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Lifeling
Lonny is a lifeling. He has the power to heal any living creature and bring it back from the dead. But he pays a price for this gift – by lengthening the creature’s life, he shortens his own. So Lonny has to be careful, has to stay hidden in the forest. Because if people knew what he could do, Lonny would be left with no life at all…
A brilliant novel from the author of The Middler about family, secrets and a terrible power.
A brilliant novel from the author of The Middler about family, secrets and a terrible power.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
October 13, 2025
It took me a couple of tries to get into this unusual story, but once I did I was hooked. Set on the outskirts of a small, clearly English town called Farstoke, Lifeling Lonny can bring animals and people back from the brink of death - at the cost of his own years.
Lonny feels trapped in his own home, forbidden to leave by his Father, who just wants to protect him. Consoling himself with pictures of his mother and her travels around the world before she died in childbirth, he resents his brother Midge.
Midge is small, quiet, nimble, able to work the watches his father makes - unlike Lonny, who feels too big and cumbersome in his own skin, which I'm now realising may come from being a 12 year old boy trapped in an older body.
I saw the ending coming but oh, it was still heartbreaking. It was nice to see Lonny finally meet the residents of the town of Farstoke, and discover that not everyone is bad, just complex. And it was especially nice to see him finally connect with his little brother. This book is beautiful.
Lonny feels trapped in his own home, forbidden to leave by his Father, who just wants to protect him. Consoling himself with pictures of his mother and her travels around the world before she died in childbirth, he resents his brother Midge.
Midge is small, quiet, nimble, able to work the watches his father makes - unlike Lonny, who feels too big and cumbersome in his own skin, which I'm now realising may come from being a 12 year old boy trapped in an older body.
I saw the ending coming but oh, it was still heartbreaking. It was nice to see Lonny finally meet the residents of the town of Farstoke, and discover that not everyone is bad, just complex. And it was especially nice to see him finally connect with his little brother. This book is beautiful.
July 29, 2022
WHAT was that ending? Maybe I’m just a terrible person idk but I really don’t like how Lonnie’s character arc was framed.
March 13, 2021
I've had a lot of time for Kirsty Applebaum's previous work, so when Nosy Crow sent me a proof of The Life And Time of Lonny Quicke, I was fascinated to see what she did with it. The premise is remarkable: what would happen if you could save a life with the touch of your hand -and what if it meant that you got older each time you did it?
I mean, what more of a hook do you need?
Lonny Quicke is a philosophical treatise on what it takes to love and lose and live. The people who can give life at the cost of their own are known as 'lifelings' and they can hear when something is about to die. The people of Farstoke hold a regular festival to celebrate these near-mythical individuals, praying that one will turn up for them when they most need it. And this year, for one family, one does...
Sometimes middle grade literature can pose the biggest questions with such grace, and this is one of those titles. Appelbaum writes with a almost avant-garde stylistic that I really loved. She lets the text do the work, embracing the potential of what the printed word can look like and how that can add to meaning. She lets it work and uses everything at her disposal to make it happen. It's a perfect book to share with young readers and talk about what a book can do. I loved it. I'm here for those books that test the limits of form and shape, always.
Get this one on your pre-orders. There's really nothing else out there like it.
My thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
I mean, what more of a hook do you need?
Lonny Quicke is a philosophical treatise on what it takes to love and lose and live. The people who can give life at the cost of their own are known as 'lifelings' and they can hear when something is about to die. The people of Farstoke hold a regular festival to celebrate these near-mythical individuals, praying that one will turn up for them when they most need it. And this year, for one family, one does...
Sometimes middle grade literature can pose the biggest questions with such grace, and this is one of those titles. Appelbaum writes with a almost avant-garde stylistic that I really loved. She lets the text do the work, embracing the potential of what the printed word can look like and how that can add to meaning. She lets it work and uses everything at her disposal to make it happen. It's a perfect book to share with young readers and talk about what a book can do. I loved it. I'm here for those books that test the limits of form and shape, always.
Get this one on your pre-orders. There's really nothing else out there like it.
My thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
April 14, 2021
Heartwrenching and emotionally INTENSE. I don't know if I enjoyed it, exactly - because I was SO upset for the main character for so much of the book! - but I was utterly compelled by it from the first chapter to the last, and I will absolutely be reading more of Kirsty Applebaum's books! Utterly drenched in emotion and characters I cared about immensely - and I was so surprised and pleased by the final chapter.
October 11, 2023
It’s what you do right now that really matters The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke by Kirsty Applebaum is a story about time. What it is, & what it is used for. The story is set in modern times, where the past meets the present. You may recognise historic landmarks & symbols of ancient festivals from the English west country, all threaded through to combine an unputdownable story, a story which has stayed with me a long time after I turned the last page.
Lonny Quicke is a 12-year-old boy who is a so-called Lifeling, someone that can bring any creature back from the dead by giving it some of its life force. However, each time he does this, his body ages, bringing him closer to death with every life he saves. Since his birth, Lonny's father has tried to keep him & his younger brother Midge safe & hidden from the world in their cottage, in the forest. However, Lonny longs to discover what lies beyond the forest & learn more about the mother he can barely remember. Venturing out of the woods might be the only way to find the answers to his questions but outside the safety of his home is a dangerous world.
