Maggie Gee disrupts a quiet English town with the arrival of THE RED CHILDREN

The past and the future combine in Maggie Gee’s The Red Children: thought-provoking, relevant and with an intriguing premise. The novel begins as a number of unexpected visitors – the red children – arrive along the beach in Ramsgate, on the English coast. Their arrival creates ripples throughout the town as they enter the homes and lives of the locals, with varying consequences. Significant relationships form, despite the efforts of some locals to dissuade the warm welcome.

Exploring the viewpoints of a variety of different characters, including the intriguing Professor and teenagers Joe and Liam, the author explores contemporary themes including migration, climate change and the refugee crisis. A prolific author, here Maggie Gee encourages thought and questions about the way we live and interact with one another, and how differences on the surface can be overcome.

The current pandemic has skimmed the surface of a few recent novels, and with The Red Children set in the near future, it alludes to life after the virus and its effects on the community. With so much covered within the story, this is an impressive, thoughtful and meaningful novel, sprinkled with humour and above all, full of hope.