Furthermoor

by Darren Simpson

A Monster Calls meets Coraline, in this spellbinding story about the power of the imagination.
The real world is a hostile place for twelve-year-old Bren, his schooldays stalked by vicious bully, Shaun, and his family life fractured at home. Ever since his sister Evie died in an accident, Bren's only safe space is Furthermoor, an imagined world of mechanised trees and clockwork animals, where Evie is still alive. In Furthermoor, no one can hurt Bren...until the mysterious Featherly arrives. Now Bren is forced to confront his deepest fears and decide if his place in the real world is worth fighting for. Enter a world as vast and dark as your imagination, in this unforgettable coming-of-age story about courage, friendship and finding your voice.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Contemporary, Childrens

320 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2022

About the author

Darren Simpson writes vivid, unruly fiction for older children and teens.

His debut novel, Scavengers, was a Guardian Best Book of the Year, and was selected for the national Summer Reading Challenge. The Memory Thieves was an Observer Book of the Month and a World Book Day Summer Read, while Furthermoor was Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Month and a Waterstones Best Book of the Year. Darren’s stories have won awards and been translated into several languages. He’s been nominated twice for the prestigious Carnegie Medal.

His latest novel, Thirst, is out now.

Darren lives in Nottingham, where he works with the Literacy Trust to promote reading for pleasure. He loves using unusual settings to explore bravery, self-discovery, and the strangeness of the everyday.

If you'd like to find out more, visit darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk

Reviews

[Fanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bren is still grieving the tragic loss of his sister Evie and has numbed himself while going through the daily routines of home and school. Simultaneously, the school bully, Shaun, preys on the saddened Bren while also marking down a new kid. Bren is happy he at least has an imaginary world to escape to: Furthermoor—especially because Evie lives there. In this beautiful world of crystal leaves and shimmering lakes, Bren is in control and can create various magnificent creatures with just the turn of a few cogs. But when a dark and malevolent creature emerges while strange things happen in Furthermoor, Bren must overcome his deepest fears to save himself.

The theme of grief pushes the story through an exquisite world with simplistic descriptions. From the painful reminders of someone’s absence to the vulnerable moments where a family navigates the loss of a child, the nuances of this numbness and emptiness is well presented. Powerful metaphors bring through the suffering and the strength needed to move past it. Overall, this middle grade is touching and heartwarming, especially how it lets a grieving young boy become the hero by fighting the physical representation of his own insecurities in an imaginary world of his—while also standing up to the bully in his real life.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story that talks about grief, bullies and a magical adventure on how it is overcome.

The story follows Bren, a 12 year old who has lost his older sister a few months before and how he is trying to navigate life without her. Things are not great for Bren as he is also bullied by Shaun, but he finds peace when he picks up his sister’s watch and travels to Futhermoor to talk to her.
When the new boy Cary watches Bren get bullied by Shaun he tries to intervene but only makes it worse! And it gets really bad for Bren…..a matter of life and death!! Bren must overcome his darkest feelings and make it out of Furthermoor to save himself.

The story was well paced and told in such a way you really felt for Bren and his family.

[ThatBookGal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Furthermoor was one of those niche books that left me unsure how I felt about it. It was heartwarming at times, creepy and the bullying was definitely horrible to read, it was also odd and I'm still not fully sure I understood it (let's blame sleep deprivation).

I really felt for poor Bren, the bullying was definitely about as bad as it can possibly get. He's also dealing with the trauma of having lost his big sister, and the all the multitude of emotions that come with that. It was lovely to see him learn to stand up tall and do the right thing, as well as slowly make a new friend.

I tend to try and rate middle grade books with how well I would have enjoyed them at the intended age. I think this one would have freaked me out a little bit, I wasn't going in to it expecting the eerie vibe that Featherly brought along. Three stars feels like a fair rating.