It's a masterclass of page-turning-rising-tension & intriguing premise, all leading to a BIG decision for Lonny...making me wonder, 'What would I do in that situation?' Chances are, throughout life, someone you know will die in your lifetime, but some, for whatever reason, can't accept this new status quo & seek to defy the laws of nature & resurrect someone. For a book aimed at young audiences, the concept has a lovely message & an exciting metaphor for saving a life before yours is gone.
May 31, 2021
A quick, quirky read.
Lonny Quicke is a Lifeling. He can heal with his touch. This is a good thing, right? All power comes at a cost and in Lonny's case, he loses some of his time every time he heals. It is for this reason that he leads a sheltered life in the forest with his family. That is until he goes into the nearby town to earn some money and ends up staying for the Lifeling festival.
This book was an interesting concept, unfortunately, I didn't like the writing style. The repetition meant that I didn't get drawn into the story. Lonny was not a particularly pleasant character, in fact, he could be pretty cruel to his younger brother. I would have loved to have seen more sibling bonding. I found that in the scenes where I was meant to feel heightened emotions, it just fell flat.
I did, however, love the ending. All the oldies going off on a little adventure together.
If you are looking for a quick and quirky read with a unique writing style this book might work for you.
*I was sent a copy of this book through NetGalley in return for an honest review*
Lonny Quicke is a Lifeling. He can heal with his touch. This is a good thing, right? All power comes at a cost and in Lonny's case, he loses some of his time every time he heals. It is for this reason that he leads a sheltered life in the forest with his family. That is until he goes into the nearby town to earn some money and ends up staying for the Lifeling festival.
This book was an interesting concept, unfortunately, I didn't like the writing style. The repetition meant that I didn't get drawn into the story. Lonny was not a particularly pleasant character, in fact, he could be pretty cruel to his younger brother. I would have loved to have seen more sibling bonding. I found that in the scenes where I was meant to feel heightened emotions, it just fell flat.
I did, however, love the ending. All the oldies going off on a little adventure together.
If you are looking for a quick and quirky read with a unique writing style this book might work for you.
*I was sent a copy of this book through NetGalley in return for an honest review*
February 27, 2021
Wow what a stunning book! I thought the premise was so interesting (a boy who can save other peoples lives by giving up some of his own) and it did not disappoint. This was a really evocative read. The sense of place and character was so strong and I think Kirsty Applebaum is brilliant at conveying emotion. I really felt for a lot of the characters and cared about what happened to them at the end. This is the kind of book that I could have imagined reading at school as the 'class book' as it was written so beautifully with such interesting themes. There would be lots of opportunity for discussion!
(I was kindly sent a proof copy of this book)
(I was kindly sent a proof copy of this book)
July 27, 2023
A Maine Student Book Award nominee for 2023|2024
Lonny is a 12 year old boy with a big secret. He is a lifeling, and his father has kept him away from the nearby town to protect him from the townspeople.
When he and his younger brother Midge are forced to find jobs so that their family can eat; they are confronted firsthand with the good and bad people of Forestoke. This book was a cool mix of magical realism and a great story of family, and what it means to have a gift.
Lonny is a 12 year old boy with a big secret. He is a lifeling, and his father has kept him away from the nearby town to protect him from the townspeople.
When he and his younger brother Midge are forced to find jobs so that their family can eat; they are confronted firsthand with the good and bad people of Forestoke. This book was a cool mix of magical realism and a great story of family, and what it means to have a gift.
March 4, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a Lifeling, Lonny has the power to bring things back from the dead.. In order to keep his secret safe, Lonny and his family (brother, father, and grandfather) live in a secluded house away from the village of Farstoke. When circumstances force Lonny to seek assistance from the very people he has hidden from his entire life, Lonny realizes that even good people do bad things sometimes when the life of a loved one hangs in the balance.
I read this book in two sittings because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The author did a great job detailing Lonny's struggles and his longing for information about his deceased mother. I had a pretty strong feeling about how the story was going to end, but I enjoyed the journey to get there. Highly recommend!
As a Lifeling, Lonny has the power to bring things back from the dead.. In order to keep his secret safe, Lonny and his family (brother, father, and grandfather) live in a secluded house away from the village of Farstoke. When circumstances force Lonny to seek assistance from the very people he has hidden from his entire life, Lonny realizes that even good people do bad things sometimes when the life of a loved one hangs in the balance.
I read this book in two sittings because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The author did a great job detailing Lonny's struggles and his longing for information about his deceased mother. I had a pretty strong feeling about how the story was going to end, but I enjoyed the journey to get there. Highly recommend!
October 5, 2021
This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and then made me cry at the end. What more could you ask for?
August 4, 2022
Lonny is a lifeling. He can revive dying animals and people . . . but it takes some of his own life each time.
May 3, 2021
Can you put a price on a life? Is one life worth more than another? Should one life be saved over another? Is it even possible to choose which animals and people are worth saving? And if it is, should we really be interfering in the life cycle? So many big, philosophical questions, so many choices to be made. Kirsty Applebaum’s third book is utterly compelling from first page to last.
Ever since he was born, twelve-year-old Lonny Quicke has been shielded from the dangers of the outside world, hidden away in a forest away from the people of Farstoke. The reason, Lonny is a lifeling - a unique individual with the power to bring back life to living things that are on the brink of death. But every life saved comes at a price. Using his power to save a life shortens his own life; sometimes by minutes, sometimes by days, sometimes by weeks, sometimes by years.
