Silver Serpent and the Wild Ice Child is a middle-grade historical fiction novel for readers aged 8–12, blending adventure, history, imagination, and gentle humour.
When a chronicler is drawn into the pages of a mysterious book and transformed into a kestrel, he finds himself soaring above an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon monastery near what is now Cookham Abbey. From the skies, he observes a world shaped by loyalty, belief, rivalry, and the weight of inherited conflicts.
Across eleven interconnected chapters rooted in the Saxon age, the story follows a girl who can speak with animals and a boy raised to believe revenge against historic enemies is his duty. Along the way, the mysterious appearances of a ghostly dog and a lost Prince draw them deeper into a world of adventures.
As friendship, courage, and exciting adventures bring the characters closer together, old fears begin to fade and new possibilities begin to grow. But when the time comes to choose between hate and hope, what path will be taken?
Inspired by real archaeological discoveries and grounded in a strong sense of place, the novel explores inclusion, moral choice, empathy, and the power of friendship. With moments of warmth and humour, including mischievous ghostly characters, it is well suited to libraries, schools, classroom reading, and bookshops.
Silver Serpent and the Wild Ice Child
David Gilbert studied European Literature at university before building a distinguished career in UK retail and bookselling. He served as Managing Director of both Currys and Waterstones, playing a significant role in shaping the British book trade and retail sector.
Alongside his commercial career, David has remained deeply involved in the arts and literature, serving as Chair of the Arts Council-backed National Centre for Writing and Chair of the Association of Illustrators. He continues to study Archaeology and Philosophy and is a Trustee of Friends of Cookham Abbey, an archaeological charity whose excavations inspired his debut middle-grade novel, Silver Serpent and The Wild Ice Child. Combining historical research with imagination and storytelling, his work brings Saxon England vividly to life for young readers.
