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Lu Hersey
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Deep Water Paperback – Import, July 1, 2015

by Lu Hersey (Contributor)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 109 ratings
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When her mum vanishes, Danni moves to a tiny Cornish fishing village with Dad – where the locals treat her like a monster. As the village’s dark, disturbing past bubbles to the surface, Danni discovers that she’s not who – or what – she thought she was. And the only way to save her family from a bitter curse is to embrace her incredible new gift.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    383 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Usborne Publishing
  4. Publication date
    July 1, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    5.2 x 0.94 x 7.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781409586104
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1409586104
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1409586103
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Usborne Publishing (July 1, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 383 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781409586104
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1409586104
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.94 x 7.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 109 ratings

About the author

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Lu Hersey

Lu Hersey

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Lu Hersey worked as an advertising copywriter until she escaped to become a librarian and study for an MA in writing for young people at Bath Spa University. She shares her house with a surfeit of young adults who won't leave home and keep calling her "Mum" - although, surprisingly, she finds their dialogue, strangely disturbing habits and erratic sleeping patterns a constant source of inspiration. She currently lives in Glastonbury, UK

Deep Water won the 2012 MsLexia Children's Novel Writing Award, picking up some amazing accolades in the process and has since been short-listed for the 22nd annual Wirral Paperback of the Year Award.

Deep Water is Lu's first novel and was published by Usborne in Summer 2015 and a new edition is available, out now with Tangent Books.

Broken Ground, her second novel, is published with Beaten Track, and will be available from 21 June 2022.

Praise for DEEP WATER:

“Outstanding… I raced through it”

Malorie Blackman

‘Hersey’s debut shimmers with Celtic fairy tales, marine marvels, creepy Cornish fishing villages and a fabulous granny.’

- New Statesman

‘Excellent.’

- The Independent

‘Inspired by Cornish sea-lore ... vibrant and filled with eccentric characters.’

- Irish Examiner

‘A stunning debut novel that is guaranteed to bewitch, bother and bewilder... Deep Water blends a gentle but compelling modern day romance with an enigmatic storyline that uses the legends of Britain’s pre-history as its thrilling backdrop.’

- Lancashire Evening Post

‘Wonderfully atmospheric and magic oozes from the pages. Perfect summer holiday reading.’

- Lovereading4kids

‘Outstanding and lyrical writing’

- Julia Green

‘A fast-paced and compelling novel for 10-15 year olds packed with mystery and magic.’

- Western Morning News

‘Such an accomplished, tightly-shaped book, with a depth of information’

- Julia Eccleshare

'Filled with local folklore and a genuine sense of magic, this is right up there with Susan Cooper's Greenwitch and Alan Garner's early novels'

- Amanda Craig

‘It has a lovely, mythical quality while still contemporary and right for the audience’

-Elen Caldecott

‘Taking myth, folklore, witchcraft and ancient beliefs as inspiration, it weaves a contemporary tale about a group of teenagers caught up in a legacy of family secrets... the writing is assured and original.’

- Never Imitate

Praise for BROKEN GROUND

'I gobbled up Broken Ground in two great gulps. I absolutely loved it. It combines current political questions, vivid teenage characters and otherworldly resonance in a superbly gripping plot. Moving lightly from crop circles to community tensions, from fracking to first love, this is another exciting and highly relevant novel from the author of Deep Water. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE'

- Liz Flanagan (author of EDEN SUMMER and DRAGON DAUGHTER)

'I just loved Broken Ground ... reminded me of favourites by Susan Cooper and Alan Garner ... It has such a great atmosphere - lush at times, and then threatening. Beautiful details of the natural world and the crop circles and, when we actually go to Otherworld, it really does feel strangely vivid and pre-industrial. I bought into this world completely, and loved the characters - and I loved how it takes the genre of folk horror and brings it beautifully up to date with a political and satirical edge.'

- Paul Magrs, author of the LOST ON MARS trilogy

'Broken Ground did that magical thing of drawing me into its world - now I’m sorry that I got to the end. It’s a great story - likeable and interesting characters, lots of magic and mystery woven into and around a modern horror, with a strong evocation of place and a compelling narrative driving the story forward.'

Sara Crowe, author of BONE JACK

http://www.the-bia.com/lu-hersey.html

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
109 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Christine Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars This is such a beautiful, well written novel surrounding the myth of selkies
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2016
This is such a beautiful, well written novel surrounding the myth of selkies. If you love celtic mythology like I do, this is a must read!!
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Rae Else
4.0 out of 5 stars If you like the sea and folklore - you'll love this book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2017
A lovely Middle Grade Fantasy story set in Cornwall. If you like the sea and folklore – you’ll love this read. In Scotland I grew up reading lots of myths about the Selkie, which inspires Lu’s story – so I really enjoyed this one!

The protagonist, Danni is a teenage girl who is thrust into mysteries concerning her family when her mum disappears. We are led on a journey with Danni, which incorporates Cornish folklore, strange cults and religions – and which Danni, with the help of her friends and family must uncover the truth about if she is to save her mum.