Lonny is desperate to see the world outside of his own and to find the memories of his dead mother. But that means venturing outside of the forest and in doing so he may be forced to reveal his closely guarded secret…
The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke is a thought-provoking, enthralling and captivating read that is full of emotion. Applebaum expertly explores the ideas of love, life and time and challenges readers views and values throughout. Whilst the action is not fast-paced, it is full of tension and suspense and readers will come to fear the sounds of humming and buzzing that frequent Lonny’s mind. Applebaum wastes no time with gentle introductions, she immediately grabs the attention of the reader as they are drawn straight into a magical life-giving moment - the first of Lonny’s many decisions. Once you are hooked by the first chapter, Applebaum refuses to let you go. The closing of each chapter demands that you read the next and the promise to myself of just one more quickly turned to several more - needless to say, I couldn’t put the book down and it was read in one go.
The narrative is carried forward by deep and meaningful acts and difficult decisions that will have life-altering consequences - for both animals and humans. For every action has a consequence. Every decision that Lonny makes feels big. He seeks friendship but this will come at a price. He wants to live but is constantly being asked to give up his own life in order to save another. He desires freedom but living in safety and relative captivity provides the protection that he so desperately needs.
The story is steeped in mythical folklore; Farstoke people celebrate and worship the lifelings at their yearly festival, giving thanks in the hope that in their time of need a lifeling will appear. When Lonny is befriended by one of the Farstoke families he finds friends, foes and learns the lengths that desperate people will go to in order to save the ones they love.
Applebaum provides so many opportunities for discussion and for readers to explore their own morals and values. Just putting myself in Lonny’s position at once felt overwhelming; the choices, the responsibility, the power. I found myself scrutinising every decision that Lonny made and readers will be doing the same.
How do I feel after reading the book, drained, completely and totally emotionally drained. I say with some confidence that Kirsty Applebaum has written one of the best middle-grade books of 2021.
Recommended for 9+.
With thanks to Kirsty Applebaum and Nosy Crow for the advanced reader copy that was received through NetGalley.
Ever since he was born, twelve-year-old Lonny Quicke has been shielded from the dangers of the outside world, hidden away in a forest away from the people of Farstoke. The reason, Lonny is a lifeling - a unique individual with the power to bring back life to living things that are on the brink of death. But every life saved comes at a price. Using his power to save a life shortens his own life; sometimes by minutes, sometimes by days, sometimes by weeks, sometimes by years.
Lonny is desperate to see the world outside of his own and to find the memories of his dead mother. But that means venturing outside of the forest and in doing so he may be forced to reveal his closely guarded secret…
The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke is a thought-provoking, enthralling and captivating read that is full of emotion. Applebaum expertly explores the ideas of love, life and time and challenges readers views and values throughout. Whilst the action is not fast-paced, it is full of tension and suspense and readers will come to fear the sounds of humming and buzzing that frequent Lonny’s mind. Applebaum wastes no time with gentle introductions, she immediately grabs the attention of the reader as they are drawn straight into a magical life-giving moment - the first of Lonny’s many decisions. Once you are hooked by the first chapter, Applebaum refuses to let you go. The closing of each chapter demands that you read the next and the promise to myself of just one more quickly turned to several more - needless to say, I couldn’t put the book down and it was read in one go.
The narrative is carried forward by deep and meaningful acts and difficult decisions that will have life-altering consequences - for both animals and humans. For every action has a consequence. Every decision that Lonny makes feels big. He seeks friendship but this will come at a price. He wants to live but is constantly being asked to give up his own life in order to save another. He desires freedom but living in safety and relative captivity provides the protection that he so desperately needs.
The story is steeped in mythical folklore; Farstoke people celebrate and worship the lifelings at their yearly festival, giving thanks in the hope that in their time of need a lifeling will appear. When Lonny is befriended by one of the Farstoke families he finds friends, foes and learns the lengths that desperate people will go to in order to save the ones they love.
Applebaum provides so many opportunities for discussion and for readers to explore their own morals and values. Just putting myself in Lonny’s position at once felt overwhelming; the choices, the responsibility, the power. I found myself scrutinising every decision that Lonny made and readers will be doing the same.
How do I feel after reading the book, drained, completely and totally emotionally drained. I say with some confidence that Kirsty Applebaum has written one of the best middle-grade books of 2021.
Recommended for 9+.
With thanks to Kirsty Applebaum and Nosy Crow for the advanced reader copy that was received through NetGalley.
July 9, 2022
Lonny is a twelve year old secreted away from the rest of the world because he has the power to give his life force to another dying being. He almost can't help it. So, to keep him safe, he lives in the forest with his grandfather, father and brother in poverty. He resents this and sets out to find work to buy food and find out more about his mother (dead in childbirth to his brother). Lonny is pretty angry and mean. It's a VERY unhappy story with only a tiny glimmer of hope at the end. This hurt my feelings without making me cry. Just...geez. Unique.
April 5, 2024
Sequoia book 3/10
February 20, 2021
This is just wonderful. This is a glorious story about a young boy who is a lifeling - a person who can save with a touch, but it also takes from them. Lonny wants to know more about his family (his mother in particular) and the town closeby is where he goes for his answers, but what he finds isn’t all good... there’s some glorious characters in this and the ending is so wonderful it made me smile!
May 10, 2021
Sometimes you really do have to put time to one side and make the right now the thing that really matters.” - Jess
10 word summary: A fabulous modern day fairytale - my FAVOURITE book this year!