[yağmur · Rating 3 out of 5]

çocuklar için yazılmış yas temalı kitaplar da ayrı bir mahvediyor beni.

yasını zihninde oluşturduğu Öteorman’da yaşayan Bren’in hikayesini okuyoruz. bren mücadele gerektiren bu yolda, bir arkadaştan ve iç sesinden destek alır.


öteorman’da yaşattığımız sevdiklerimize 🫂

[Ethan Reid · Rating 1 out of 5]

the alternate land ‘furthermoor’ didn’t do it for me but easy read and finished in 1 day

[stefiereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

TW: car accident, death of family member, bullying, physical and emotional abuse.

I so want to love this book because based on the summary, it sounds really good. I mean I love Coraline and A Monster Calls. However, I just couldn’t connect with the characters and while I get why they mentioned Coraline, but it didn’t work for me. Ahh I am sorry!

Our main character, Bren, was bullied like heck by Shaun. Shaun is evil. Like pure evil. Bren is just letting himself being bullied.

I don’t know. I am sorry again but this story does not work for me.

It’s not a bad story, it’s quite touching in some scenes. But, I guess it’s not for me.

Thank you Usborne Books for the review copy! :)

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

TW: bullying, racism, death, car accident

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of Furthermoor.

I was really intrigued by both the premise and the cover but sadly the execution of this book let it down for me. I won't say much about the plot itself but for me there was a real lack of backstory and worldbuilding to this book. You are thrust into the centre of the plot and for me personally, I need some build up to what is going on and some chance to get to know the characters but I didn't feel I got enough of that. This is why it just didn't work for me but it doesn't mean it won't work for you!

[SophReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hard to get into but as I carried on it got easier
But it was really nice to read about bren discovering how to defend of feathery and male friendship with fellow classmates

Evan though it was hard to get into it was worth it!!!! Now I am reading his other book scavengers and just got his 3rd book memory thieves.

[Siobhan Mackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bren lives with his parents in the aftermath of losing his sister; life is hard for all of them, but Bren struggles especially. He is being bullied at school by Shaun, whose vicious behaviour is only heightened when the new boy- Corey- refuses to bow down to him. His mum is working all the hours she can, and his dad is timid and absent, his grief overtaking him. But they don't have an escape like Bren does- using his sister Evie's watch, he escapes to the fantasy world of Furthermoor- a world where his sister is alive and he is in control of every creature, plant and setting. As Bren's life outside of Furthermoor spirals out of control, a disturbing change begins to happen within Furthermoor itself. A place of safety, where Bren has always been able to talk to his sister about his life, becomes invaded by the mysterious and scary Featherly, who mocks Bren for his inability to stand up to himself. Not content with just mocking, as Bren's life outside gets worse and worse, Featherly gets stronger and stronger- until he is making changes to the very fabric of Furthermoor. Will Bren have the strength to finally stand up for himself... in the world he has created, or even in real life?

Thank you to Usborne Publishing for sending me a review copy of this book.
I wasn't expecting it to be quite as dark as it was! Bren is going through some real hard-hitting problems that I haven't seen in a kid's book; usually, the MC has one issue in their life that they need to escape, but poor Bren has a whole list! I would say that, due to both what he is going through and the creepiness of Featherly and the setting that he creates within Furthermoor, this book isn't suitable for young readers (I would recommend it for 12/13+).
The idea of creating a fantasy world to escape to is one that I'm sure many of us can relate to, and Bren's creation is beautiful. The love that he evidently has for his sister is abundant, creating an environment where there are plenty of beautiful pieces of nature for them to share. Having this beautiful harmony then juxtaposing it with the bullying that he is subject to really hammers home how desperate for escape he is.
Overall, the story has a positive message of overcoming self-consciousness and fear in order to stand up for yourself, which is lovely. And also, towards the end, it highlights the importance of what you have in life, rather than what you wish for. The messages that arc throughout the story are working toward positive growth, which is important for readers going through similar issues to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Millie Belsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book, very good and easy for young people who is just getting into reading. Didn’t want to stop reading it- I totally recommend this book😁

[Rachel Lefever · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Darren Simpson’s writing, and his new novel Furthermoor hasn’t done anything but cement that. Storytelling so deft and economic, characters so clear-cut and a message that isn’t muddled, clouded or confused in any way – despite it being wrapped in layer upon layer of exquisite imagination and creativity.

