A Dickensian horror story of child labour, grief and cruelty, told by the skilled Lucy Strange.
Young Bess is newly arrived at a mill in the countryside. She had been living with her actor mother, learning about backstage work at a Covent Garden theatre. After her mother's death, Bess was sent to a workhouse, and when offered another, possibly better, opportunity outside London, she took it.
Of course, it wasn’t a good opportunity, as Bes becomes an indentured servant for the mill, doing dangerous work in a dangerous and loud workplace, and is mistreated along with all the other children. When another girl tries to befriend her, Bess resists, afraid of the loss she could potentially feel with a new friendship. Bess also discovers a fantastical surprise in the millpond.

Lucy Strange is terrific at writing about loneliness and grief from a child’s perspective. I was pulled into this narrative immediately, and could deeply feel Bess’ loss and her desire for freedom. This was echoed by Dot’s desire to escape to find a better opportunity elsewhere, and in the amazing creature they find in the millpond.

The illustrations by Pam Smy are terrific also, showing us the children's grim surroundings, the grief and the hope in the girls' eyes.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Barrington Stoke for this ARC in exchange for my review.

A bite-sized short story about friendship and helping others against the backdrop of child labour in a cotton mill.

I hadn't realised, going into this, that it was a short story, having read and enjoyed a few of the author's other Middle Grade novels, I was expecting something along the same lines, and, to be honest, was a bit disappointed that this wasn't a novel (Currently, it also seems to be priced at a similar level to a full novel)

For a short story, it takes quite a bit of time to set the scene, establishing the cruelty of mill life, and dwelling on the back story of the main character, and I though it ended suddenly and abruptly, just when a main story could be starting. Considering the title, I was expecting an eerie tale where the mermaid takes centre stage, but this was not the case, the mermaid and the millpond are kind of incidental.

The story is well written, if a bit gritty and depressing at times for some younger readers, but, I think it suffered from what I expected from the cover, title, and knowledge of the other Lucy Strange novels. There seemed to be much more to be said, or explored, and the mermaid could have had a greater role.

I would recommend this for children learning about workhouse, or mill conditions in the 19th Century.

This was a tight, accessible story that managed to be both sweet and heart-rendingly tough at the same time. I love the ethos behind Barrington Stoke books, and THE MERMAID IN THE MILLPOND truly is a gem for reluctant readers. I can see MERMAID working especially well in classroom and/or read-aloud settings in which issues of workers' rights, child labor, economic inequality, or other such topics are being discussed.

A beautiful, atmospheric historical MG with a nuanced protagonist and (of course) a dash of magic.

This is a greatly enjoyable book that follows Bess, an 11-year-old orphan who leaves a London workhouse with promises of a better life at a cotton mill. Unfortunately, her new environment is yet another prison where conditions are harsh and children are treated cruelly. To make matters worse, there are rumours of a monstrous mermaid lurking about in the pond nearby...

Entwining myth, fantasy and history, the author weaves a vivid story that also sheds light on child labour in the 1800s, when orphaned children were often subjected to abuse, hunger and punishment while being made to perform dangerous jobs in workhouses of the past.

The illustrations further add to the dark and grim tone of the book, making it an atmospheric read reminiscent of 19th-century England. But despite the bleak setting, it's also a story of hope and friendship.

I found the ending abrupt and wished the book was longer, but overall this is a fantastic read and ideal for the publisher's target audience.

The Mermaid in the Millpond is a short middle grade story about a little girl called Bess who is sent to work at a cotton mill after her mother dies. Bess keeps to herself and isolates herself, making no friends in her new situation to protect herself against being hurt again. The mill is a horrible place to be and Bess lives miserably and isolated in terrible conditions. Outside in the eerie pond it’s rumoured that a terrifying mermaid lives - but Bess doesn’t believe this tale.

In this short story, Bess ponders if she isn’t actually alone in the factory, and perhaps the mermaid in the pond is trapped and yearns for freedom, too.

The author has woven together a grim but poignant tale about friendship and hope in a dark, fantastical, victorian setting. The illustrations were also a wonderful story aid.

