The Green Children of Woolpit

by J. Anderson Coats

An eerie, spine-tingling fantasy about a young girl who discovers two otherworldly children—and an ancient bargain that threatens to destroy them all.

It is the autumn of 1160, and twelve-year-old Agnes is helping with the harvest when she hears a frightened voice calling from the nearby woods. When she goes to investigate, Agnes can’t believe what she sees. There, at the bottom of the deep wolf traps, are two children. They are shouting in a language no one understands—and their skin is bright green.

Agnes soon discovers that these are no ordinary children; in fact, they aren’t even human. They are of the Fair Folk, and they are here to take Agnes home to their world. Trusting that the Fair Folk cannot lie, Agnes agrees to venture underground. But she soon learns just how dangerous their world is—and what it will take to break the ancient bargain meant to keep her there.

Based on a classic British legend, this deliciously creepy novel from acclaimed author J. Anderson Coats is perfect for fans of Doll Bones and Coraline .

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Childrens, Fae

272 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2019

About the author

J. Anderson Coats has received five Junior Library Guild selections, two Washington State Book Awards, and earned starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, the Horn Book Review, and Shelf Awareness. Her newest book is The Loss of the Burying Ground, a YA action-adventure about two warring nations, one fragile peace treaty, a ruinous storm, and two girls who are just starting to realize who the enemy really is. Her next middle grade historical, The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls, is forthcoming from Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2025.

Reviews

[Piscesbambina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating fairytale based on the historical record of two children with green skin who were found near a village in Suffolk during the 12 century. I loved this! It has an energy of its own and left a bittersweet spell on me long after I closed the cover, as if I myself had been away amongst Those Good People.

[Hannah]

Perfectly spooky and reminiscent of a Grimm tale, THE GREEN CHILDREN OF WOOLPIT will draw you in (perhaps a little fairy glamour at work?). Coats's narration is extremely relatable despite the story's setting in medieval England, and Agnes's fiercely kind demeanor will endear her to readers. Fans of J. A. White, Karen Cushman, and Kelly Barnhill will find a lot to love here.

[Genevieve Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

There should be more stories where girls help girls! That's what Agnes thinks, and she wants more than anything to be a girl in a story. When she finds two green children trapped at the bottom of a wolfpit, she finds herself mixed up with Those Good People, who cannot lie and who love above all a bargain--or a sacrifice. Beautifully written and set in 1160 England, with echoes of ancient, pre-Roman England, this middle-reader tale is sure to enchant.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. Anderson's speculative fantasy novel about a 12th century medieval legend showcases a well-informed portrayal of medieval life as well as a convincing ability to fashion the stuff of folk legends into a touching yet compelling story. When Agnes, a village girl, finds the green children in a trap dug for wolves in the woods, she hopes that she can earn the respect of her fellow villagers who believe that she wastes time making up tales. Agnes also hopes to return to the good graces of the haughty reeve's daughter Glory, who used to be her friend. When the children are brought into Woolpit, Agnes doesn't realize who they are or how they will affect her life. The story is told in a split narrative that intensifies and develops the characters as this story unwinds. Themes of this book include self-reliance, knowing your strengths, and realizing when you must let go of those that don't appreciate you.

[Alison Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, spooky-fun read, perfect for this time of year. I really enjoyed the creative approach to narrative voice in particular. This book is for “middle age/middle grade” readers — personally, I thought there were parts that seemed like they’d be a bit too scary for kids that young, but maybe I’m underestimating them!

My only qualm is my usual complaint about fantasy books set in the “dark ages” that portray rural people as much more ignorant, superstitious and/or “primitive” than they in fact were. I can give this book a pass because it handles it well enough, especially given that it’s narrated from a child’s perspective. The imaginative storytelling and eerie world-building more than make up for this lapse into cliché. All around, a fun and compelling read.

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed some of Coats previous books and was excited to read this one. This was an intriguing dark fairy tale like story with a very old world feel to it. I ended up enjoying this and it’s a pretty quick read. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to review.

Agnes is prone to dreaming and making stories in her head, which doesn’t help her parents get in the harvest. However, when Agnes finds two green children trapped in a pit on the edge of town her whole life (and that of the townspeople) is turned topsy turvy.