Furthermoor is the tale of Bren, a boy who’s pushed about and bullied at school by a swaggering loudmouth called Shaun – and he just about lives with it, until a newcomer arrives. Cary Yue, with his confidence and bluster, is about to make things a lot worse for Bren. But it’s a different newcomer that’s the real problem. The one that’s arrived in Furthermoor.

Furthermoor is a world that Bren has built using the time-telling cogs of his deceased sister’s wrist watch. And it’s where Evie lives on, kept safe in a make-believe world of colour, peace and brilliance, glistening with jewels and wild with mechanical creatures. Whenever things are difficult, Bren holds the watch to his ear – and with the tick, tock, tick, tock, he is transported there, to be with her. They chat about Bren’s life. They joke and they explore. And Bren controls the world entirely with a twist or wind of the watch’s pin, ensuring that Furthermoor works perfectly – a foreverland. It’s the only place Bren can be himself and be with the sister he misses so much. For, with his parents still reeling from Evie’s death, home is too awkward to be comforting. And it’s hardly a safehaven from Shaun and his friends.

But Furthermoor’s new resident, who appears independent of Bren’s design, threatens to bring everything crashing down, and unless Bren stands up to him, the beauty of Furthermoor will be gone, and Evie with it.

This is a dark story – not much light to be found throughout – but it’s compelling, intense and rich in its imagery, and the twists and turns are nothing short of brilliant. Caught between a safe dream and harsh reality, Bren is given one chance to turn things around. One chance to see that he deserves more than he thinks he does. But first he must look deep inside himself. He must go to unfriendly places and face an ugly truth.

Within this fascinating story is an in-depth study of bullying from all angles – the bully and the bullied; the pushed-back and the push-overs; the difficulties of speaking out and the shame of staying quiet. This should be in every single school library. If not for its important message, then just for its tale, which is storytelling precision.

[Mrs Kuyateh - Primary Teacher Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The real world is a hostile place for twelve-year-old Bren, his schooldays stalked by vicious bully, Shaun, and his family life fractured at home. Ever since his sister Evie died in an accident, Bren's only safe space is Furthermoor, an imagined world of mechanised trees and clockwork animals, where Evie is still alive. In Furthermoor, no one can hurt Bren...until the mysterious Featherly arrives. Now Bren is forced to confront his deepest fears and decide if his place in the real world is worth fighting for.

This was my first encounter with Darren's writing and I'm now completely hooked! I devoured Furthermoor in a matter of hours and it's left me hungry for more.

In most magical portal type stories, characters escape their own world for an exciting adventure however, Bren visits Furthermoor to escape the pain and misery of everyday life. He uses the power of his imagination to summon a beautiful place of peace and tranquility; a sanctuary he can shelter in and block out the real world.

In Furthermoor, Bren is in complete control of everything, in stark contrast to his own life in which he feels completely helpless. With a couple of twists and turns of the cogs in sister Evie's watch, his dreary surroundings melt away and he climbs through the canopy of his mechanical forest into his safe space, where his sister lives on after death.

Darren's world building is simply exquisite and the descriptions of Furthermoor are just stunning - imagine forests of wood and cogs and crystal and glass; clockwork squirrels, foxes, otters, bejeweled peacocks and butterflies. It feels all the more vivid next to the cold hard concrete forest Bren lives in. The derelict Dale Estate is gritty and abadoned and the grey murk and fog that hangs over it seems to envelope everyone and everything.

