Lob chapters, Newbery has created verse that speaks in Lob’s voice directly. They are wonderful poems, with an ancient quality and a firm tie to nature. Set aside in a larger font, they are moments of stillness in the book that one looks forward to as a reader. Newbery’s prose is equally evocative. Take for example this passage when Lucy heads out into the dark evening on Page 41:

"The gap between indoors and out, tameness and wildness, lightness and dark, stretched wide and wider in the flittery dusk. Lucy didn’t want to go in, not yet. Stars were pricking the sky, tree branches stretching out to muffle them."

In this book, one visits the wonder of nature again and again. A beautiful book to share in the spring of the year with a class that will stretch imaginations and will have everyone looking for friendly green eyes in the bushes. Appropriate for ages 8-11.

[Beth Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bittersweet story dealing with loss as well as the nature of belief. All of this is wrapped up in the story of Lob, a kind of combination of Green Man and household spirit. There is real magic here, and a story which fosters a genuine love of nature and all that grows, with an emphasis on the natural cycles of the world. Newbery's use of the Green Man is inventive and new, without departing far from existing ideas.

This book is extremely well-written and beautifully illustrated. It had a lovely old-fashioned feel to the voice, which is lyrical and would be great read aloud. The main character of Lucy is well-drawn and interesting: curious, enthusiastic and creative. I'm sure all child readers would find something in her to identify with. The relationship with her Grandpa is another high point and will be familiar to many children who find a special closeness with a grandparent.

Overall, there is much to commend this book: beautiful writing, warmth and depth of feeling, a healthy engagement with nature and its cycles, support for children facing loss.

[Becka the Book Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy loves helping Grandpa in his garden, although they both know Lob is his biggest helper. Lob has been around for years, back and back and back, but he’s a retiring fellow and very few people see him – so few, in fact, that most have decided he’s just a legend, a game Grandpa and Lucy play together.

When Grandpa dies suddenly and Granny moves into town, even Lucy begins to wonder if she will ever see Lob again, if she ever really did see him in the first place. Meanwhile, Lob is walking the road for the first time in ages, feeling his way through unfamiliar landscapes and circumstances to find the next right person to stay with for a while.

I almost never buy a book that I know nothing about, but Lucy and the Green Man caught my eye and I felt that spark of “there’s something here” when I picked it up and skimmed the pages. It’s a children’s book of the right sort, with quiet magic growing all through it to delight a reader of any age who has the eyes to see it.

[Beckabooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy loves helping Grandpa in his garden, although they both know Lob is his biggest helper. Lob has been around for years, back and back and back, but he’s a retiring fellow and very few people see him – so few, in fact, that most have decided he’s just a legend, a game Grandpa and Lucy play together.

When Grandpa dies suddenly and Granny moves into town, even Lucy begins to wonder if she will ever see Lob again, if she ever really did see him in the first place. Meanwhile, Lob is walking the road for the first time in ages, feeling his way through unfamiliar landscapes and circumstances to find the next right person to stay with for a while.

I almost never buy a book that I know nothing about, but Lucy and the Green Man caught my eye and I felt that spark of “there’s something here” when I picked it up and skimmed the pages. It’s a children’s book of the right sort, with quiet magic growing all through it to delight a reader of any age who has the eyes to see it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this off the children's shelf in our library because I've been impressed by Newbury's writing; she has a feel for the natural world and deals with her characters honestly. These qualities are on full display in this charming and touching little book. Lucy loves to garden with her grandfather, and shares a secret with him; she and Grandpa can both see Lob, the green man, who helps Grandpa in his garden. But change is part of life; old people die, and little girls grow up. In the midst of this turmoil, is there anything certain for Lucy to hang on to? Is Lob something - or someone - real, or is he just a game Grandpa played with her? This gentle tale celebrates the processes of life, the connections between generations, and the wisdom two grandfathers pass on to their grandchildren. Lovely!