There is something about Coats’ writing style that I really enjoy. It always flows beautifully and is descriptive and well written, it’s pretty much effortless for me to read. I loved the themes of family and friendship throughout. I also enjoyed what a large world Coats gives us a glimpse into in this brief novel.

This story was magical in a very dark fairy tale like way. I loved the faerie elements and how the plot twisted and turned. This ended up being a very quick and engaging read for me.

Overall I enjoyed this. It was an engaging, beautifully written, and fast-paced dark fairy tale. I would recommend to those who enjoy stories about faerie and changelings.

[Nancy Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

In beautiful, powerful language, this story blends imagination, history, and fairy lore--a real achievement!

[Laurie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Creepy yet hopeful, historical yet fantastical, suspenseful yet heartfelt, this is a well woven tale of courage and interdependence.

[TheGeekishBrunette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give it a 3.5.

I will say that in the beginning it was hard to get into this book because it was quite slow and I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. As the story progressed, I found myself being intrigued with the plot but the characters were just alright.

Agnes has heard stories about The Good People from her granny and she repeats the lessons she was told throughout the book. Although she may have this advice, she still manages to find herself in trouble. I did like that she didn’t give up. Besides the green children, the other characters are pretty minor. They don’t have any background or character development. They are simply there for minor parts in the plot and that’s about it. The green children have the most development and are really the driving force for everything that goes on. They are sneaky but even then, nothing always goes as planned.

The plot had its slow parts in the beginning but it eventually smoothed out and continued at a rapid pace. There were a few plot twists and they were quite surprising so I did enjoy them. There are two point of views in this story once you get a bit in and at first I was confused by it because there isn’t much of an indicator for it but as I got used to it, it does help to understand the characters.

Overall, it was an interesting tale and if you are a fan of fairy folk or like fairy-tales then you should definitely give this book a try!

eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Liz Friend · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story: People in her village think foundling Agnes Walter is a liar: she sees and hears things other people can’t and won’t stop talking about them: like the cries of two strange children trapped in a nearby pit. Agnes doesn’t know that she’s the target of a plot by Those Good People, and specifically by Senna, a girl trapped in the fairy realm for a thousand years and desperate to get out, even if the price is Agnes’s slavery. When the green children are rescued, Agnes is lured into the Otherworldly Kingdom, where she learns both the truth of her own birth, and the price of her escape back to her adopted home. Will she have the wits and courage to set herself free?

June Cleaver's ratings: language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (kidnapping, enforced servitude) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Don't be fooled by the really terrible cover art: this is a story filled with excitement and peril...right after 40 pages of world building. Not for little kids! In the tradition of Holly Black (without the swear words), this is best for grades 7-10.

[Britta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm conflicted about this book. On the one hand, it's well-written and atmospheric, and I can't stop thinking about it. On the other hand, it's a little TOO dark and creepy for children; I'm in my 40s and still very unsettled by it, despite loving horror movies, mystery novels, and lots of YA books.

P. 174: "Where the soldiers came from, rebels were nailed alive to crossed pieces of wood and left there to die slowly, but there were too many rebels here for them to bother making crosses. Instead the bodies were impaled. A single sharpened post was driven into the ground with a man skewered on it, the bottom part through his nether regions and the top stabbing through his shoulder, or his chest, or his gaping, silent mouth. Sometimes a boy my age. One time, a girl with a tangle of hacked-off scarecrow hair, stripped to her shift and cut to pieces, and I was sick all over myself."

I really can't recommend that KIDS read a book that involves this imagery of a child being murdered via a sharp post in his genitals. WTF??

[Care · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming and dark story for fans of fae mischief and historical fiction. A really seamless blend of twelfth century Britain and the timeless magic of a Fairyland. Amd it had some epic moments of creepy and dark fantasy with really dire consequences for our intrepid heroine. The story was a bit convoluted and confusing at times (two characters with the same name and alternating chapters from their PoV). Enjoyed this. Would read another from this author.

[Rai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A uniquely-written children's book. I wasn't expecting a dual-pov but I enjoyed it! I thought each protagonist was distinct, each with her own motivations and believable flaws. The breakdown of Agnes's friendship as Glory grows out of childhood is a very relatable one for a middle-grade reader, and serves as a good motivation for her to mess around with the fae. The fair folk and their world are portrayed as realistically scary and strange, and I appreciated this take on the lore. The historical note at the end was very interesting! I had no idea that the "green children of Woolpit" are somewhat of a historical/mythological anomaly.

