Thorn by A.F. Harrold – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: love, loss and self-discovery collide.
YA book title: Thorn.
YA author: A.F. Harrold.
YA illustrator: Milly Chapple.
Genre: Young Adult, LGBTQ+, Metaphysics.
Published by: Fox & Ink Books.
ISBN: 9781917894159.
Recommended for children aged: 12+.
First published: Paperback August 2026.
This YA novella is ideal for: KS3 students who are interested in the themes of relationships, love, self-discovery, identity and navigation of early teen years.
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Our review:
Thorn wakes to discover she is hovering above her own body. With no understanding of why or how, she drifts through her life as an outside witness, watching past, present and future unfold before her. Along the way, she reflects on her relationships with Clive, the boy she secretly has a crush on; Meadowblossom, a mysterious refugee from the ‘Nextdoor Country’; and Gregor, her increasingly xenophobic brother. Through these connections, Thorn charts how her sense of self shifts and deepens, reshaping what she believes about belonging and worth.
Our verdict:
Thorn is an ambitious and unusual story that grapples with themes of identity and self-worth that are certain to resonate with young readers navigating their early teens. Its metaphysical narrative lets the reader sit alongside Thorn as she confronts what she’s long avoided: who she is, what matters to her and where she fits in a wider world. With a cast of fantastical figures including the kingfisher, the cat and the Scissorman, Thorn makes for a genuinely scintillating read.
Many thanks to Fox & Ink Books for the review copy.
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