Lily’s grandad has always been her hero but lately he’s been confused and forgetful. She’s determined to help him get better but when Grandad’s memories magically start coming to life, they both get more than they bargained for… What happens though when they lose their key to return home? Will Lily find the light at the end of the tunnel?
After the beautiful A Tricky Kind of Magic (review here!), Nigel Baines is back with another sensitive and heartwarming story, The Memory Key. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way… this time, we’re following Lily who is fiercely protective of her grandad, whose health is deteriorating and may need specialist support in a home. This is a compelling graphic novel – beautifully illustrated once again, it explains Alzheimer’s so honestly and sensitively that this book will be a great resource to support children whose family members have this condition. I loved the relationship between Lily and her grandfather – there is so much love there and it’s fascinating getting to learn about Grandad’s time in Hungary. Like a high-speed train, I whizzed through The Memory Key as it’s such a wonderful book. I can’t wait to see what Nigel does next!
Suggested reading age: 8+
The Memory Key is written and illustrated by Nigel Baines. It will be published by Hachette Children’s on 20th June 2024.
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