The Double Shadow by Carnegie Medal-winning dyslexic English author Sally Gardner (
ISFDB,
Wikipedia) is her standalone tween/YA-level science-fictional historical fantasy novel with psychoanalytical and coming-of-age themes starting in London, England in 1937 and continuing throughout the war years, where a young woman comes across a strange machine invented by her father which allows her to enter or perhaps even create some sort of alternate world, free courtesy of publisher Hachette's Orion Children's Book imprint.
Currently free @
iTunes CA,
Amazon &
Kobo &
Google Play (probably just available to Canadians, since the other regional stores I spot-checked for Amazon & iTunes either don't have this edition, or don't have it free, though YMMV).
If you happen to be interested in reading more about the author, she discusses her writing and the dyslexia issues which she had to overcome in
this interview with The Telegraph here.
Incidentally, if any of my fellow Canadians would like a free copy of the DC animated movie
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: Deluxe Edition based on the classic Frank Miller graphic novel (not actually suitable for children, I will warn you), I still have a spare redemption code that needs to be used up today, October 8th. Please PM me if you're interested (requires a Flixster/UltraViolet account registered to a Canadian address).
And this has been the (late!) selected 3rd (non-repeat) free ebook thread of the day.
Because not only am I a sucker for WWII homefront-involving stuff, getting a nifty-looking historical sf/fantasy with an interesting-looking premise from an award-winning author is like a hat trick of awesome.
Enjoy!
Description
In the wasteland it is eternal day, no clocks mark the passing hours. In 1937 clouds of war gather over Britain.
Fifteen-year-old Ezra meets the rich, beautiful and undeniably spoiled Amaryllis Ruben, recently expelled from boarding school. Amaryllis has been playing the rebel since she was nine years old and Ezra is both disturbed and enchanted by her. But Amaryllis is hiding a secret even she does not understand.
On the grounds of her father Arnold's decadent mansion a memory machine take shape. Despite Arnold's brash playboy exterior Arnold Ruben is seeking to master time. But time is running out for him.
And then, on her 17th birthday, Amaryllis vanishes.
The years that follow reverberate with the events of that summer's day. As Britain is shaken by war Ezra pieces together the fragments of his shattered memory in the name of love, loss and hope.