When you’re still reading at 1am on a school night because you need to find out what happens, you know it’s an incredible book! As a huge fan of The Middler I couldn’t wait to read this! It’s absolutely incredible… it’s emotional, thought provoking, beautifully written… and, big statement, my favourite book that I’ve read this year!
Twelve-year-old Lonny Quicke has an incredible power - he’s a lifeling. He can sense if any creature nearby (a fly, a rabbit or even a person) is about to die and has the ability to cure them and bring them back from the dead. But, each time he does this, he shortens his own life…
To keep him safe and stop people finding out about his power, Lonny lives in the forest with his father (a watchmaker), grandfather and younger brother - Midge, near the town of Farstoke. His mother died when Midge was born and all Lonny has left of her is her photo album, showing all the places that she visited (London, Prague, Paris to name a few). Fed up with his life in the forest, he wants to visit those places to but he can’t because, if people found out what he could do, he could end up with no life left… being away from people is his only protection.
But, when the family end up with no money for food and his dad won’t get out of bed, Lonny asks Jess - who collects watches from his father - for a job and she takes him and Midge into Farstoke, the town that they have never visited, where they meet her family (and one very sick relative…). There’s a festival going on in Farstoke - a festival to celebrate the story of the lifelings… they lock the gates to the town for 24 hours. No one gets out. No one gets in. Lonny must be careful.
Year group: Year 4+
In the classroom: I absolutely adored this book and I think it could open up some philosophical discussions in the classroom about giving life at the cost of your own and the worth of life. The imagery that the language creates is stunning as well, and setting descriptions around the town and the forest. Comparing and contrasting the stories that Lonny’s families have been told and the stories that are told in the town would be amazing as well.
10 word summary: A fabulous modern day fairytale - my FAVOURITE book this year!
When you’re still reading at 1am on a school night because you need to find out what happens, you know it’s an incredible book! As a huge fan of The Middler I couldn’t wait to read this! It’s absolutely incredible… it’s emotional, thought provoking, beautifully written… and, big statement, my favourite book that I’ve read this year!
Twelve-year-old Lonny Quicke has an incredible power - he’s a lifeling. He can sense if any creature nearby (a fly, a rabbit or even a person) is about to die and has the ability to cure them and bring them back from the dead. But, each time he does this, he shortens his own life…
To keep him safe and stop people finding out about his power, Lonny lives in the forest with his father (a watchmaker), grandfather and younger brother - Midge, near the town of Farstoke. His mother died when Midge was born and all Lonny has left of her is her photo album, showing all the places that she visited (London, Prague, Paris to name a few). Fed up with his life in the forest, he wants to visit those places to but he can’t because, if people found out what he could do, he could end up with no life left… being away from people is his only protection.
But, when the family end up with no money for food and his dad won’t get out of bed, Lonny asks Jess - who collects watches from his father - for a job and she takes him and Midge into Farstoke, the town that they have never visited, where they meet her family (and one very sick relative…). There’s a festival going on in Farstoke - a festival to celebrate the story of the lifelings… they lock the gates to the town for 24 hours. No one gets out. No one gets in. Lonny must be careful.
Year group: Year 4+
In the classroom: I absolutely adored this book and I think it could open up some philosophical discussions in the classroom about giving life at the cost of your own and the worth of life. The imagery that the language creates is stunning as well, and setting descriptions around the town and the forest. Comparing and contrasting the stories that Lonny’s families have been told and the stories that are told in the town would be amazing as well.
January 1, 2023
✨🐇📘 Lifeling📘🐇✨
1.5 Stars
Lonny is a Lifeling, something that is seen as a curse by many around him. This ability allows him to save any animal or human life, in exchange for life from his own lifespan. This causes him to age more rapidly, and a power that he is more wary of than happy. One day, he gets a job in Farstroke in order to make enough money to feed his family. Lonny has been shielded from the outside world for a long time . . . and through interacting with the people in Farstroke, he finds there is not much to fear. In fact, Lifeling are revered. The only problem is, there are many who could use his power to their advantage.
*Every single person in this world can view a work of literature and have completely different thoughts and opinions. My opinion is not meant to offend you. If you do not want to see a review criticizing your favorite book (or a book you enjoyed), then I recommend not to proceed with reading this review.
My thoughts on this book are extremely mixed and I ended up overall confused about how to rate it. I settled for 1.5 stars, and here's why: in the shortened version, I enjoyed the plot points and overall premise rather than the execution of the story. The whole concept of lifeling and "would you risk your life to save another" intrigued me. I set expectations for this story that failed to be met . . . this was overall a story that just didn't fit my personal preferences.
The plot, in my perspective, didn't pick up until the very last couple of pages. I dwindled until it really found a purpose. The story starts with Lonny, a protagonist who feels very generic and overall doesn't add anything new to the table. I enjoyed the internal struggle inside of the character about whether or not he should use his powers.
I couldn't care for the side characters or protagonist any less. Despite this, I still found the whole concept of lifeling interesting. The plot point does develop as we see the hesitancy to reveal such a power. The ending was something I actually enjoyed. It was realistic with a lot of emotional tension. It was quite a poignant ending with hopeful possibilities.