[Miriam Nielsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4⭐️
Closer to the start I was so confused by what was happening( maybe because there is two different perspectives). But as the book progressed everything started making sense! And it just kept getting better!! It is 4.4 stars because it started out a little meh but it just got better at the end!

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

“They will hear my voice and they will find us. The girl, and the men of this place I have finally, finally come back to. They will see only two children, lost and alone. They won’t know one has come for something unspeakable and the other is not a child at all. They won’t realize any of it until it’s too late.” (Pg. 26)
Wanted a Halloween creepy style read to end the month and forgot I had this interesting Advanced Readers copy from the ALA conference that promised to be creepy and spine-tingling so I tried it and couldn’t stop reading it though it’s kinda of weird and uses old fashioned words like mayhaps and byre (no one says either of these anymore) and takes place in 1160. The book follows Agnes who is an orphaned girl adopted by a loving couple who recently lost their son Martin and Agnes is going through a falling out with her best friend Glory when she hears a calling and crying in the woods and sees two children trapped in a wolf pit.
Unsure who these children are and even more suspicious because they are green and don’t speak intelligible sentences Agnes runs away and tries to forget about it when Glory brings her father and they rescue the two children and give them to the manor’s house to be raised. The children rebel and Agnes is summoned as the only one who can get them to eat or respond so Agnes takes them back to her house to be raised with her parents. Once at her house the girl talks a little and says her name is also Agnes and the boy who won’t talk they decide to call Martin. While this story goes forward there are also the warnings from Agnes’s grandmother about Good People and what they try and do to trick and manipulate others to do what they want—
“If you’ve wronged them, if hey have a claim on you, they cannot be stopped till they have what’s due them.” (Pg. 31)
“Those Good People set traps for mortals for all sorts of reasons, from need to want to just plain fun, and the green girl is like Glory, fast and nimble with words.” (Pg. 60)
“Keep a respectful distance, Granny would say. If they want you near, they mean you harm.” (Pg. 77)
”They snatch away the curious, Granny would say. They take the rude and the greedy and the vicious, and every now and then they snatch away the innocent, just because they can. Just to remind us that there is truly no such thing.” (Pg. 108)
The setup story is intriguing enough as you really want to know who these odd “children” are and what they want—and you get insight in spaced out chapters italicized and eerie that go into the green girl’s thoughts and vague mentions on what she really wants..
”It won’t be long before everything that belonged to Agnes becomes mine, and the girl who once was Agnes was never really here.” (Pg. 117)
This book took twists and weaved through the fairy world and reality as the two lives intersect in search of a protective pig and a bargain with the King of Under the Mountain who loves a good bargain. This book got weird in parts and veered in and out of being readable and being confusing—even after reading it I don’t know what age group or who I would recommend this to LOL but it was interesting for sure…

[Jenna (Falling Letters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally published 20 November 2022 at Falling Letters.

This is my favourite of the three medieval middle grade fantasies I read this past summer (the other two being The Beatryce Prophecy and Healer and Witch ) so it’s a shame I don’t have any notes to draw from! But sometimes that can be taken as evidence that a book was an engrossing read for me – I didn’t stop much to jot down thoughts.

The only note I do have is that there was an unexpectedly gory description of a few dead bodies, as one of the character recalls their village being raided (pg 174).

I suppose I’ll just say this is the kind of middle grade story that’s just right for me, with its key elements of 1) a medieval wooded village setting, grounded in real history and 2) cruel fair folk.
I also enjoy following a protagonist who is the only one who knows what’s truly happening and they have to navigate deceit and forgotten memories and other challenges thrown up by magical antagonists.

💭 The Bottom Line: A wonderfully atmospheric tale with some of my favourite tropes, I’ll be sure to pick up Coats’s next medieval middle grade novel ( A Season Most Unfair ), even if it doesn’t feature any fairies!

[Alyssa (HeartwyldsLibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely fell in love with this dark fae inspired story that was pulled from the Middle Ages.

You follow two point of views, one is Agnes, and the other is the Green Girl.
Agnes is this sweet 12 year old child who loves telling stories and has a terrible time making friends with the other kids in the village. So naturally when she hears the cries of a child in the nearby forest, no one believes her.

