The Girl with Gills

An original, middle grade fantasy debut awash with adventure. A determined heroine and a sinister villain clash to reveal river lore in a watery world of fantastical creatures and colossal challenges. In a time and place which might be now, people with gills, outcast Larkers, live in secret communities. They have houseboats along the river. Concealing their gills from land lubbers, they scour the mudbanks, trade their finds and live off their wits. Thirteen-year-old Effra has been supporting her brother, Fleet, alone since their beloved grandfather died six months ago. When merciless Rivermun, a larker gone bad, threatens Fleet, Effra''s quests begins. Rivermun asks for the impossible - he wants to overpower Mother River, to possess the river serpent''s pearl and for age-old debts to be settled. Effra must bargain with the imposing Mother River, dive into the underwater parts of the city, venture deep into the Rat Queen''s lair and confront the terrible river serpent to save not only Fleet, but everything the Larkers stand for. Luckily, she is not alone. She befriends a sentient sewer rat and a landlubber girl called Bow, who will help her in her quest.

About the author

Becca Rogers grew up in rural Devon, an avid reader in a house full of folk music and books. After an English literature degree, she spent many years in London - a fundraising manager by day, writer by night. Now back in Devon, Becca lives by a tidal estuary, where she likes to mudlark, with her husband, two children and her dog, Luna. The Girl with Gills is her debut novel.

Product details

• Authors: Becca Rogers
• Publisher: Head of Zeus
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: from age 9
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 03.07.2025
• EAN: 9781035912377
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3591237-7
• No. of pages: 272
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 197 mm x 22 mm
• Subjects: Children's and young people's books; Fiction > Science fiction, fantasy; JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic, JUVENILE FICTION / Legends, Myths, Fables / General, General fiction (Children's / Teenage), Fantasy & magical realism (Children's / Teenage), Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Adventure stories (Children's / Teenage), JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Death, Grief, Bereavement