⛔PLOT
🆗⛔CHARACTERS
🆗PLOT TWISTS
1.5 Stars
Lonny is a Lifeling, something that is seen as a curse by many around him. This ability allows him to save any animal or human life, in exchange for life from his own lifespan. This causes him to age more rapidly, and a power that he is more wary of than happy. One day, he gets a job in Farstroke in order to make enough money to feed his family. Lonny has been shielded from the outside world for a long time . . . and through interacting with the people in Farstroke, he finds there is not much to fear. In fact, Lifeling are revered. The only problem is, there are many who could use his power to their advantage.
*Every single person in this world can view a work of literature and have completely different thoughts and opinions. My opinion is not meant to offend you. If you do not want to see a review criticizing your favorite book (or a book you enjoyed), then I recommend not to proceed with reading this review.
My thoughts on this book are extremely mixed and I ended up overall confused about how to rate it. I settled for 1.5 stars, and here's why: in the shortened version, I enjoyed the plot points and overall premise rather than the execution of the story. The whole concept of lifeling and "would you risk your life to save another" intrigued me. I set expectations for this story that failed to be met . . . this was overall a story that just didn't fit my personal preferences.
The plot, in my perspective, didn't pick up until the very last couple of pages. I dwindled until it really found a purpose. The story starts with Lonny, a protagonist who feels very generic and overall doesn't add anything new to the table. I enjoyed the internal struggle inside of the character about whether or not he should use his powers.
I couldn't care for the side characters or protagonist any less. Despite this, I still found the whole concept of lifeling interesting. The plot point does develop as we see the hesitancy to reveal such a power. The ending was something I actually enjoyed. It was realistic with a lot of emotional tension. It was quite a poignant ending with hopeful possibilities.
⛔PLOT
🆗⛔CHARACTERS
🆗PLOT TWISTS
May 16, 2021
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Nosy Crow in return for an honest review.
This is exactly the kind of book I love. From reading the description, I was intrigued by the premise and I'm so pleased that it completely met and even exceeded my expectations.
This book is about Lonny Quicke, a 12-year-old boy who is a Lifeling (someone that has the ability to bring any creature back from the dead by giving it some of their life force). However, each time he does this, his body ages, bringing him closer to death with every life that he saves. Since his birth, Lonny's father has tried to keep him and his younger brother Midge safe and hidden from the world in their cottage, in the forest. However, Lonny longs to discover what lies beyond the forest and learn more about the mother he can barely remember. Venturing out of the forest might be the only way to find the answers to his questions but outside the safety of his home is a dangerous world.
This is such a clever story. Right from the start, you are shown how the magic works and made to understand the cost. This knowledge adds a delicious tension throughout the story and, like Lonny, you are always on the lookout for danger, suspicious of unfamiliar situations but also excited to see more of the world. The writing style is a great mix of a direct narration with a contemporary feel and a more lyrical, historical style when folk tales are recounted. The repetition of these folk tales from different people is brilliant. Things that at first appeated one way, with only the slightest of changes, now appear completely the opposite.
I was constantly making predictions about how I thought this book would end and the secrets that would be revealed, which was great fun. I really liked the ending, even though I cried my way through the last few pages!
This is the first Kirsty Applebaum book I have read, and having enjoyed this story so much, I am now very eager to read all her other books.
This is exactly the kind of book I love. From reading the description, I was intrigued by the premise and I'm so pleased that it completely met and even exceeded my expectations.
This book is about Lonny Quicke, a 12-year-old boy who is a Lifeling (someone that has the ability to bring any creature back from the dead by giving it some of their life force). However, each time he does this, his body ages, bringing him closer to death with every life that he saves. Since his birth, Lonny's father has tried to keep him and his younger brother Midge safe and hidden from the world in their cottage, in the forest. However, Lonny longs to discover what lies beyond the forest and learn more about the mother he can barely remember. Venturing out of the forest might be the only way to find the answers to his questions but outside the safety of his home is a dangerous world.
This is such a clever story. Right from the start, you are shown how the magic works and made to understand the cost. This knowledge adds a delicious tension throughout the story and, like Lonny, you are always on the lookout for danger, suspicious of unfamiliar situations but also excited to see more of the world. The writing style is a great mix of a direct narration with a contemporary feel and a more lyrical, historical style when folk tales are recounted. The repetition of these folk tales from different people is brilliant. Things that at first appeated one way, with only the slightest of changes, now appear completely the opposite.
I was constantly making predictions about how I thought this book would end and the secrets that would be revealed, which was great fun. I really liked the ending, even though I cried my way through the last few pages!
This is the first Kirsty Applebaum book I have read, and having enjoyed this story so much, I am now very eager to read all her other books.
February 15, 2021
Huge thanks to Nosy Crow for kindly sending me an ARC for review purposes! 😃
The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke tells the story of a young boy with an extraordinary power. Lonny is a lifeling, and is able to restore life to the dying; but, by lengthening the lives of other living things, he shortens his own. Lonny is equally blessed and cursed.
To my surprise, the novel foregoes the character's own discovery of this power, launching us straight into the story. It makes for an altogether more compelling opening. Kirsty Applebaum hits a perfect rhythm right from the outset: she ends each chapter resolutely, but there's always something to impel you to read one more, and one more, and one more. It's truly masterful. Unsurprisingly, I read the entire book in a single, glorious sitting.
The novel is divided into three acts, and much of the action takes place on the day of the town's annual lifeling festival, a parochial event which actually brought me quite a sense of unease (perhaps because the songs and merriment gave me Summerisle vibes!). There are folktales which are told and retold, shaped and reshaped, and a keen reader will enjoy spotting the variance between them. The story has a quick pace, the characters are well developed, and the emotional beats are perfectly crafted.
