Everyone knows Romilly Kemp – she’s the girl in the picture books, with the kitten and the hidden treasure. But which Romilly Kemp is the real one? The one her dad has pinned to the pages? The naughty wild child her mother seems to fear? The meek follower who obeys her friend and idol? Or the secret inner Romilly, who notices every little thing and likes oddities and strangeness, collecting sensations – good and bad – like seashells.

In The Illustrated Child, Polly Kemp begins by splashing through the little mysteries and fairytale wonder of a somewhat neglected childhood, then wades into deeper, darker waters. There is something of a sinister feeling lurking behind the bright surface from the very start: the wild house, her father’s private study and shadow woman; the mysterious absence of Romilly’s mother; stuffed parrots and kitten paws. Everything combines to create a vague but constant ominous pressure, on characters and reader alike.

Still, I was thoroughly enjoying the story, right up until the point where Romilly’s father changes and everything begins to go very wrong, with any semblance of fairytales and rainbows abandoned. The book spirals into a surreal and disturbing dive into dementia, depression, delusions and overt abuse. It really is quite bleak reading at times. Personally, I am fond of dark and light stories alike, but felt that this one buried the lede a bit. I was led to believe I was reading a story about family secrets, children’s books and hidden treasures, which turned out to be more focused on child neglect and abuse and mental illness.

There are some big identity questions explored here, through the eyes of a troubled child. Who are we? What, or who, defines us: love? Our relationships with others? Our inner worlds? Romilly doesn’t really have any answers for the reader here, other than the insight that not all that is hidden turns out to be treasure.

Those seeking a whimsical, fairytale story about a girl growing up a legend may find this gets a little too darkly real, but anyone looking for a beautifully written story about the darker side of growing up known but neglected will enjoy this debut.



'You probably know me: I’m the Kemp Treasure Girl. Maybe you had the books as a child. Perhaps your dad read them to you in those wilting hours of sleep where books become dreams and dreams become books. Did you look for the treasure, digging in your garden, unsure of what you were searching for?

Mine was an unusual infamy for one so young. Not an all-encompassing, celebrity fame, but one that flattened me into two dimensions and picked out the colour of my eyes and my dress. One that stopped people in the street and made their necks crane back round to gaze at me.'

– Polly Crosby, The Illustrated Child


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

I didn’t enjoy this book. It took me all my time to read it. I know that this book has received a lot of praise about it being wonderful, magical and compelling. But I can’t relate at all to these views. To be honest some parts of this book are very dark and disturbing.

Romilly and her father Tobias have moved to a small village in Suffolk. Where they reside in a very run down cottage that is surrounded on three sides by a slim clogged moat.

They have moved there as her father has lost his job working at the university, where he taught art. When they moved to the cottage her father gave her a Siamese cat. She thought that the cat looked very smart so he had to have a smart name. So she called him Captain Montgomery 2nd Regiment. Which she shortened to Monty.

Romilly spent most of her time on her own as her father spent most of his time locked up in his office for hours if not days at a time. It turns out that he has been spending his time painting Romilly and Monty and has produced a story book.

The book becomes so popular that Romilly and her father travel all over for book signings. Her father also goes on TV making them even more famous that Romilly is no longer able to go to school. During the summer holidays fans on the book start turning up at their cottage. Which isolates Romilly from the real world even more.

When her father releases his 2nd book things become even worse, with people constantly turning up. For some reason the public have come to the conclusion that the books are clues to a treasure hunt.

While all of this is going on her father starts to act more and more strangely, but Romilly is too young to understand what is happening to him. Romilly’s estranged mother turns up in their life for a little while, but ends up disappearing on them again. As she can’t cope with what happened in the past. It turns out that Romilly had a twin sister that died, but Romilly can’t really remember anything about her.

Not long after her mother leaves her father also leaves Romilly to fend for herself as he checks in to a care home. It turns out that he has dementia. For months Romilly try’s to do the best she can on her own until the money runs out and she can’t afford to feed herself or Monty. Eventually she does ask for help.

This story really is quite distressing and harrowing, so if you expect a nice pleasant read this isn’t it.

The story of Romilly Kemp whose artist father achieves success with a series of illustrated children's books where Romilly and her pet kitten play the central characters. The stories hold secret clues to Romilly's family history, which are quickly spotted by readers and soon treasure hunters appear trying to uncover the secrets within. The mystery of the books and the excitement around them propels Romilly further into the public eye.

