Children’s and YA books set in Cornwall
Cornish stories draw children in with folklore, Atlantic weather and scenery that keeps illuminating the plot. Giants, piskies and mermaids sit alongside an Arthurian glow, with smugglers and wrecks always close by. Cliffs, coves, mines and moors are not just scenery either; they shape the mood and the choices people make. In teen fiction, Cornwall can become a sharp lens for class, belonging and respect for the environment. This list features books by Michael Morpurgo, Rosemary Manning, Daphne Du Maurier, Tom Palmer, P. D. James, Liz Kessler, Susan Cooper, Helen Dunmore, Lauren St John, and Winston Graham.
Cornwall books for children and teens – our recommendations
Cornwall picture books
A Dog Called Dreckly by Anna Wilson
When Tam and her brother Cadan find a lost dog and take it on themselves to return him home, their journey moves through recognisable Cornish settings, shaped by the people they meet and the decisions they make. The charming picture book for 4-8 year olds centres on caring for animals, taking responsibility and helping others when it would be easier not to. Rooted in Cornish life, there’s a clear focus on belonging and doing the right thing.
Seal Surfer by Michael Foreman
A boy and his grandfather watch a seal pup being born and continue to see it as it grows on the nearby rocks. The boy is a keen surfer who uses mobility aids and spends time in the sea, where he forms a bond with the seal. When the water turns rough, the seal comes to his rescue. Michael Foreman’s illustrations link family, nature and trust, presenting disability as part of everyday life in this moving book for 0–5 year olds.
Never Mess with a Pirate Princess by Holly Ryan
Princess Prudence heads off to retrieve her stolen teddy after dastardly pirates take him. She ignores a mocking knight, rides off on her goat and confronts the pirates herself, rescuing both the knight and the teddy in spectacular fashion. Written in catchy rhyme, this story for 3–6 year olds features vibrant illustrations by Sian Roberts, including a map and an underwater scene. A great picture book that draws on pirate themes and determination for Early Years and KS1 readers.
The Mermaid of Zennor by Charles Causley and Michael Foreman
Set on the Cornish coast, this lyrical retelling of a local folk tale follows a young boy whose life changes after meeting a mysterious woman at church, later revealed to be a mermaid. Charles Causley’s clear, lyrical text introduces the legend of Zennor and its place in Cornish history. Michael Foreman’s magical illustrations bring the coastline and folklore to life, making this a powerful picture book for sharing traditional myths and supporting creative writing with 5–8 year olds.
The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber
Set in the Cornish village of Mousehole, this absorbing picture book for 3–7 year olds follows fisherman Tom and his cat Mowzer when a fierce storm cuts the village off from food. With the boats grounded, the pair head out to sea together to face the Great Storm-Cat and save their community. Inspired by a real Cornish event, Antonia Barber’s story is lavishly illustrated by Nicola Bayley and draws on fascinating local folklore, courage and companionship.
Cornish Tales by Eric Quayle, illustrated by Michael Foreman
This stunning collection brings together well-known Cornish folk tales, including Jack the Giant-Killer and The Mermaid of Zennor. Eric Quayle retells the stories with a fresh ear for their spoken roots, drawing on Robert Hunt’s classic nineteenth-century collections. Michael Foreman’s sparkling illustrations complement each tale, highlighting unforgettable Cornish landscapes and folklore. Giants, witches, buried treasure and local legends maraud throughout in this hardback for 5-10 year olds.
Cornwall books for children
The Bolds on Holiday by Julian Clary
The Bolds, a family of hyenas passing as humans, head to Cornwall for a camping holiday with relatives and friends. Things go wrong when Bobby is mistaken for a lost dog and taken by a dognapper. Keeping their secret intact, the family sets out to rescue him and the other stolen pets. Told with humour and black-and-white illustrations by David Roberts, this riotous story for 7–9 year olds follows the hilarious chaos that unfolds when holiday plans go awry.
