Noah Barleywater Runs Away

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

In Noah Barleywater Runs Away, bestselling author John Boyne explores the world of childhood and the adventures that we can all have there.

Noah is running away from his problems, or at least that's what he thinks, the day he takes the untrodden path through the forest. When he comes across a very unusual toyshop and meets the even more unusual toymaker he's not sure what to expect. But the toymaker has a story to tell, a story full of adventure, and wonder and broken promises. And Noah travels with him on a journey that will change his life for ever.

A thought-provoking fable for our modern world from the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

©John Boyne 2010 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Critics Review

  • This delightful, bittersweet ‘fairytale’ is a flight of fantasy with playful use of language . . . a joy from start to finish. Noah’s heartbreaking emotional journey is lightened by a rich vein of absurd humour and eccentric characters

    Daily Mail

  • With goodly dollops of magic and wonderful surrealism, [the book] has a fable-like quality. If they like magical stories, and if they like to deal with serious issues in a metaphorical way, they will love this sweet, funny and kindly book. I certainly did

    Bookbag

  • Noah Barleywater Runs Away is a carefully crafted whimsical gem, a story to share with others and to discuss at book clubs, a true publishing event. I would recommend this unusual, life-affirming tale to adult readers, and as a read-aloud for thoughtful children of age eight or nine-plus

    Irish Independent (Eire)

  • The style and language is accessible to children but Boyne is still able to create a story of great subtlety, imagination and compassion. The ending, while extremely moving, is neither trite nor contrived . . . Boyne succeeds because he set out to write a great book which could be enjoyed by children, and naturally, as with all great books, by adults also

    Sunday Business Post (Eire)

  • Noah Barleywater Runs Away is a lovely story wrapped in magic and fairytale, and has reminded me how much I love John Boyne’s writing. Readers of all ages will find something charming about this story, and it’ll make you think about your own actions and how time moves a lot quicker than we think. I highly recommend it to everyone, whether you’re old, young or just an 8-year-old boy looking for an adventure

    Wondrous Reads

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