A little of some of the beautiful description with which Lu brings the myth and the story to life:

“…we swim for what must be miles around rocks and gullies offshore, chasing fish through the seaweed and over stretches of tide-rippled sand.

Lobsters raise their claws menacingly from rocky crevices as we dart past. Shoals of sand-speckled flatfish flutter across the seabed when we get too close. Out in the open water, we circle a swarm of ghostly jellyfish with cauliflower-like tentacles that have somehow survived the winter, drifting along on some invisible current. I swim through the darkening water, somersaulting round and round…”

A thoroughly enjoyable, well-paced read with likeable characters and bits that make you chuckle. And most of all – a thrilling take that infuses new life into a well-loved myth!
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Top reviews from other countries

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Mumu
4.0 out of 5 stars Poésie et fantastique
Reviewed in France on July 27, 2016
Verified Purchase
J'ai passé un excellent moment avec l’héroïne, une jeune adolescente qui ne comprend pas ce qui lui arrive : son univers bascule dans un petit village des Cornouailles, des évènements mystérieux apparaissent. Elle se découvre des alliés inattendus et va courageusement chercher les explications, affronter son destin. Ce roman est tout a fait adapté pour les adolescents mais il est aussi très bien pour les adultes car il mélange fantastique, suspense, douceur, tendresse et poésie.
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Fexy
5.0 out of 5 stars Deep water
Reviewed in Germany on December 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
My daughter, who is 11, adored this book. She recommended it to her classmates and keeps talking about it. It has mystery, intrigue, adventure and ... lots of water!! A hit with pre-teens!
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Arioch
5.0 out of 5 stars A magical, beautiful book with excitement and adventure to boot.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2015
Verified Purchase
When Danni’s mum goes missing, she is forced to go and live with her father in a small Cornish seaside village. As Danni arrives in the village of Ancrows, there’s an almost “Wicker Man” like vibe, with the inhabitants being very reluctant to discuss the events of the past. A past that involves Danni’s family - something her mum never talked about. Fortunately, Danni isn’t totally alone – her best friend Levi visits her from the city and Elliott, a boy who works in her dad’s shop gives her reason to think that the situation isn’t all bad.

This is a beautifully written book, full of a natural magic so well woven into the world that it almost had me believing it was real. I really loved the way that old West Country myth and legend has been given a very modern take, as you discover along with Danni that the old ways have not been forgotten, that hers is not the only family with hidden gifts - and that not all of those gifts are benevolent.

This story begins with a mystery, then has several truly magical moments as Danni learns the nature of the family “gift.” A gift some believe to be the work of the devil. Those discoveries lead up to an exciting race against time as Danni discovers how the events of the past and her mum’s current predicament are directly linked. This leads her to question the motives of those around her, just as she most desperately needs their help to prevent a terrible tragedy from occurring and save her mum.

This book has it all – mystery, excitement, menacing antagonists and traditional Celtic legend with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. A great book for anyone who loves magical fiction but is bored with the usual staples of vampires, werewolves and witches. I’ve read it twice and it was just as good the second time.
4 people found this helpful
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Rae Else
4.0 out of 5 stars If you like the sea and folklore – you’ll love this read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
A lovely Middle Grade Fantasy story set in Cornwall. If you like the sea and folklore – you’ll love this read. In Scotland I grew up reading lots of myths about the Selkie, which inspires Lu’s story – so I really enjoyed this one!

The protagonist, Danni is a teenage girl who is thrust into mysteries concerning her family when her mum disappears. We are led on a journey with Danni, which incorporates Cornish folklore, strange cults and religions – and which Danni, with the help of her friends and family must uncover the truth about if she is to save her mum.

A little of some of the beautiful description with which Lu brings the myth and the story to life:

“…we swim for what must be miles around rocks and gullies offshore, chasing fish through the seaweed and over stretches of tide-rippled sand.

Lobsters raise their claws menacingly from rocky crevices as we dart past. Shoals of sand-speckled flatfish flutter across the seabed when we get too close. Out in the open water, we circle a swarm of ghostly jellyfish with cauliflower-like tentacles that have somehow survived the winter, drifting along on some invisible current. I swim through the darkening water, somersaulting round and round…”

A thoroughly enjoyable, well-paced read with likeable characters and bits that make you chuckle. And most of all – a thrilling take that infuses new life into a well-loved myth!
2 people found this helpful
 Report
vivi070
2.0 out of 5 stars Langatmig
Reviewed in Germany on September 27, 2015
Verified Purchase
Über die Geschichte selbst möchte ich nicht zu viel verraten - schließlich möchte der eine oder andere Leser sie sich selbst erschließen. Meine schlechte Bewertung rührt von meiner Enttäuschung, dass die überschwänglichen Lobeshymnen sich nicht im Tempo der Handlung widerspiegeln. Die Autorin braucht das halbe Buch, um mit der Story in die Hufe zu kommen. Danach ist es die eher kindliche Abarbeitung eines keltischen Mythos. Ich hab zu diesem Themenkreis Spannenderes gelesen!
One person found this helpful
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