Green Smoke by Rosemary Manning
While staying in Cornwall, Susan stumbles across a green dragon living quietly in a coastal cave. Far from fierce, he is courteous, well-mannered and has first-hand tales of King Arthur’s court and Cornish legend. Susan can’t resist returning, drawn into stories of magic, mermaids and the sea. First published in 1957, Green Smoke is a classic that blends local landscape with Arthurian myth in a calm, quietly magical adventure for 6+ year olds.
The Giant’s Necklace by Michael Morpurgo
Cherry spends her holiday in Cornwall collecting cowrie shells to finish a necklace. On the final day, the tide cuts her off and a storm forces her to shelter in a cave. Inside, she finds a passage into an old tin mine and comes face to face with the ghosts of miners lost in an accident. This accessible story for 7+ year olds combines Cornish history, the real danger of tidal beaches and an unforgettable, sudden supernatural twist.
The Island of Adventure by Enid Blyton
Jack, Philip, Lucy-Ann and Dinah arrive in Cornwall expecting a quiet summer at Craggy Tops, but the nearby Isle of Gloom soon captures their attention. Strange lights, rumours and unanswered questions lead them to investigate. What they uncover involves secret tunnels, abandoned copper mines and real danger. This opening book in Enid Blyton’s classic Adventure series introduces a group of curious friends whose holiday turns into a tense and gripping adventure for 9–11 year olds.
Dead Man’s Cove by Lauren St John
Eleven-year-old Laura Marlin moves from a children’s home to live with her uncle in Cornwall and arrives in St Ives ready for a fresh start. Adventure comes quickly when she finds a message in a bottle and starts asking questions. With her three-legged husky, Skye, Laura follows clues and digs into the secrets surrounding Dead Man’s Cove. This first book in a compelling series for 9+ year olds blends classic detective plots with a contemporary coastal setting.
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
Emily Windsnap lives on a boat but is kept from swimming by her mother. At her first school swimming lesson, Emily discovers she transforms into a mermaid in water. She finds a hidden underwater world and meets a mermaid friend, Shona. Together, they uncover a family secret and set out to reunite Emily’s parents. This fantasy story about family, friendship and identity for 9–11 year olds is ideal for book clubs.
The Skylarks’ War by Hilary McKay
Clarry and her brother Peter spend their childhood summers in Cornwall with their cousin Rupert. Set before and during the First World War, this memorable novel for 9–11 year olds follows the family as war begins to affect their lives and Rupert leaves to fight. The story looks closely at how conflict shapes families, changing roles and daily life. Themes of love, loss and resilience run throughout.
Famous Five: Five Go Down to the Sea by Enid Blyton
Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy spend the holidays on the Cornish coast at Tremannon Farm. Stories of strange lights in a ruined tower lead them into old wreckers’ legends, circus folk and hidden passages. With help from Yan, they track the mystery back to its source and uncover a smuggling plot. Cornish folklore, farm life and coastal danger shape this classic Famous Five adventure for 9-11 year olds.
Pitch Invasion by Tom Palmer
Seth travels to Cornwall while waiting for news about his mother’s cancer treatment and finds himself drawn to an Iron Age hill fort. He begins to see flashes of the past, including its brutal use as a warning place. Two brothers from Aleppo share the same visions, and with help from his friend Nadiya, Seth is forced to face what the fort represents. The final book in Tom Palmer’s dyslexia-friendly Defenders trilogy for 9–12 year olds explores fear, empathy and finding courage.
Whispering Hollow by Rachel Burge
Pippa stays with her grandfather in his cottage deep in the Cornish woods, expecting fresh air and freedom. But strange twig figures begin appearing, and the forest feels anything but empty. With her brother, she starts digging into what is watching them and why. This mesmerising story for 9+ year olds draws on Cornish folklore to build a tense woodland mystery, focusing on sibling loyalty, family secrets and learning how to face fear.
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
Alex Rider learns that his uncle was a spy after his sudden death and is quickly pulled into the same world. Recruited by MI6, he is rushed through training and sent to finish his uncle’s last mission. Using high-tech gadgets, Alex investigates millionaire Herod Sayle and the Stormbreaker computer scheme being rolled out to schools. Set partly in Cornwall, this fast-paced adventure for 11+ year olds uncovers a deadly plan and launches the spectacular Alex Rider series.
