The Illustrated Child

*I received a free ARC of this novel, with thanks to the author, HQ Harper Collins UK and NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Everyone knows Romilly Kemp shes the girl in the picture books, with the kitten and the hidden treasure. But which Romilly Kemp is the real one? The one her dad has pinned to the pages? The naughty wild child her mother seems to fear? The meek follower who obeys her friend and idol? Or the secret inner Romilly, who notices every little thing and likes oddities and strangeness, collecting sensations good and bad like seashells.

In The Illustrated Child, Polly Kemp begins by splashing through the little mysteries and fairytale wonder of a somewhat neglected childhood, then wades into deeper, darker waters. There is something of a sinister feeling lurking behind the bright surface from the very start: the wild house, her fathers private study and shadow woman; the mysterious absence of Romillys mother; stuffed parrots and kitten paws. Everything combines to create a vague but constant ominous pressure, on characters and reader alike.

Still, I was thoroughly enjoying the story, right up until the point where Romillys father changes and everything begins to go very wrong, with any semblance of fairytales and rainbows abandoned. The book spirals into a surreal and disturbing dive into dementia, depression, delusions and overt abuse. It really is quite bleak reading at times. Personally, I am fond of dark and light stories alike, but felt that this one buried the lede a bit. I was led to believe I was reading a story about family secrets, childrens books and hidden treasures, which turned out to be more focused on child neglect and abuse and mental illness.

There are some big identity questions explored here, through the eyes of a troubled child. Who are we? What, or who, defines us: love? Our relationships with others? Our inner worlds? Romilly doesnt really have any answers for the reader here, other than the insight that not all that is hidden turns out to be treasure.

Those seeking a whimsical, fairytale story about a girl growing up a legend may find this gets a little too darkly real, but anyone looking for a beautifully written story about the darker side of growing up known but neglected will enjoy this debut.

‘You probably know me: Im the Kemp Treasure Girl. Maybe you had the books as a child. Perhaps your dad read them to you in those wilting hours of sleep where books become dreams and dreams become books. Did you look for the treasure, digging in your garden, unsure of what you were searching for?

Mine was an unusual infamy for one so young. Not an all-encompassing, celebrity fame, but one that flattened me into two dimensions and picked out the colour of my eyes and my dress. One that stopped people in the street and made their necks crane back round to gaze at me.’

Polly Crosby, The Illustrated Child

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

‘The beginnings of a friendship are like the beginning of a book: you never know how they will turn out until the very end.’
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I was very lucky to receive an ARC of The Illustrated Child from HQ, and I am incredibly grateful. I was also approved to read the digital ARC on NetGalley.
The publication date is 29 October 2020.
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‘I loved the magic of seeing a book before anyone else: of being one of the first to try to decipher the codes within.’
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This book was a very interesting read.
One thing that really stood out to me was the descriptions and personification employed throughout the story. These made it very immersive, and I did feel as though I was transported into the magical world of Romilly’s childhood.
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‘I asked obediently in a whisper. The grey sky dropped lower on the landscape as if it were listening too.’
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The images of the books within the novel are also very intriguing. The beautiful depictions of Tobias’ paintings, with all the secretive minute details, made me wish these books were real. I felt like I wanted to read and explore them myself.
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‘Each picture was lit with a warm, treacly light, like diffused candlelight, or the dim flicker of an open fire.’
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It becomes clear quite quickly that things aren’t as they initially appear for Romilly.
Without giving away too much, the spiralling of the plot seemed to reflect the decline of the characters themselves, and there were a few well-executed twists.
The light-hearted, whimsical opening of the novel turns into something quite dark.
I felt for Romilly, and it did feel at points like she was very much alone, despite her Father’s best efforts to ensure the contrary.
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‘Back then, Dad had been full of colour and vibrancy, just like his paintings. Now, he was a spectrum of grey, and I didn’t have the paints or the ability to put him right.’
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I would recommend this book, and it has been one of my favourite reads so far this year. Polly Crosby’s writing stands out, and I look forward to what she produces next.
I have already pre-ordered the published print copy of The Illustrated Child for when it is released.

I have never read a book that has stuck with me for so long. I read The Illustrated Child over the 2020 Christmas period where the pandemic meant I was unable to see anyone and had to stay home, and I still think about it now. The mood of the book seemed to match my general feeling; dark and troubled, but with moments of joy and optimism. Romily and her dad became my main company for a few weeks, and they were most welcome.

While the tale within the book moves slowly, this is quite alright, because Polly Crosby has the most wonderful ability to make even the mundane seem magical. The first part of the book details the daily adventures of Romily, alongside the eccentricity of her artist father. He later decides to write an illustrative book with Romily as the main character, as a way to maintain some income. The book is set during the period of Thatcherism and the family are struggling to make ends meet. I loved the connection to cultural references of the 80s and I suspect I grew up in the same time period of Romily. As the story continues, the book unravels some intriguing hidden meanings, which Romily must make sense of in order to learn of her past.

This story will be enjoyed best when the readers mood is aligned with that of the book. An uplifting read it is not. But it is beautiful, poignant and overall a wonderful story.

Wow.
This is one of the best books I’ve read in forever. I actually hid in bed for half a weekend to read it!
Beautifully written yet very easy to read.
This book draws you in to the magical world from the viewpoint of a child / young teenager whilst keeping you as an adult reader aware of the reality of the complicated family situation and the darkness of their lives.
An absolutely outstanding first book. I’m already excited for the next one!

I loved this book from the very first page, in fact the cover, the name, it just called to me.
It gave me such a sense of childhood and all that it entails. Books, treasure, mysteries, it just captivated me. The writing is wonderful, it almost feels like a melody, so insistent is the need to read this book. At one point I just cried. Glorious book. Read it quietly, alone, with no distractions- magic shimmers in the air

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