Like Troofriend before it, The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke is an intelligent, emotional novel. As an adult reader, it was sometimes easy to forget that it's a novel aimed at children. Kirsty never dumbs down, presenting a story with depth and her trademark poignancy. This is a unique tale, the like of which could only come from the imagination of Kirsty Applebaum, and which could only be given life by her delicate, thoughtful touch.
The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke tells the story of a young boy with an extraordinary power. Lonny is a lifeling, and is able to restore life to the dying; but, by lengthening the lives of other living things, he shortens his own. Lonny is equally blessed and cursed.
To my surprise, the novel foregoes the character's own discovery of this power, launching us straight into the story. It makes for an altogether more compelling opening. Kirsty Applebaum hits a perfect rhythm right from the outset: she ends each chapter resolutely, but there's always something to impel you to read one more, and one more, and one more. It's truly masterful. Unsurprisingly, I read the entire book in a single, glorious sitting.
The novel is divided into three acts, and much of the action takes place on the day of the town's annual lifeling festival, a parochial event which actually brought me quite a sense of unease (perhaps because the songs and merriment gave me Summerisle vibes!). There are folktales which are told and retold, shaped and reshaped, and a keen reader will enjoy spotting the variance between them. The story has a quick pace, the characters are well developed, and the emotional beats are perfectly crafted.
Like Troofriend before it, The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke is an intelligent, emotional novel. As an adult reader, it was sometimes easy to forget that it's a novel aimed at children. Kirsty never dumbs down, presenting a story with depth and her trademark poignancy. This is a unique tale, the like of which could only come from the imagination of Kirsty Applebaum, and which could only be given life by her delicate, thoughtful touch.
August 1, 2021
There are good people and there are bad people, but when it comes to dealing with a lifeling, “there’s not a speck of difference between the two.” When somebody you love is about to die, just how much will you make somebody (a lifeling) give up his lifespan to save your love?
Lonny Quicke has grown up ensconced in the forest, far away from the people of Farstoke. He is a lifeling. Whenever an animal is injured and about to die, he feels a great “vmmmmmmmm” buzzing that pulls him with an urge to give of years of his own life, to save it. This is why he doesn’t look like a 12-year-old.
Things happen, and Lonny and younger brother Midge end up in Farstoke, where the legends of the lifelings are revived every year at a celebration. The Farstoke people hope for the day a lifeling will appear in their midst.
Kirsty Applebaum uses an unusual dynamic prose, where things happen as you read it. It’s my favourite way to write but I haven’t read a lot of it. She makes this tale emotive, urgent, gripping.
It has more of a classic 20th century middle grade American setting, with such an interesting premise — realistic fiction with a dash of fantasy. Middle grade readers will enjoy reading and thinking about this after.
📚: @definitelybooks
Lonny Quicke has grown up ensconced in the forest, far away from the people of Farstoke. He is a lifeling. Whenever an animal is injured and about to die, he feels a great “vmmmmmmmm” buzzing that pulls him with an urge to give of years of his own life, to save it. This is why he doesn’t look like a 12-year-old.
Things happen, and Lonny and younger brother Midge end up in Farstoke, where the legends of the lifelings are revived every year at a celebration. The Farstoke people hope for the day a lifeling will appear in their midst.
Kirsty Applebaum uses an unusual dynamic prose, where things happen as you read it. It’s my favourite way to write but I haven’t read a lot of it. She makes this tale emotive, urgent, gripping.
It has more of a classic 20th century middle grade American setting, with such an interesting premise — realistic fiction with a dash of fantasy. Middle grade readers will enjoy reading and thinking about this after.
📚: @definitelybooks
October 4, 2022
If there is one word to sum this book up, it would be heart-wrenching.
Lonny has a gift: he's a lifeling. Living with his father, grandfather, and younger brother in the woods, away from the nearest village, he understands that if he gives life to another living creature, human or otherwise, he will be shaving off seconds or years of his own. Reviving a bunny may cost him a year. But a person? That may as well cost him his life.
In a fit of teenage emotion, he runs away to the nearest village, ready to support his family and experience what life is like for a normal kid. There, he discovers the town festival that celebrates lifelings--perhaps, if these villagers are lucky, a lifeling will help them in a time of need. When he discovers that his new friends' mother is ill, he also realizes that he has the power to help. Is it selfish to keep his life for himself?
Totally powerful, emotional, bittersweet. Applebaum has crafted a mystical world not totally unlike our own and offers an ethical dilemma almost too bold for a child. There is no true antagonist in this book, not where lives are concerned. In fact, Lonny's worst enemy is often himself. This was a fantastic book, one that every bookshelf should hold.
Lonny has a gift: he's a lifeling. Living with his father, grandfather, and younger brother in the woods, away from the nearest village, he understands that if he gives life to another living creature, human or otherwise, he will be shaving off seconds or years of his own. Reviving a bunny may cost him a year. But a person? That may as well cost him his life.
In a fit of teenage emotion, he runs away to the nearest village, ready to support his family and experience what life is like for a normal kid. There, he discovers the town festival that celebrates lifelings--perhaps, if these villagers are lucky, a lifeling will help them in a time of need. When he discovers that his new friends' mother is ill, he also realizes that he has the power to help. Is it selfish to keep his life for himself?