Why the Whales Came by Michael Morpurgo
Set on the Scilly Isles during the First World War, this powerful and moving story follows Gracie and Daniel as they ignore local warnings and befriend the island’s Birdman. When a message appears in the sand, they begin to question stories of a curse and work out who they can trust. Island life, quiet danger and a growing friendship sit alongside the distant effects of war. It’s an ideal short historical novel for 8–11 year olds.
The Wreck of the Zanzibar by Michael Morpurgo
Set on beautiful but remote Bryher in the Isles of Scilly in 1907, readers follows Laura and her family after a storm and the disappearance of her twin brother, Billy. Told through Laura’s diary entries, it records daily survival, the impact of a shipwreck and her efforts to help others despite her loss. This short novel for 10+ year olds explores themes of island life, resilience and family bonds, offering a compelling picture of early twentieth-century life on Scilly.
Ingo by Helen Dunmore
Sapphire and her brother Conor discover the underwater world of Ingo after their father goes missing at sea. Drawn by old Cornish legends and the presence of the Mer, both siblings are pulled between life on land and the call of the sea. Set on the Cornish coast, the story explores family loss, folklore and the lure of another world beneath the waves. This magical adventure for 9+ year olds introduces themes of identity, belonging and the indefinable power of myth.
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
Simon, Jane and Barney Drew spend a holiday in Cornwall and uncover an ancient map tied to Arthurian legend. With help from their great uncle, they begin a search for a hidden grail, drawing the attention of dangerous enemies. As the children follow clues across the landscape, they are pulled into a wider struggle between Light and Dark. This is the opening book in Susan Cooper’s classic The Dark Is Rising sequence, suitable for more advanced 10+ year old readers.
Orla and the Serpent’s Curse by C. J. Haslam
On a family holiday in Cornwall, Orla finds a glowing necklace and realises it is tied to a mysterious local curse. With help from her brothers, a group of formidable local women and Dave the dog, she starts piecing together what is going wrong in the village. Witchcraft, folklore and dry humour sit alongside genuinely eerie moments as Orla uncovers Cornish coastal secrets in this darkly comic adventure for 9–11 year olds.
The House in Cornwall by Noel Streatfeild
Four siblings are sent away for the summer to stay with their uncle in a grand but slightly strange house near Truro. But their adventurous excitement soon fades when they are kept inside, the staff behave suspiciously and a child can be heard crying eerily at night. As they explore the grounds, the children begin to uncover what is really going on. Set in wartime Britain, this classic story for 9+ year olds builds tension around secrets, control and trust.
North of Nowhere by Liz Kessler
After her grandfather disappears, Mia is sent to stay in her grandmother’s seaside village, where days stretch long and lonely. Everything changes when she finds a diary belonging to Dee, a girl who once lived on a nearby island. The entries pull Mia into a mystery she cannot ignore, even when attempts to make contact keep failing. As past and present begin to overlap, Mia pieces together what happened to her grandfather and the hidden link between them all in this uniquely spellbinding mystery for 9–11 year olds.
The White Horse of Zennor by Michael Morpurgo
This collection brings together five Cornish tales where ordinary days take a sharp turn into legend. Children meet seals that are not quite what they seem, ghosts that refuse to stay quiet and moments of magic along the coast. Each story stands alone but is underpinned by Mad Miss Marney, whose life connects the pieces. Rooted in Cornish myth, these short stories for 10+ year olds exude mystery, change and the uneasy pull of the sea.
Cornwall books for teens
Searching for the Remarkable in Things by Natalie Lucy
Clover is still grieving her mum when she finds a bundle of old letters that draw her into her family’s past and its connections to the American South. The story moves deftly between her life in Cornwall and the 1850s, gradually revealing how the two timelines reflect one another. Deeply moving and highly relevant to current debates about historical injustice, it explores identity, loss and the weight of the past, showing how letters, memories and folklore can shift the way we understand ourselves and where we come from. Ideal for book club discussion in KS4.