The unreliable nature of Romilly's narrative leaves the reader torn between whether Romilly's childhood with her creative father is one of magic and joy or neglect. We see Romilly grow from child to young adult as she slowly uncovers the clues to the family history that have always been around her.

Atmospheric, evocative, whimsical, uplifting but this was only the first half, the second half was the other side of the coin. I real mix of light and shadow, without giving too much away. Romilly lives with her dad, an eccentric artist, in an isolated house in a small town. Her upbringing has always been unconventional but gets turned upside down when her father paints her as the main character of his picture books - books that appear to hide secrets and has half the world on a treasure hunt. Despite this fame, she is lonely and haunted, with only her cat and a half -absent friend for company. But real life isn't a fairy tale and only time will tell if she can survive the challenges it brings.
The pictures were so vivid I could almost see the paintings . The characters felt so real and the reader gets swept along with Romilly, willing her to solve the mysteries that are at the edge of her vision. The scenes are beautifully described and the story unpredictable. This is a story that takes you on an emotional journey where fact and fiction aren't always easy to separate. I'm left with images I wont easily forget.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

It took a little while for me to fully engage with this book but by the time I hit the halfway mark I was intrigued. The reveal is expertly done and the prose feels almost archaic, like an Enid Blyton novel set in the 21st century. There are also echoes of Daisy Johnson's Sisters in the plot, and the nuanced portrayal of mental health is particularly well handled. Magically mysterious.

I found this book compelling to read because I wanted to know very much how it was going to end. I was not comfortable with a lot of the content. It is a disturbing book and I cannot say therefore that I enjoyed it. It is a beautifully written book, it is, as other reviewers have said not at all what I expected. It is a very dark book and makes one reflect and think, always a good thing. If you are looking for a book which is enjoyable to read this is not for you. On balance I decided it is not for me either as when I had finished it I was not at all pleased to have read it.

I read this for a blog tour.

Every story I've read about children whose parents write them into books seems to end with a rather sad child trapped in the pages of the books their parents write - so it is for Romilly.

Her father's beautifully illustrated stories sell - especially as people think there's a treasure hunt hidden within, but this brings fans, treasure hunters, and a life lived trapped inside the disintegrating house Romilly and her father, slowly succumbing to early onset dementia, live in.

There is a treasure hunt, of sorts, but it is for Romilly alone. As she grows up, her mother and grandmother drift in and out of her life, along with her sole friend Stacey, she starts to solve her father's clues and unravel her own past.

A sad, sweet book, I really wanted to rescue Romilly and Monty the cat, their lives are so small and lonely. I don't think turning your child into a fictional version of themselves is very healthy - as Romilly points out, the version of her people believe they know never ages while she does - the little denim dress and red tights stop fitting her and Monty loses a paw, but in the four books she remains forever eight years old and innocent.

I enjoyed reading this book, which opens in magical vein with Romilly and her father living in a ramshackle old house with a moat, out in the country. It reminded me of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith in the early part, but The Illustrated Child deals with far darker and more sobering themes, which increase in intensity as the novel progresses. It turned out to be not what I expected from the early chapters, but the difficult themes were sensitively handled.

Romilly Kemp lives with her father in a rundown house in the country. She can just remember snatches of her life in London and some memories of her mother. Her father gives her a cat, Monty, and he becomes her closest companion alongside the mercurial Stacey. Mr Kemp produces a series of beautifully illustrated books about Romilly and Monty and suddenly life changes, they have money, they have fame and her Mum appears again.
I actually loved certain aspects of this book, the idea of the illustrations and the perception of the Romilly in the book with the public perception were developed well. Less successful for me was the whole trajectory with the mother and the friend, it just didn't ring true. This meant that I struggled with huge sections of the book event though I think the bare bones were strong it just wasn't for me.

I struggled with this book. It has received a lot of praise from a lot of places, but personally I found it a difficult read, and in the end, couldn't finish it.

Well, this was a MUCH darker read than I expected, featuring themes including grief, loss, mental ill health and neglect. It's a tale of family, friendship and love. The plotlines concerning Romilly's father's book (and the ensuing treasure hunt) help to propel the story along but overall the book is about so much more. An ambitious debut from Polly Crosby who conceals complex themes within the narrative. Having said that, it's a bit of a Marmite book and I didn't love it (though I can see why other readers do). I felt the midsection dragged for too long and my attention wandered. Overall an interesting genre bender of a novel and a very difficult one to rate or review without spoilers.

I tried several times to read this book, but in the end I DNF. It was not at all what I expected from the introduction. It is very well written, but I found the subject matter with regard to children too dark and disturbing.
It’s a difficult and unsettling read, and I found that I just did not want to go back to it.
Not for me, this one.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

This is a magical book about childhood, confusion and fame.