This short story was fantastic! The blending of historical fiction, magical realism, and fantasy worked together beautifully to create a story that felt whimsical and enchanting while also addressing some very difficult historical realities. Especially since this is a book aimed toward a younger audience, Strange's methods for addressing child labor conditions, work houses, and loss in a world that looks like our own but in which magic exists creates a balance that helps to offset the darker themes. The story is short, but it brims with hope, heart, and optimism for the future. The parallel between the mermaid trapped in the millpond, and Bess's own sense of being trapped in the workhouse added a depth and richness to the story, working within familiar fairytale story arcs to make an unfamiliar situation understandable, even to young readers. Overall, this book was transportive, beautiful, and impactful. It's the kind of story I'm still thinking of weeks after reading it, and I can't wait to share it with my own children.

Bess didn’t think life could get much worse than that of the London workhouses but now she has ended up in the harsh environment of a cotton mill. She and her friend Dot are desperate to escape but how can they possibly slip under the careful watch of their masters? There are also rumours of a dangerous creature in the pond outside the mill but Bess is pretty sure it isn’t real. Until one night, she sees something in that deep, dark void. This short fairytale is beautifully illustrated by the talented Pam Smy and I just wanted it to go on for pages and pages. The story is very atmospheric with characters that are easy to root for, which is pretty impressive in such a short book. Themes of friendship and kindness reign supreme and you’ll be left wanting to know what comes next!

Lucy Strange is a writer with phenomenal talent. I have enjoyed all her books to date and knowing she had written a book for Barrington Stoke assured me this would be great.

Bess meets Dot when she is sent from London to the mill. All the children are “damaged” in some way, orphans, underfed, lost or angry and Bess is too. She has recently lost her mother and carries all the anger. Dot is very small and keen to help Bess. Their new friendship gets them both beaten and sent to an unused and mouldy old mill building, where they hatch a plan!

Their plan must involve saving the mermaid in the millpond, as trapped there as the girls are. At first the plan seems terrifying but these girls are determined to find their way to better lives.

This is an atmospheric read, from the conditions of the mill to the secrets of the gloomy millpond. Bess and Dot are brilliant characters, both learning to trust and hope alongside each other.

Loved it!

When Bess' mother dies and she's sent to the workhouse, the best escape seems to be signing on to work at a cotton mill in the countryside. But far from being a means of keeping herself safe, the mill is abusive and awful - and haunted by the specter of a mermaid in its pond. Could the mermaid in the millpond be as dreadful as the tales suggest, or is she, like Bess, simply trapped in a terrible situation?

This novella manages to seamlessly weave together fear, folklore, and a lovely message about how kindness really is almost always the answer. After her mother's death from consumption (because what else do people die of in Victorian stories?), Bess is convinced that she's at fault because she insisted on being kind to a sick child on the street. She's barricaded her heart away, and not even the friendly hand of Dot, another mill girl, can get through her self-imposed barriers. It's the mermaid, who is definitely more wild creature than Ariel knock-off, who shows Bess that maybe not everything is as bad as it seems, and that by sealing herself off she's really only hurting her own heart.

While it is a bit on the nose towards the end, this is still a lovely middle grade read. Language and theme-wise, it could skew younger, but there are some scenes that may be disturbing for elementary-age readers, so I'd err on the side of caution. The illustrations are haunting as well, which absolutely works for the story, but again, makes this a better choice for middle grade readers than anyone younger.

For such a short book this certainly makes an impact. There is no shying away from the historical truths about workhouses for children but the overriding message from this book was not to lose hope and to keep moving forward. I really enjoyed it and would love for there to be a sequel. I just wanted to know more.

Bess is determined that she is not going to care about anyone else any more. She is going to be tough and hard hearted so she won't be hurt again. But someone won't give up trying to break through, and is there really a mermaid in the pond?
This is such a charming story with wonderfully lovely writing. My only complaint is that it is so short and I would have loved it to be longer! Trying to avoid spoilers, but I would really like to know what happens next. Maybe this could be made into a longer book sometime in the future???

Wow, this really packs a considerable punch in a very short space. When Bess loses her mother she is sent to work in a cotton mill and discovers the tyrannical regime that is enforced. She eventually makes friends with another girl, Dot, and together they plan an escape. But they find a strange creature living in the mill pond and wonder whether they can help this 'mermaid' be free, when they make their own bid for freedom. Yet another brilliant story from Barrington stoke.

"History and myth entwine in this atmospheric tale of freedom and friendship from bestselling author Lucy Strange and acclaimed illustrator Pam Smy.