Totally powerful, emotional, bittersweet. Applebaum has crafted a mystical world not totally unlike our own and offers an ethical dilemma almost too bold for a child. There is no true antagonist in this book, not where lives are concerned. In fact, Lonny's worst enemy is often himself. This was a fantastic book, one that every bookshelf should hold.
March 26, 2023
Deze titel stond op de boekenlijst van 2023 voor de leescoordinatorcursus Open Boek 3.0, dus wilde wel mee kunnen praten wat dit voor verhaal is.
Het vrij nieuwe genre ‘tussen fantasie en werkelijkheid’ komt steeds meer op in de kinderliteratuur; denk aan Gozert en Films die nergens draaien. En dit boek past ook zeker in dit genre. Ik hou er wel van: het gewone leven dat geschetst wordt, maar waar toch hier een daar een vleugje magie/fantasie in verwerkt zit.
Ik heb genoten van de combinatie van prachtige volzinnen met juist de zinnetjes met minimale woorden gevoelens/onzekerheden/angsten. Ik leefde en voelde mee met de personages in het boek. Al had het wel een wat abrupt, maar ook realistisch einde: niet helemaal volledig in de categorie ‘Eind goed, al goed’. Mag best!
Waar ik wel altijd verdrietig zijn de vloektermen, die in sommige kinderboeken langskomen. Heeft geen meerwaarde om hiervoor te kiezen en absoluut onnodig. Ook dit boek bevat er enkele: jammer!
Reflectieve dimensie - groep 7/8 en brugklas. Wel magische elementen, dus misschien niet geschikt voor de die-hard christelijke scholen.
Het vrij nieuwe genre ‘tussen fantasie en werkelijkheid’ komt steeds meer op in de kinderliteratuur; denk aan Gozert en Films die nergens draaien. En dit boek past ook zeker in dit genre. Ik hou er wel van: het gewone leven dat geschetst wordt, maar waar toch hier een daar een vleugje magie/fantasie in verwerkt zit.
Ik heb genoten van de combinatie van prachtige volzinnen met juist de zinnetjes met minimale woorden gevoelens/onzekerheden/angsten. Ik leefde en voelde mee met de personages in het boek. Al had het wel een wat abrupt, maar ook realistisch einde: niet helemaal volledig in de categorie ‘Eind goed, al goed’. Mag best!
Waar ik wel altijd verdrietig zijn de vloektermen, die in sommige kinderboeken langskomen. Heeft geen meerwaarde om hiervoor te kiezen en absoluut onnodig. Ook dit boek bevat er enkele: jammer!
Reflectieve dimensie - groep 7/8 en brugklas. Wel magische elementen, dus misschien niet geschikt voor de die-hard christelijke scholen.
August 31, 2023
Lonny Quicke is a lifeling and has an unusual ability: he can sense when someone is within minutes of death and can save them. But in order to save a life, he must give life.. some of his own. Seconds, minutes, hours, days... even weeks at a time, gone for another.
Surviving in the forest, Lonny lives there with his father and younger brother, Midge. His mother having died giving birth to Midge. They have spent their life trying to keep Lonny's secret hidden away. The townspeople have always believed in the Lifelings, and throw a festival every year. So when Lonny makes friends with a couple of local girls and realizes that he doesn't want to live this way anymore.
Beautifully written. The concept behind this is brilliant: to in order to save life you must give up some of your own life. This showed just how beautiful and dangerous an ability like this could be. How good people can change so quickly.
It started out a bit slow but once it picked up, it got really good. The ending was unexpected and wonderfully detailed. Loved it.
Surviving in the forest, Lonny lives there with his father and younger brother, Midge. His mother having died giving birth to Midge. They have spent their life trying to keep Lonny's secret hidden away. The townspeople have always believed in the Lifelings, and throw a festival every year. So when Lonny makes friends with a couple of local girls and realizes that he doesn't want to live this way anymore.
Beautifully written. The concept behind this is brilliant: to in order to save life you must give up some of your own life. This showed just how beautiful and dangerous an ability like this could be. How good people can change so quickly.
It started out a bit slow but once it picked up, it got really good. The ending was unexpected and wonderfully detailed. Loved it.
May 4, 2021
Thank you to Nosy Crow for my Advance Reader Copy – my favourite sort of parcel!
Wow! From the very first page Kirsty Applebaum grips your attention and doesn’t let up for a second. Lonny is a ‘lifeling’ and has a special power. He can gift life in return for a portion of his own. ‘Give a bit of life, lose a bit of life.’ The stakes rise throughout the novel until the tension is almost unbearable, as ultimately Lonny is faced with a life-changing, heart-wrenching dilemma. The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke is laced with folklore and ancient customs so that it manages to feel both classic and modern.
Utterly, stunningly original and beautifully written, with characters to fall in love with, I couldn’t put this down. One to read and re-read and enjoy all over again.
Without a doubt, my favourite Applebaum so far, and I’m a huge fan of both The Middler and TrooFriend; Lonny Quicke has stolen a piece of my heart.
Wow! From the very first page Kirsty Applebaum grips your attention and doesn’t let up for a second. Lonny is a ‘lifeling’ and has a special power. He can gift life in return for a portion of his own. ‘Give a bit of life, lose a bit of life.’ The stakes rise throughout the novel until the tension is almost unbearable, as ultimately Lonny is faced with a life-changing, heart-wrenching dilemma. The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke is laced with folklore and ancient customs so that it manages to feel both classic and modern.
