Beyond the Hedge [Paperback]

Mairi Craw (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2005

Eleven-year-old Sandy Henderson lives a carefree life with her family in a quiet port on Scotland''s south-west coast, unaware that the parallel world of Sylvania lies beyond a huge hedge at the bottom of their overgrown garden. When her beloved cat, Leo, tumbles headlong into this enchanted land, while they're exploring unfamiliar territory, Sandy undertakes a dangerous journey to bring him home again. In the company of Jock, a handsome, swaggering crow, and the Hendersons' haughty Siamese cat, Jamie, Sandy encounters a host of colourful characters along the way, all of whom have the power of speech, including Pongo, the hairiest dog imaginable, master of quips and 'one-liners', Lorimer, an outrageous lobster who lives by the motto 'Dress to Thrill!', and self-serving 'Captain' Pestilence Grimshaw who joins forces with Maligna the Harpie, the monstrous entity whose sole preoccupation is the destruction of everything Sylvanians hold dear. Sandy quickly discovers that Scottish fairy folk are witty, resourceful and tenacious, even when faced with evil on an unprecedented scale. Will she be in time to save Leo? And will Sandy and her companions ever see Scotland again?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Scottish author Mairi Craw graduated with an MA in English Literature and History of Fine Art from Glasgow University, going on to Strathclyde University where she gained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Studies. She worked for BBC World Service in London before starting her own publicity and design business. Mairi now lives with her family and a host of animals in rural Dorset in the south of England; she is a member of the West Country Writers' Association.'Beyond the Hedge' is the first of a series of novels inspired by her childhood in Scotland. The cover is Mairi's own design.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (November 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420885766
• ISBN-13: 978-1420885767
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,604,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical Unique Fairytale, November 4, 2010

By 

Petals-in-the-Attic - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Hedge (Paperback)

I decided to buy this book after being fortunate enough to meet the Author through the internet, I must say this is not the usual type of book that I read and I was a bit sceptical about its contents ! Well I shouldnt have been as it turned out to be a wonderful journey back to the innocence of childhood, where you truly believe there to be a mystical magical parallel universe at the bottom of your garden ? Witty and humerous, engaging and enthralling and beautifully written the characters are quirky and believable, even when one is a Lobster called Thermidor who dresses up in sequin swimwear !! From Fairy Queens to Giant Rats and a suitably scary Baddie it seamlessly follows the story of Sandy as she searches for her lost cat in this enchanted world of Sylvania, and all the amazing little characters she meets on her way. You cannot fail to enjoy this book and keep an eye out for the sequel, 'Between two Worlds' which is in production as I write this review, Happy Fairymass !!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Strangely Normal Fantasy, December 3, 2005

By 

Pete Freshney (Dorset, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Hedge (Paperback)

At first sight, this book looks like a fairy story for kids. And indeed it is, but it's also much more. The sophistication of the language, the depth of the detailed descriptions of things commonplace and bizarre, and above all the humour - which runs throughout, even under the darker passages - combine to create a world you want to inhabit, whatever your age.

Many of the characters sound initially preposterous, but they're so well drawn as to be completely believable, and you are quickly involved in their lives. And you really care what happens to them.

The cliffhanger ending promises much more to follow. I look forward to the sequel!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical Adventures Abound in "Beyond The Hedge"!!!, August 17, 2011

By 

Jody - Oklahoma City, OK - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beyond the Hedge (Kindle Edition)

I was 'introduced' to 'Beyond The Hedge' by a friend of mine who said "You HAVE to read this book!"
What a wonderful story that takes you back to childhood fantasies about alternate worlds. It's all about a little girl, Sandy, that travels to the parallel world of Sylvania in search of her missing cat. From good fairies to bad pirates to dragons, a giant rat, a lobster who is QUITE stylish, to a HILARIOUS talking dog you'll want to follow these characters on their journey thru a mystical place.
This book is original, witty, amusing & so enthralling you'll wish that you too could take an adventurous journey thru the magical Kingdom of Sylvania!
I can't WAIT for book two, "Between Two Worlds" to come out! :-)