The Green girl just wants to get out of a bargain her people made with the Those Good People [the fae] And she will stop at nothing to get out of it, including lying and backstabbing.

The whole idea of the fae people loving bargains and trickery is used in this tale and it makes for some pretty dark bargains with these childrean. I loved the continuing theme that Agnes loved stories and wanted to be that girl in that story. She was always formulating tales in her head as the book went on, and it proved to be a big part of her resolve to keep going even though it all looked so bleak.

I believe the story does a good job telling how desperate anyone can become when trying to escape a situation they don't want to be apart of anymore, but how simply asking for help could get one to the same conclusion without hurting so many others in the process.
So many innocent people where used and hurt in this tale by the choices certain characters made, and while some could have been avoided others proved to not be so, dealing with the fae are always tricky.

Its a sweet, dark and compelling tale, that kept me turning pages right from the start.

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars

The Green Children of Woolpit really should have been a classic. It has nearly everything: intriguing story, unique and well-developed main character, multiple complex characters, interesting (and more than a little horrifying) world-building, etc. The elements of the story also feel tailored to my taste (un-romanticized/sexualized fair folk!, fascinating inclusion of pre-Roman history, morally grey female character!). It was all so close.

But the unremarkable prose and execusion let me down. The emotional beats often don't feel as meaningful as they should. The prose feels too modern for the time in which it's set, something which is emphasized by the use of first person present tense. The level of feminism also doesn't feel accurate to characters of this time. This last one might give the wrong impression. I do think stories should be feminist, but there are different ways to do this, and putting modern ideals in 12th century children's heads is a little hard to buy. It's not something I think children would have a hard time with, though. I think if I had read this as a child (impossible, given when it was released), I would have loved it. But as an adult, it just doesn't hit all the notes I need it to.

I'd recommend for children. It does feel like the sort of book that is worthy of being read and loved, just by its intended audience. Side note: what an absolute banger of a cover illustration!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agnes hears crying in the woods and discovers a green girl and boy in the wolf pits. Everyone just thinks she is telling stories again, but soon the children are brought to the village and fostered with Agnes's family. Green Agnes has made a bargain with the king under the hill. She just needs to find someone to take her place and she will be free. That someone is Agnes. Soon Agnes and the boy (who isn't really a boy) are back in the kingdom under the hill. Agnes wants to find a way out of faerieland and back to her family, but faeries are tricky and you have to make just the right bargain.

This was interesting and a bit dark. I enjoyed the whole mythology of the story. Green Agnes's people were Iron Age British who were forced out by the Romans. They agreed to serve under the hill in order to survive. You don't get a lot of stories that take place in 12th century and I always enjoy a new setting for a story. I liked the contrasts of Fair Agnes and Green Agnes. They both basically want the same thing (home and family), but go about getting it differently.

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agnes loves stories. The stories her Granny told, the story Agnes tells her family and friend, and especially the stories she makes up in her head in which she herself is "the girl in the story." Her love of stories turns out to be lifesaving, when an act of kindness on her part leads her into a dangerous situation in the Kingdom Under the Mountain. In England in 1160, there weren't many stories that featured girls, a fact that Agnes found quite unfair. And stories with two girls in which they helped each other rather than fighting with each other were essentially non-existent. So her desire to create a story with not just one, but two girls who work together in friendship is what saves her and a new friend. Coats's story is based on written records of two monks who each told a story of a boy and girl who appeared in the town of Woolpit, and her research combined with her imagination have created a an eerie fantasy with a spunky heroine that readers should enjoy. Grades 3-7.

[Ayah Abdul-Rauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had an excellent sense of atmosphere and made a rich world from a real legend, which is hard to do in any stand-alone novel. I also liked the story, and in middle grade I look for nuanced endings that are maybe not perfect, but uplifting. I found that here. The world building was actually complex and almost confusing at times--author did a good job of making things clear, but I think third person might have helped a little bit because the plot was far beyond the mental capacity of the lead character. I expected that, since she's a young child, but it might have helped to have a narrator with a bit more of a bird's eye view.

All in all, it was great. Had an edge of whimsical darkness that I absolutely love. Might make a great family film soon. As middle-grade fiction goes, this is a solid four stars.