Deep Water by Lu Hersey
After her mother disappears, Danni is sent to live with her father in a Cornish fishing village where she feels watched, unwelcome and unsettled. Strange changes begin to surface, pushing her to dig into the village’s history and her own place within it. As secrets emerge, Danni uncovers her family’s powers and the roots of an old curse. Drawing on dark Celtic myth and local folklore, this unforgettable story for 12+ year olds follows her extraordinary attempts to understand what she is becoming and bring her family back together.
Haunt Me by Liz Kessler
Joe is dead, trapped in the bedroom he never really left behind. When Erin moves into the house after bullying and a mental health crisis, she realises she can see and speak to him. Their bond grows through poetry and writing, while Joe’s brother Olly meets Erin at school and complicates everything. Told from shifting viewpoints, the novel tackles grief, suicide, bullying and the fragile line between life and death. A spooky paranormal romance for 13+ year olds.
Truth Or Dare by Sophie McKenzie
Maya expects a quiet summer job at her grandmother’s cosmetics company, but it does not stay simple for long. She becomes involved with environmental activists and soon realises her own family business is at the centre of their protest. Caught between loyalty and telling the truth, Maya has to decide what she is willing to stand up for. This taut eco-thriller for 12+ year olds examines honesty, family responsibility and environmental campaigning.
Ready Or Not by Tracy Darnton
Millie and her friends return every summer to Creek House in Cornwall. One year, during a game of hide and seek, Kat vanishes and is never found. Twelve months later, Millie brings the group back, determined to uncover what happened. Told across two timelines, this thrilling story for 13+ year olds slowly exposes hidden tensions, half-truths and the lasting impact of Kat’s disappearance, as friendships begin to fracture under the weight of what was left unsaid.
Isles of Storm and Sorrow: Viper by Bex Hogan
Seventeen-year-old Marianne has been raised to take on the mantle of the Viper, the Crown’s feared enforcer across the Cornish-inspired Twelve Isles. As her training intensifies, she realises the greatest threat to the islands may be the current Viper, her own father. Caught between loyalty and responsibility, Marianne is forced to question the role she is meant to inherit. This is the opening novel in Bex Hogan’s Isles of Storm and Sorrow trilogy.
Only the Ocean by Natasha Carthew
Kel Crow grows up in a flood damaged near-future version of Cornwall and knows she needs heart surgery she cannot afford. Desperate to escape, she plans to stow away to America and kidnap a rich girl to pay for it. The plan collapses at sea, leaving Kel and Rose focused on staying alive instead. Their dangerous boat journey forces hard choices about trust, responsibility and what escape really costs in this compelling adventure for 13+ year olds.
Winter Damage by Natasha Carthew
Fourteen-year-old Ennor lives on Bodmin Moor with her father and brother through a brutal winter. When her father falls ill and the family faces being torn apart, Ennor leaves home to find the mother who disappeared years earlier. Crossing the moor alone, she meets Sonny, a traveller who becomes an unexpected ally. This powerful novel for 12+ year olds thrusts the reader into a maelstrom of survival, family loyalty and the strain of isolation in a harsh rural landscape.
This Summer’s Secrets by Emily Barr
Senara spends the summer in Cornwall at Cliff House, a grand home with a past that refuses to stay buried. As she becomes caught up in the lives of the wealthy family who own it, the story shifts between the present and earlier decades. Letters and multiple viewpoints slowly expose how the families are connected in this pulsating historical YA novel for 12+ year olds. Friendships, divided loyalties and long-kept secrets shape a compelling story about how the past continues to unsettle the present. Highly recommended.
Cornwall books for older teens and sixth-formers
Buried Magic by T J Green
Avery is a witch who runs a bookshop in White Haven. When a customer dies and leaves her a rune marked box and a letter, she realises it points to a dark forgotten legacy in the town. With the summer solstice close, Avery joins other witches to search for grimoires tied to White Haven’s past. The deeper they go, the more dangerous it becomes, with demonic threats and unseen enemies circling the Cornish coast.
China Court by Rumer Godden
After her grandmother’s death, Tracy Quinn returns to China Court, the Cornish house that has shaped her family for generations. This spellbinding classic novel moves back and forth through the Quinns’ past, tracing how choices, rivalries and changing times have left their mark on both the family and the house itself. Told through interlinked stories and woven around the Book of Hours, it connects inheritance, memory and the sheer weight of history.