The portrayal of Bren struggling to come to terms with the loss of his sister, the spiralling depression of his parents and suffering horrific bullying is so real and raw. Everything piles on top of him until the weight on his mind is crushing, paralysing Bren both mentally and physically. It's at this point Featherley makes a terrifying appearance in his previously sacred land. The ending is a real tear-jearker, one of acceptance, finding peace and saying goodbye.

And the moral of the story...I absolutely must read more Darren Simpson! Next stop: The Memory Thieves and Scavengers

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit that this was partly a cover-buy. The cover is just insanely pretty, the colors, the way it's almost telling its own story. I had therefore put this book on a bookswap wishlist and I was really happy last week when I found the book in my package! Since I didn't have too much time this week to read physical copies I thought that reading a middle grade was a good idea and this book was a perfect fit, especially since I was so looking forward to this.

After reading the book I'm not entirely sure what to think of it. It just really wasn't what I had hoped it would be. Normally I love middle grades. Especially stories like this with a heavy theme and loads of symbolism. But this book never really grabbed me. I didn't fall in love with the imaginary world, I never really felt a click with the characters. I was so excited about reading this book, but eventually it took me more time than I had wanted to finish the book.

I'm also a little conflicted on the moral of the story. I used to be one of those wallflowers. I used to ask people for help. I even used to give a big mouth once in a while. Nothing worked. Not against bullies, not when people notice they CAN get to you. They will keep on trying. And yes, at some time you do start to believe that you deserve it and it's your own fault. It was quite nice to see that described, but I was not entirely sure if the ending is what I would have needed at the time.

It somehow feels as if everything was a little too easy. It was too easy for our hero to get rid of his doubts and feelings. And then he all of a sudden, out of nothing, finds the backbone to talk to his bully and their father while being sick in bed. Which STILL somehow shows that only standing up like that will work. Which somehow still enhances the feeling that if you can't do that, or don't do that, or try that but it doesn't work, IT IS YOUR FAULT.

So, I had hoped to read a lovely story. In the end I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. Far from it.

[BooksForTopics · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! The characters are dynamic and life-like, really making the story drive home to the reader.

Bren used to have friends, play football and do normal things boys do, but when his sister Evie died, his whole world changed. He withdrew into himself and pushed everyone away. Now he is bullied by Shaun the school bully and skulks in the shadows trying not to be noticed.

Then new boy Cary arrives and things begin to change again. All Bren can do is escape to the world that he created where his sister is still alive and he can see her whenever he wants, a world called Furthermoor.

Furthermoor is a story of grief, love, friendship, courage and family. The difficult subjects are dealt with in a caring and sensitive way. As Bren begins to grow and change, more of the story comes to light. This book should be a staple in every classroom and library.

Thank you to the publisher for sending us an early review copy. Our review features on our Spring 2022 Ones to Watch list: https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/o....

[Denise Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bren’s older sister Evie, died last year. Still consumed by grief, he spends his spare time visiting a world he’s created for her through his imagination so they can spend time together. This is a far better prospect than spending time in the real world, where his friends have drifted away and he’s become the target of the school bully, Shaun.

Although I’m not usually a fan of fantasy books, I absolutely loved this! Perhaps because the fantasy element is one which is created in Bren’s imagination, or perhaps because he uses the fantasy to explore his own feelings. One reviewer likened this A Monster Calls, one of my favourite ever books, and I can see the similarities. Bren creates a monster in his imagination, as a physical representation of his fears and insecurities. Unlike in A Monster Calls, the death has already taken place, but this is Bren’s way of dealing with it. I think this is equally as good a story but more suitable for younger readers.

Definitely my best book of the year so far.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Eule Luftschloss · Rating 2 out of 5]

trigger warning
grief, bullying, domestic abuse, racism

Life would be hard enough as it is, what with grieving the loss of his sister, but additionally, a bully has picked him as his favourite target.

Instead of having just an imaginary friend, our protagonist has a whole imaginary country where he visits his sister. Everything can be influenced by the power of an old watch. But one day, something goes wrong in Furthermoor.