[grosbeak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good historical fiction/fantasy, about a girl in 12th century England who ends up tangling with and tangled up with a girl who made a bargain with the Fair Folk back in 1st century Britain . Even though it's for a younger audience, it still has trademark J. Anderson Coates ruthless visions of communities plundered and slaughtered and girls acquiescing to coercive bargains because there are no good options left. (There's a quite grim final twist that was mitigated by the extent to which the relevant characters had been in the story and even known to the protagonist, but is nevertheless profoundly tragic and a little horrifying.) Obviously, I wish there had been more Britons, and more of Senna's culture shock and reactions to a world 1000 years after her time, but it's really Agnes' story, and that's ok.

[Keri Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I am almost blown by how good this book is. For middle age, I did not expect this to be so dark and clever. I realize how bad that sounds, but I rarely come across a middle age written book that really delves into the grit of the old style Fair Folk. Not what I would call a "happy ending," either. I read up on the real-life "myth" of the Green Children before reading this book, and I am impressed with how seamlessly the author told such a magical story keeping with the "facts" of the real event.

I'll admit, I wanted a much happier ending, even though I would have been upset with the "too-good" ending. Lol. I'm torn between wanting realism and feel-good ending.

It's a very well-written story that doesn't disappoint. I recommend to any age that enjoys the darker side of fairy tales.

[Nova Huggler]

The Green Children of Woolpit was an amazing book. The author wrote incredible scenery and it was easy to get lost in time while reading this. Coats made the book come to life with the scenery and how real the characters felt.

*Spoilers after this point*

The main character, Agnes, isn't like the other kids in woolpit. All the woolpit ma's say that she isn't a child of woolpit because she can see the wind and is always telling stories. One day during the harvest she hears cries from the woods and goes to investigate. When she gets closer to the woods she realizes that the cries aren't coming from the woods but from children in the wolf pit, green children.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally love stories set in the Middle Ages, and have read countless fairy tales — that this one is based on medieval accounts? Adds a fascination I can’t deny. I also have enjoyed Coats’ previous work.

This story is an almost for me — I love one character, but not the other. I love the history woven through. I love the trickery by girls and fae alike, but it’s quite a harsh story, and the sacrifices are intense. It’s a strange tale, and I enjoyed it, but I’m not sure who I would recommend it to.

Advanced Readers Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Estrella Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agnes annoyed me quite a bit early on in the book, but she quickly grew on me. What didn’t grow on me, however, was her obsession with having Glory be her friend again!

I also should’ve found myself hard-pressed to like Senna after she stabbed Agnes in the back, but surprisingly, I didn’t. Maybe it’s because I could look into her head and understand why she did it.

Em is very easy to hate as a character and great as a villain; she’s petty and entitled and always blames other people. The king of the fairies is also pretty scary.

[Em's Adventures · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy, gruesome (in one part), and very unsettling. I really didn't like this book, it made me feel like the labyrinth movie-something unnatural and horrible. Definitely not for children and I am so glad I didn't read this when I was little or it could have given me nightmares. I hope this never gets turned into a movie as it would be a horror movie. Even the ending was unsatisfying and really sad.
Definitely, definitely don't read this book if you have a chronic illness as you feel even sicker while you read!

[megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, enchanting read! This was a charming read about Agnes, a girl entranced by stories, who finds two green children at the bottom of a wolf pit. This book was quick yet entertaining, and while I didn’t expect a somewhat bittersweet ending, I did appreciate it. Coats’s imagery is striking and I adored how some of the minor descriptions in the beginning had actual plot relevance later.

Would recommend it if you’re looking for a quick read about fae trickery, a character who desperately wants to be the girl in a story, and love.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this more as 3.5 stars but I’m inclined to round up. I did enjoy this book and I was already familiar with the story of the green children of Woolpit, so this was an interesting take on the tale. I think this would be a good story for middle school aged girls in particular as there are strong themes of girls helping each other, and as one of the Agnes’ says, “There should be more stories where girls help one another.”

[Marlana · Rating 2 out of 5]

It almost pains me to give this book two stars.

The writing is amazing. Atmospheric and lyrical without being overbearing.

However, the characters, while realistic, are grossly unlikeable. I found myself hoping they’d all die horrible deaths.

The ending was also unsatisfying.

Really, really disliked this one and can’t see myself reading anything else by this author unfortunately.

Two stars only for the writing itself.