Bess has left the London workhouse behind for a job at a rural cotton mill. But life at the mill is hard and cruel - a far cry from the fresh start Bess hoped for. The only way to survive is to escape, but the mill is like a prison with no way out.

Meanwhile, rumours are spreading about a vicious creature that lurks in the millpond. Bess is sure it’s all nonsense, until one night she sees something stir in the murky water.

But is it really a monster that lives in the depths of the pond? Or a creature trapped and alone, just like Bess, desperate to escape..."

Pam Smy drew me in, the millpond myth made me stay!

Lucy Strange's newest offering is definitely on the dark side. This is no tale of pretty, feminine mermaids. Instead, a fish like creature with 'teeth like a Pike' and 'webbed fingers' greets you in the first chapter. However, this is a novella full of longing and loss in the main character, Bess and her troubled beginnings. Beautifully written as expected and at only 80 pages long, perfect for quick heart warming read on a dark night.

Bess has left the London workhouse behind for a job at a rural cotton mill. But life at the mill is hard and cruel– a far cry from the fresh start Bess hoped for. The only way to survive is to escape, but the mill is like a prison, with no way out. Meanwhile, rumours are spreading about a vicious creature that lurks in the millpond. Bess is sure it’s all nonsense, until one night she sees something stir in the murky water. But is it really a monster that lives in the depths of the pond? Or a creature trapped and alone, just like Bess, desperate to escape?

Loved this! As a fellow dyslexic, I really think Barrington stoke are wonderful! Life in a Victorian factory isn't a lot of fun for Bess, who finds herself an orphan once her mum unexpectedly passes away. Bess keeps herself to herself, that is, until she makes friends with another worker, Dot.

Beyond the factory's walls is a pond, where a mermaid is rumoured to live, but not the nice kind. A mermaid with a bad streak. Dot and Bess want to escape from this horrible life they've been thrown into, but is it only them who want to escape, or is the mermaid simply misunderstood too?

This pulls no punches in the reality of how mills were during the Victorian era. Lucy Strange is a fantastic writer, and this is no exception! Thanks for letting me read

Set in a Victorian mill, this is a dark story with a hint of mythical fantasy. There is no holding back with the description of the workhouse conditions but the friendship that develops and the courage the two girls show leave you with a feeling of hope. It is published by Barrington Stoke and has beautiful illustrations by Pam Smy so perfect for reluctant readers. I will be recommending to years 5 and 6 at school.

I knew this would be a great book because I had heard of this author’s children’s fiction works. But I wasn’t prepared for it to be so fabulous!

“The Mermaid in the Millpond” reads like a middle grade Victorian novella - a shorter, darker Frances Hodgson Burnett classic if you will. Strange’s atmospheric writing paired with Pam Smy’s illustrations drew me in right out of the gate. I also appreciated the new take on mermaid lore, the Ophelia allusions and the unflinching look into the life of child labourers. The ending felt a bit abrupt but I still enjoyed the book very much, swiftly adding two more books by Lucy Strange to my TBR. I’m quite eager to read her longer works.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


I have to say that this story made me sad because of the true historical part of it about the issues with orphans and how they had been used and treated by human monsters. Anyway, I liked it because it was so different from the other middle grade stories, it reminded me a little bit of Oliver Twist . It's a beautiful story about hope, friendship and kindness. I loved the two little girls and how they bonded in order to fight together for a better life for themselves without the help of adults.

The story is about Bess who has left the London workhouse in order to forget about her past there with her mother, but now, she finds out that she has made a big mistake by signing for a job at a rural cotton mill where she is mostly treared as an animal. Thankfully, she met Dot a courageous girl who will help her open her eyes about her tragic past and see things differently.

I liked this touching story and I'm sure gonna check Lucy Strange's other books after this one.

I’m a massive fan of Barrington Stoke books, not only because they appeal to the struggling and reluctant readers I work with, but also because they engage with complex themes in a concise and engaging way. The Mermaid in the Millpond is no exception. It is historical fiction with a magical touch. Bess’s mother has died and she is forced to do hard labour in a rural cotton mill where children are relentlessly exploited and beaten. There are rumours of a creature in the pond – and this creature turns out to be just as trapped as Bess and her friend Dot.

This was an engaging and very quick read with vivid illustrations. One area for improvement: the advance copy I read didn’t have historical information at the end; I would appreciated learning more about the historical mills (this may come in the published version).