The book follows Romilly through her childhood to her teens. Living with her eccentric artist father in a ramshackle house, she finds herself the centre of attention when his children’s book, starring her and her beloved cat, become best sellers.

Romilly watches her father become more and more reclusive, cutting them both off from the world. Becoming more and more isolated, it is left to Romilly to try and decipher the codes hidden within her father’s books, to try and find the hidden ‘treasure’ the world is searching for.

This is a very dark book which covers child abandonment, neglect, abuse, domestic violence, mental health and dementia. I found myself feeling heartbroken for Romilly, wanting to scoop her up and save her from her life. The loneliness of isolation, the pressure of being a young career to herself and her father, these provoked such a strong reaction from me, knowing that there are so many children in the UK that are in this very position.

With a hint of Grimm about it, this is an enchanting and haunting read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Illustrated Child is Polly Crosby’s debut novel and is a charming, deeply imaginative debut novel about a young girl and her eccentric father who hides within the pages of an illustrated book a treasure hunt that will lead her to uncover a priceless secret about her family’s past. It tells the story of Romilly Kemp and her artist father, who live in a ramshackle mansion in the English countryside. To help make ends meet, he creates a children’s book series with Romilly - a striking redhead with a mole on her cheek - and her cat Monty that becomes an instant success. The rumor is that hidden within its pages are clues to an elaborate treasure hunt, and their estate becomes crowded with tourists and adventure-seekers hoping to find the treasure.

As Romilly gets older, she finds her father disappearing within himself, and eventually learning he’s suffering from dementia. Wanting to connect with her failing father and know him better, she returns to his books and comes to realize through a series of clues he’s left just for her, that the treasure it leads to is worth more than gold or precious stones - it’s a shocking discovery of her family that explains her peculiar childhood and helps her better understand herself. This is captivating debut which tells the story of family, growing up, mortality, and self-discovery with a mystery that will keep you eagerly turning the pages. Full of heart and tender moments, but also saddening ones, this is an absorbing read from start to finish and an unforgettable story about discovering the hidden wonders that make us who we are. Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.

Going in to the book I wasn’t sure what to expect. The title, The Illustrated Child, has something magical and fairytale like about and I think the cover adds to this feeling too. However, this is not a happy fairytale story, but a dark and somewhat sobering fairytale that has some difficult moments to digest.

Romilly lives in a ramshackle house with her eccentric father and cat, Monty. She doesn’t know much about her past but she knows that she is loved. Her father creates children’s books, where she is the main character, and things finally seem on the up for her and her father. Unfortunately her father becomes ill and this become increasingly isolating for Romilly. So she turns to the books her father created to find some of life’s answers!

The descriptions of the storybooks were wonderful and you could almost imagine the books open in front of you, full of beautiful, intricate illustrations. These parts of the story were magical and so far removed from the other darker parts, which really tug at your soul.

This is a tough read, with lots of trigger warnings. It really wasn’t what I expected, and whilst very well written, I found it hard to digest and it took me a long time to get through. However, Polly Crosby has a great way with words, you could really imagine exactly what the characters and setting were like. Romilly is such a complex character, full of fantasy and hope, and you can’t help but feel for her throughout the book. A complex and deep book, it is definitely a little sadder than what you expect from the title, blurb and cover!

My thanks to HQ for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Illustrated Child’ by Polly Crosby in exchange for an honest review.

This was a breathtaking novel that moved me deeply. I was a little surprised when its themes became darker though these were appropriate to the narrative. I don’t want to stray into spoiler territory, so will only touch on its plot details.

At the novel’s opening in the late 1980s, eight-year old Romilly is living in an ancient farmhouse with her eccentric artist father and Monty, a Siamese kitten. Her father has the idea of creating a series of illustrated children’s books featuring Romilly as the main character.

‘Romilly and the Kitten’ is an instant success and other books follow. While Romilly grows up, her fictional counterpart remains fixed in childhood. Yet along with fame and financial benefits comes unwelcome attention from the press. Then a rumour starts that the books contain a series of cryptic clues to a treasure. Strangers begin to turn up at their door seeking autographs, though some also come with metal detectors and spades!

As time passes, Romilly’s father becomes increasingly suspicious of everything and everyone around him. He withdraws from the world leaving Romilly more and more isolated. She wonders if indeed there is a secret hidden in the books and seeks to investigate aided by her free-spirited friend, Stacey.