Utterly, stunningly original and beautifully written, with characters to fall in love with, I couldn’t put this down. One to read and re-read and enjoy all over again.
Without a doubt, my favourite Applebaum so far, and I’m a huge fan of both The Middler and TrooFriend; Lonny Quicke has stolen a piece of my heart.
August 2, 2021
This is a really difficult book to explain without giving spoilers, so you’ll have to forgive me for being a bit vague. It’s the story of Lonny, who has to live in the forest because he is a lifeling, which means he has the incredible power of being able to heal dying animals and humans. However, each time he saves someone, time is drained from his own life, and being in society would pose a huge danger to him based on what has happened to other lifelings. I really enjoyed Lonny’s 1st person narrative, and the story of this just hooked me in and didn’t let me go until I’d got to the end. The concept of this is just absolutely incredible and I love this idea that Kirsty has come up with, and her highly original middle grade novels just keep getting better and better. Something else I really enjoyed in this that isn’t a spoiler to talk about is the sort of fairytale/fable feel it sometimes, and I particularly liked the stories from Lonny’s grandma’s workbook in this regard. I can’t really say much more because I’d say it’s better going in knowing just what’s on the blurb, but I’d definitely recommend this.
October 28, 2022
From reviews read, the premise of this book appealed to me. Something seemed off, though. It may have been that I found few of the characters likeable, and living situations of the grandfather and the ill woman the boys come in contact with in town were appalling.
The main character, a twelve-year-old, is a "lifeling," one who can heal creatures and people who are dying - not bring them back from death, but restore them to wholeness when on the brink of death. Each time Lon heals, however, his own life is shortened by acceleration of the aging process. A "buzzing" in his head alerts him to the closeness of an injured creature. Sometimes he heals an insect with the touch of a finger, and sometimes he crushes it beneath his foot to shorten its suffering. His own suffering through carrying such a "gift" makes for a tense and mostly unhappy story.
The main character, a twelve-year-old, is a "lifeling," one who can heal creatures and people who are dying - not bring them back from death, but restore them to wholeness when on the brink of death. Each time Lon heals, however, his own life is shortened by acceleration of the aging process. A "buzzing" in his head alerts him to the closeness of an injured creature. Sometimes he heals an insect with the touch of a finger, and sometimes he crushes it beneath his foot to shorten its suffering. His own suffering through carrying such a "gift" makes for a tense and mostly unhappy story.
January 17, 2023
This book was all atmosphere and I loved it. Kind of reminded me of how I felt first reading The Lottery, where everything seems picturesque but you just feel like something bad is about to happen at every turn. Twelve-year-old Lonny is a lifeling: he has the ability to restore life to dying creatures but he ages every time he uses this special power. Because of this and some family myth, his father "protects" him by isolating him at home in the forest, along with his brother Midge and cantankerous grandfather. When Lonnie and Midge do venture into town, Lonnie's life becomes complicated and vulnerable. This book took me in directions I was not expecting and the epilogue really ended the story in a very satisfying way. Interesting note, this was originally published in London under title: The life and time of Lonny Quicke, which I like so much better. Why do they do this?
August 17, 2023
If you could save someone at the cost of your own life, would you? I thought this was an interesting question to explore in a children's book. I'm not sure how I feel about the book as a whole. It talked about sick/dead parents on the surface level. The rest was about all of the feelings Lonny felt, whether they be positive or negative, about his mother, and being a lifeling. The plot was okay. The dad being in a depressive state and Lonny having to go get a job so there would be food made me angry. I had a feeling that something big would happen by the end, and it did. For me, I know that the book was trying to go towards the "siblings will do anything for each other" theme, but I couldn't help but feel that everything was put on Lonny. Something I would describe as "oldest sibling burden". It was a crappy ending for him.
May 18, 2021
The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke was a brilliant book with a unique concept!
The story followed Lonny who is a lifeling. He can save lives of creatures and humans buy by giving a bit of life, he loses a bit of life. When he and his brother, Midge, are invited to Farstoke in order to earn some money to support his family, things go very wrong!
The plot was different and intriguing and the writing was simple and readable. The characters I found realistic but my only complaint was the anticlimactic scenes. The plot would be more exciting and entertaining if the stakes were higher and there wasn't any anticlimax.
Other than that this was a great read which I would recommend to middle grade readers!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc. All opinions are my own.
The story followed Lonny who is a lifeling. He can save lives of creatures and humans buy by giving a bit of life, he loses a bit of life. When he and his brother, Midge, are invited to Farstoke in order to earn some money to support his family, things go very wrong!
The plot was different and intriguing and the writing was simple and readable. The characters I found realistic but my only complaint was the anticlimactic scenes. The plot would be more exciting and entertaining if the stakes were higher and there wasn't any anticlimax.
Other than that this was a great read which I would recommend to middle grade readers!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc. All opinions are my own.
September 29, 2025
3.5 stars. I wouldn’t mind if this concept was dealt with in an adult novel (maybe it is, and I just don’t know it yet) What would you do if you had the ability to heal any creature? What if it costs you some of your own life? How would the population at large treat such a person? What if it was a family struggling with a serious illness? For what it was, the story was incredibly generous, and deep. It’s a coming of age story with some intense potential consequences that touched on a lot of humanity’s best and worst traits and manages to find a happy ending that doesn’t gloss over things too much.
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