By Ash, Oak and Thorn
Part of the collectionBy Ash, Oak and Thorn→A gentle, exquisitely observed miniature adventure through the British countryside; cosy, wonder-filled nature writing for children in the tradition of The Borrowers.
- Books2 / 2
- Arcs1
- Span2021
- StatusComplete
The series
At a glance.
Melissa Harrison brings her extraordinary eye for the natural world to this two-book adventure about the Hidden Folk, tiny, ancient beings, only a hand high, who have quietly guarded the British wild world for generations. In the first book, Moss, Burnet and Cumulus wake to find their ash-tree home destroyed and set off across hedgerows, deep countryside and a roaring city to learn whether any others of their kind remain. In the autumnal sequel, By Rowan and Yew, the little travellers return to Ash Row to unravel why the Hidden Folk are fading, and discover they may need help from the most unpredictable creatures of all: humans. Real wildlife and folklore thread through a warm, cosy, quietly thrilling story in the tradition of The Borrowers and Brambly Hedge.
A gentle, exquisitely observed miniature adventure through the British countryside; cosy, wonder-filled nature writing for children in the tradition of The Borrowers.
Primary themes
Overall tone
- Warm
- Gentle
- Adventurous
- Cosy
Read in order: By Ash, Oak and Thorn first, then By Rowan and Yew, which continues the same characters' journey and concludes the duology.
One arc
The shape of the series.
- INarrative arcLow sensitivity
The Hidden Folk's journey
Tiny Hidden Folk journey across the British countryside to find others of their kind and discover why they are fading from the world.
The duology tells one continuous story of the Hidden Folk. In By Ash, Oak and Thorn, Moss, Burnet and Cumulus are driven from their destroyed ash-tree home and undertake the biggest journey of their lives, through hedgerows, countryside and a roaring city, to find out whether any others of their kind survive. In the autumnal By Rowan and Yew, the travellers return to Ash Row to solve the riddle of why the Hidden Folk are slowly vanishing, ultimately daring to do what none of their kind has for generations: work alongside humans. Across both books, Harrison's real British wildlife and folklore, gentle wonder and cosy, quietly moving tone celebrate the wild world on our doorstep and the small, brave acts that keep it alive.
Fit check
Right for your reader?
Where the series lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
- Best fit · 7–11
- Read aloud · 7–10
- Independent · 8–11
Reluctant-reader friendliness
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Adult crossover
High
Grows with the reader
Not especially
Sensitivity envelope
Low overall, and consistent.
Where it sits
In conversation with other series.
Similar in feel
Different shelves, same wavelength.
- The Borrowers →
- Brambly Hedge →
About the author