Ross Poldark by Winston Graham
Ross Poldark returns to Cornwall after the American War of Independence to find his estate run down and Elizabeth, the woman he loves, engaged to his cousin. Determined to rebuild, he sets about restoring his home and standing up for local miners facing hardship. Set in late eighteenth-century Cornwall, this classic saga examines class, loyalty and survival, and introduces a cast of characters whose lives become tightly interwoven.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
When a young woman marries the widower Maxim de Winter, she moves with him to Manderley, his Cornish estate. From the start, the house is overshadowed by the memory of his first wife, Rebecca, whose presence lingers in every room and routine. As unease grows, the new Mrs de Winter begins to uncover what really happened in the past. The shocking revelations that follow reshape her marriage and the meaning of life at Manderley itself. A compelling classic.
The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
Penelope Keeling looks back over her life, from a free-spirited childhood split between London and Cornwall to an unhappy marriage shaped by the Second World War. When a painting by her father suddenly becomes valuable, Penelope is forced to make decisions that will affect her children and grandchildren. This page-turning story traces family tensions, inheritance and long memories, with Cornwall connecting the generations.
Collected Poems, 1951-2000 by Charles Causley
This volume brings together Charles Causley’s poetry from more than fifty years, including previously unpublished poems and work for children. The selection ranges from autobiographical pieces to poems rooted in rural Cornwall, alongside ballads and religious writing. Arranged by theme, the collection reflects Causley’s life as a teacher and former naval serviceman, and his long engagement with Cornish culture, history and place.
The Cliff House by Amanda Jennings
Sixteen-year-old Tamsyn becomes obsessed with the glamorous Davenport family who live in Cliff House on the Cornish coast. Set in 1986, this twisty psychological story centres on her intense friendship with Edie Davenport and the secrets both families are hiding. As the summer unfolds, grief, envy and longing surface within the close-knit coastal community, creating a powerful and unsettling read.
The Black Tide by Hammond Innes
Trevor Rodin investigates the wreck of an oil tanker off Land’s End after his wife dies during a protest about oil spill safety. As he looks into what went wrong, the focus shifts from the damaged ship to the people and decisions behind it. This atmosphering and compelling adventure follows the fallout of a maritime disaster, the search for accountability and the risk of it happening again, set against growing concern about pollution and tanker safety.
The Lighthouse by P.D. James
When Adam Dalgliesh is sent to Combe Island, a remote retreat off the Cornish coast, he investigates a death that refuses to look natural. Cut off from the mainland, a small group of residents and guests find themselves under scrutiny as tensions rise. When a second crisis hits the island, Dalgliesh and his team are forced to untangle motive, secrecy and fear in a setting where no one can leave and everyone has something to hide, in this compelling mystery.
Sea of Storms by Richard Larn
Sea of Storms brings together twenty-one shipwrecks from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, covering five centuries of maritime disaster. Richard Larn draws on his own diving experience to tell what happened to each ship and crew, while Oliver Hurst’s enthralling illustrations pick out key moments from the wrecks. This engrossing hardback tracks how coastlines, trade and sailing changed over time, and what remains on the seabed today.
The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor
Sergeant Colin Taylor recounts his time policing the Isles of Scilly. Drawing on real incidents, he describes day-to-day work ranging from minor thefts and community disputes to emergencies and island events. This highly readable and light-hearted book gives a clear picture of policing in a small, close-knit community, where familiarity with residents and routine shapes every decision with both humour and responsibility.
Rising Ground by Philip Marsden
Rising Ground sees Philip Marsden walking across Cornwall, linking its landscapes with stories from the past and present. He moves between Neolithic sites, Arthurian legend and everyday modern life, drawing on archives and conversations with local people. Alongside these journeys, Marsden writes about restoring a Cornish farmhouse and what that reveals about place, work and belonging. This memorable account reflects on how the landscape has been understood over time, from ritual ground to lived environment.
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BISAC JUV000000 JUVENILE FICTION / General | Thema YF | Thema place qualifier: 1DDU-GB-EWC (Cornwall)