Romilly proved an appealing narrator and I quickly became invested in her journey. As noted above this novel enters darker territory than initially expected. I felt that Polly Crosby was sensitive in dealing with the complex relationships portrayed as well as exploring themes of loneliness, mental health, loss and grief.

Overall, an atmospheric, dreamlike coming-of-age story that is rich in description and addressed universal themes. I found Polly Crosby’s writing exquisite. She is a gifted storyteller and this was an impressive debut.

I just can’t express how utterly beautiful this book is. It’s just left me breathless, honestly. This isn’t my book of the year, it’s gone straight into “all time favourites”. For me, it brought up the same warm feelings the beginning of Dodie Smith’s “I capture the Castle” .

Romilly’s life revolves around her dad, mum, grandma, and her best friend. She is so loving, and tries so hard, she just breaks your heart. A dysfunctional family, trying their best.

It’s such a beautiful book, utterly heartbreaking, a couple of times I found myself shocked when little things are revealed that shake what I thought I knew. I can’t explain!

Just utterly utterly wonderful.

My thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Illustrated Child by Polly Crosby is the story of Romily as she grows up.  When she is little, her father writes a book which makes her famous.  It's a picture book about her adventures, with things hidden in the pictures, which people decide is a treasure hunt.

Romily grows up in the public eye, with her distinctive red hair, and we're told how she and her father deal with this.  There are mental health issues and illness for some characters, and the past is a mystery that is explained.

I enjoyed the book, and the look at how people deal with fame.  The mental health and illness is dealt with well, and Romily at different ages is believable. 

 The Illustrated Child  by Polly Crosby was published on 29th October 2020, and it's available from  Amazon ,  Waterstones  and your  local independent bookshop .

You can follow Polly Crosby on  Twitter  and her  website .

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  HQ .

Romilly lives her life through the eyes of her adoring father. The single father raising a daughter, a man who puts pen to paper and creates stories for everyone to enjoy. This exposure of her life comes with a lack of privacy and at times even danger and transgressions. The stories carry the suggestion of a hidden treasure, which tends to generate the interest of many - not enough interest to care how Romilly is dealing with being the main character in a series of books though.

The only thing keeping her halfway sane is her strange, domineering and unkempt friend, who comes and goes as they both go through the different stages of growing-up. They agree, they fight and ultimately the best friend can also be very manipulative at times.

Romilly also has to cope with a disinterested mother, and a parent who is so involved with himself he neglects her emotionally, psychologically and physically. There is still some semblance of love at times, but is it love or just a means to an end?

Although this falls under the YA category for me personally even though it is certainly a coming-of-age story for the majority of the story, it wanders far beyond those boundaries. It's a complex combination of mystery, discovery of self and sexuality, the almost incestuous leanings of a confused and distraught parent at times, the guilt and the neglect.

There are just so many aspects of this story I would love to go into each fascinating element in depth, but would absolutely give the plot away by doing so. (Arrgh) It's such a multi-layered piece of work. I loved the way Crosby went from literary to contemporary to mystery and speculative. All within a blink of an eye. The reader is never quite sure which thread to grasp onto at any given time.

It's a brilliant story with an ending which suits the beginning and a middle that pays homage to the past. A wonderful story. One that speaks of a culmination of imagination and coping techniques, after many years of solitude and mind games.

This book is so beautiful and sad, words cannot do it justice. Yes it's slow at times - especially in the middle - and I guessed at some of the tragedies that do not come to light until the end, but don't let that put you off. It's not yet another book full of twists and turns and a shocking reveal. This is a gentle read about Romilly's coming of age and one that will have you in tears at the end. All the characters are beautifully drawn - her dad Tobias whose life is changing in ways that she is too young to understand, her mum who cannot cope with reality - we don't find out why until later on (I can identify with this), her elderly grandmother Beatrice who she has only just met, her mysterious friend Stacey and Monty the cat. Then there is Lidiya in the Circus who plays a part in her childhood.

I loved this book. It's so real and heartfelt, it will stay with me (and hopefully you) for many years to come. For lovers of When God Was a Rabbit and The Trouble with Goats and Sheep.

Many thanks to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I must also give a mention to Kit Williams, whose book Masquerade, written and illustrated in 1979 inspired a worldwide treasure hunt by concealing clues to the location of a jewelled golden hare. I know it also inspired The Illustrated Child. William’s amazing wishing fish clock built in 1985 by renowned clock maker Michael Harding still plays music and blows bubbles every 15 minutes in the Regent Arcade in my home town of Cheltenham.