While I expected this to be a fantasy novel, it's more a story about bullying and while I like that the topic is adressed and that there are two organisations who work against bullying are mentioned in the back, and despite them saying that not every bully fits the same shema, I got the impression that you just have to stand up and everything will be all right.

As a victim of bullying, this book made me sad and angry. Hence two stars.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

[Snarhooked · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really intrigued by the world within a world, Furthermoor. Unfortunately, it didn't get as much coverage within the book as I would have liked. I would say it's more of a realistic fiction story than a fantasy especially as it's all revealed to be in Bren's head .

I liked that the book looked at how grief impacts people in different ways. Bren's mum throws herself into her work. His dad has had to give up his job. Bren seemingly spend the majority of his time staring off into space.

When Bren is in the real world, he is having trouble with a bully who makes his life miserable. A new student joins his school and stands up to the bully. He tries to encourage Bren to do the same. I think the intention was to have Bren gain the confidence to stand up for himself and to see himself as worthy of being treated well. Unfortunately, it came across more that if you are being bullied, it's your own fault.

The writing was good and I wanted to read on. I just felt the story was let down by the message it seems to send.

[Lisa M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story that talks about grief, bullies and a magical adventure on how it is overcome.

The story follows Bren, a 12 year old who has lost his older sister a few months before and how he is trying to navigate life without her. Things are not great for Bren as he is also bullied by Shaun, but he finds peace when he picks up his sister’s watch and travels to Futhermoor to talk to her.
When the new boy Cary watches Bren get bullied by Shaun he tries to intervene but only makes it worse! And it gets really bad for Bren…..a matter of life and death!! Bren must overcome his darkest feelings and make it out of Furthermoor to save himself.

The story was well paced and told in such a way you really felt for Bren and his family.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bren is 12 years old and has just lost his older sister in a car accident. This would be difficult enough to deal with but he is also being savagely bullied at school and his parents are too immersed in their own grief to notice or help.
As Bren spirals he finds sanctuary in a fantasy world, Furthermoor, where his sister is still alive and he can control the world in the way that he and his sister first imagined. A world of crystals and clockwork animals and plants. Here, no one can hurt him, but the real world is still waiting and Bren has to find the strength to stand up for himself and recapture the person he was before.
A fast moving plot which does not hold back on difficult subjects. The world of Furthermoor is beautifully described and I'm sure that many children will identify with Bren and his struggles.

[V.S. Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

With hints of Gaiman, Simpson's third book is an interesting take on bullying and losing oneself in imagination. It's a tricky one to read as an adult, one because I worry about my own kids and any bullying they may face and two because bullying is no longer a worry of mine in the same way that job security, fuel costs and all the other life concerns are.
I think I've rated this book fairly by trying to read it as if I were 11 and imagine the impact it would have had on me. I wasn't bullied at school, but I was a bit odd and took a while to learn to speak up. This book would have been perfect for 11 year old me, so five stars!

I also want to add how much I loved the mechanical world of Furthermoor and the power of Bren's watch. I'm a big fan of visual imagination, and this book delivered.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waffled when deciding whether to give this 4 or 5 stars. I went with 5 because the thing that bothered me the most about this book, when viewed through a symbolic lens, is actually pretty powerful. But from a logical lens, I had trouble coming to terms with what was really going on. I don't want to say much more without spoiling anything. The writing is strong. The characters are great. It's a very hard-hitting book at times that seems a bit much for the intended audience, but unfortunately, this is the reality for some kids. So I can't fault it for that. I think if the author had decided to write this book for adults, it could have been very dark and interesting as a horror novel. But I did enjoy this book a lot and am intrigued to read other books by this author.

[Tracy Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are all huge fans of Darren Simpson's books in our house, so I had to wait to read this until after two of my children had read it (they both thought it was brilliant, by the way)

This is a powerful book. It is hard-hitting and deals with the tough topics of grief and bullying. It doesn't pull punches, the bullying is vicious and the grief is raw, but it really explores the complexities of both bullying and grief and makes it clear that in both scenarios there is no easy, one-size-fits-all answer.

