North Child (48 page)

At the beginning of the novel, Rose's father explains, “
Ebba Rose was the name of our last-born child. Except it was a lie. Her name should have been Nyamh Rose.
” Throughout
North Child
, superstition motivates the actions of Rose's mother in ways which can sometimes seem detrimental, or constrictive to Rose. How do you feel about her mother's actions? Do you like her?

Consider the variety of settings that the author uses in the novel (for example, the Castle in the Mountain, the Askoy Forest and the Ice Palace of Huldre). Why are each of these places important?

In what ways is
North Child
a story about loss, and about being lost?

“
I was suddenly aware of someone standing beside me. Except that when I turned my head to see who it was, there was no one there. And yet there was.
Rose.” Describe Neddy. What makes him such a strong presence in Rose's life? Do you find their relationship to be balanced?

“
‘What have you done?' were the words wrung out of him. It was a stranger's voice yet held the dim echoes of the white bear.
” Can you blame Rose for her curiosity in seeking the identity of the mysterious stranger? Would you have done the same?

Eugenia's fervent belief in the importance of “birth-direction” has been passed down through the generations of her family. Consider the idea of “superstitions”; do you believe in any? Do you know where these have come from? Where do you think the author's inspiration for the idea of “birth-direction” came from?

In “Chatting with Edith Pattou”, the author describes the way in which Rose's guides, Thor, Malmo, Sofi and Estelle represent the four points of the compass. Consider the nature of each direction and the way in which these characters embody them.

Acknowledgements

This book has been a journey of many years, and I, like Rose, had a great deal of help along the way from many people who were generous with their support and wisdom. Above all I would like to thank the “Havamals” – librarians who patiently and wisely led me through the byways of researching Norway, compasses, the Arctic, and white bears.

Many thanks also to Jean Emery and David Wilhelm, who led me to the fjords and were patient and forgiving when lost manuscripts needed to be retrieved (twice!); Sarah McPhee and Lennart Ericsson, who showed me the archipelago; Robin Cruise, who ferreted out all those spinning heads and “of courses”, making my writing spotless; and my editor, Michael Stearns, who is Thor, Malmo, Sofi,
and
Neddy all wrapped into one – and who makes me laugh.

I also want to thank Vita, whose wanderlust and strength of character rival that of Rose, and the real Charles, who has been my north, south, east, and west from the beginning.

This edition first published in the UK in 2012 by Usborne Publishing Ltd., Usborne House, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT, England.
www.usborne.com

First published in the UK in 2006. Text copyright © 2003 by Edith Pattou

Published by arrangement with Harcourt, Inc.

The right of Edith Pattou to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

Jacket illustration copyright © 2003 Stephen T. Johnson

Cover design by Nancy Leschnikoff

Calligraphy produced by Sarah Coleman. www.sarahcoleman.net

The name Usborne and the devices
are Trade Marks of Usborne Publishing Ltd.

All rights reserved. This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or used in any way except as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or loaned or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author's and publisher's rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ePub ISBN 9781409547310

Batch no 00548-07