Greylands is a 1997 young-adult novel by Isobelle Carmody

Isobelle Carmody

Isobelle Jane Carmody is an Australian writer of science fiction, fantasy, children's literature, and young adult literature.-Biography:Carmody began work on the highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles at the age of fourteen...

. It follows the story of Jack who in order to come to terms with his mother's death writes a story in which he enters another world where he confronts his fears and finds answers to his questions.

Background

Greylands was first published in Australia on 1 September 1997 by Puffin Books

Puffin Books

Puffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:...

 in trade paperback format. In 1998 it was published as an audiobook by Louis Braille Books. Greylands was a joint winner, along with Catherine Jinks

Catherine Jinks

Catherine Jinks is an Australian author. She has written more than 30 books for all ages, and has won many awards, including the Children's Book Council Of Australia Book of the Year Award three times, the Victorian Premier's Literary Award, the Aurealis Award for Science Fiction, the IBBY...

' Eye to Eye

Eye to Eye (novel)

Eye to Eye is a 1997 young-adult science fiction novel by Catherine Jinks. It follows the story of Jansi who while scavenging in the desert comes across a damaged star ship which contains a computer that has the ability to project thought, expression and friendship.-Background:Eye to Eye was first...

, of the 1997 Aurealis Award for best young-adult novel.

Synopsis

Jack and his sister Ellen are suffering in the aftermath of their mother's death, which has caused their father to withdraw into himself. There is some unsolved mystery which Jack tries to explore. To him, the mystery has something to do with the "greylands", a world on the other side of his mirror. Much of the action takes place in these greylands, where Jack meets a strange girl and discovers that his soul is at risk. The adventure is described from Jack's point of view, and within the context of the novel may be a true account of his experiences or a story he is inventing.