This book has darkness but it also has light and hope.  It celebrates the power of imagination, the comfort of friendship, the warmth of family, the power of courage and truth, and is really beautifully written.

I would recommend for age 11+ 

[Nicola Day · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not for me. I don't really know why but I was not into it.

I don't think the way Furthermoor was set up was very believable. Saying that Bren was just sat in the same place and basically just imagining it took me out of the "magic"of the story.

I didnt believe the way the story dealt with loss. Having his sister be normal and still aging in Furthermoor was really strange and didn't feel realistic for the story or for grief. I understand if others have different experiences of grief but I think it could have had more explanation of the dynamics of the worlds to make it believable.

I didn’t believe a lot of the dialogue or character developments.
I thought it all had potential but it wasn't explored enough to make it a decent story.

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. What an amazing book! I love when books turn out to be much better than expected. This one is about standing against a bully, finding an inner strenght and move forward in your life, beyond grief and loss. When you escape to imaginary world to forget & avoid real life problems, those monsters will eventually find you in your dream world as well, and you're forced to face them. Very well written, gripping from the first page and keeping you on your toes the whole time, wrapping all the details neatly and in a satisfying way, this book was an absolute treat to read.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in three hours. It was such an easy book to read, and I don’t mean that at all badly. It was fast-paced, interesting, and compelling. The way Bren’s own imagination is his villain made it so wonderful to read, and that Featherly is just the part of him he chooses to put away.

The portrayal of bullying, though horrifying, is regrettably true. All characters were well fleshed and understood, but I wish we could’ve seen a little more of Cary, my only problem. Either way, really good book!

[Nicolas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book amazing and tear-jerking. My personal opinion is that the author tried to describe the tremendous pain of the outside world and the need to get away to a place where he is in control, where he is loved, where he is safe, and then for even that to be broken. This book describes the pain of life at its darkest moment, but also the transaction into a newer, better life. Furthermoor is truly as vast and dark as your imagination, but it is also the brightest

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was really good and from the middle to the end the tension had me continuing to read bc of suspense and curiosity, also I predicted the plot twist towards the end so yay but tbf it wasn't too predictable. Plot-wise it's a really good plot and didn't get boring bc of the change in setting throwing new events at you and keeping you hooked. I recommend this book for people who want a normal story with a touch of fantasy.

[evangeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a cool premise and nice metaphors throughout, but...I don't know, I just didn't enjoy it. The dialogue was very cringe and preachy at times, and I found Bren to be an extremely boring, one-dimensional protagonist. The hooking part of this novel is Furthermoor, yet we seem to spend more time in the real world... which was a shame. Regardless, there were some interesting twists and a very heartfelt message throughout the novel, which is why I have given it 3 stars rather than 2.

[Fearless · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bren ablasinin ölümüyle icine kapanmis, mutsuz ve dikkati daginik biri olmustur. Öteorman onu disaridaki dunyadan koruyan bir guvenli alan oldugu halde bazen işler hic beklemediginiz ve tahmin edemeyeceginiz sekillerde gelistiginde, kendinizde degismek zorunda kalirsiniz.

Cocuklar icin cok ilginc ve cok guzel bir kitap. Oglum severek okumustu ve benimde okumami, beraber uzerine konusmamizi istemisti. Gercekten ilginc bir eser ve hayal gucunu canlandiracak hikayesiyle okunmaya deger.

[Fetayel M]

This book juggles the trauma of grief and the power of imagination together in a depressing way. The MC, Ben is grieving his sister who tragically died in a car accident, and his way of coping is sitting down and imagining her in a world of his own named furthermoor. However, as the troubles of reality seep into his refuge of peace in his mind, he is forced to confront his reality and let go of his sister for good.