The Smallest Thing
"A thrilling modern adaption of an important historical tragedy."
— Publishers Weekly BookLife prize
The very last thing 17-year-old Emmott Syddall wants is to turn out like her dad. She’s descended from ten generations who never left their dull English village, and there’s no way she’s going to waste a perfectly good life that way. She’s moving to London and she swears she is never coming back.
But when the unexplained deaths of her neighbors force the government to quarantine the village, Em learns what it truly means to be trapped. Now, she must choose. Will she pursue her desire for freedom, at all costs, or do what’s best for the people she loves: her dad, her best friend Deb, and, to her surprise, the mysterious man in the HAZMAT suit?
Inspired by the historical story of the plague village of Eyam, this contemporary tale of friendship, community, and impossible love weaves the horrors of recent news headlines with the intimate details of how it feels to become an adult—and fall in love—in the midst of tragedy.
"Thrilling"
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"Richly detailed novel"
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"An evocative, gripping story"
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"Thrilling" • "Richly detailed novel" • "An evocative, gripping story" •
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reviews of The Smallest Thing
“A thrilling modern adaption of an important historical tragedy.”
— Publishers Weekly BookLife prize
“This is one powerful book for sure … had me in tears at least 6 different times … this is one amazing author.”
— goodreads reviewer
“Lisa Manterfield’s richly detailed novel…is graced with themes of self-sacrifice, the power of human touch, and the need to act in the face of horror.”
— Catherine Linka, author of A Girl Called Fearless
“An exciting page-turner set in my favorite literary locale, England, and the main characters are so appealing and sympathetic. It's beautifully written and so deeply emotional, I couldn't put it down!.”
— Amazon Reviewer
“If you are interested in young adult fiction with a touch of historical element, this may be a perfect fit. Fair warning, once you plunge into this novel, you’ll be hooked until the very end.”
— goodreads reviewer
“An evocative, gripping story … truly outstanding work”
— amazon reviewer
Notes from the author
I love writing stories of resilience.
In 2014 I started work on my second novel, a contemporary retelling of a piece of local history that had always fascinated me. In 1666, the plague made it from London to the little village of Eyam (pronounced eem) in Northern England. The people of the village made the courageous decision to quarantine and prevent the disease from spreading to neighboring villages and the market town of Sheffield, my hometown. Families were divided and lovers were separated, but the community pulled together and made a monumental sacrifice for the good of others.
I wondered what would happen if a plague came to Eyam today. How would people react? Would they make the same brave decisions? Would people still pull together in hard times? So, I wrote a book to find out.
THE SMALLEST THING is the story of a 17-year-old girl trapped in the last place on earth she wants to be, with people she believes are nothing like her. It’s a story of survival, friendship, and forbidden love. It’s also a story of resilience and how a community can unite in times of tragedy.
The book came out in 2017 and was a 2019 finalist for Best American Fiction.
In 2020 I had the surreal experience of living a real-life version of a fictional story I had created, one that was inspired by a true story.
During lockdown, I created a podcast that serialized the novel and became a sort of pandemic diary and historical record of its own.
I am proud of the book for the details about pandemic life that I got right, and I am proud of us as human beings for the way so many of us pulled together and demonstrated our resilience during what will prove to be a landmark period of our lives.
introducing the smallest thing
more by Lisa Manterfield:
The SMallest Thing
Steel Rose Press ✧ 2017 ✧ 287 pages
ISBN (ebook): 9780998696935
ISBN (paperback): 978-0998696928
ASIN (audiobook): B07W5K7DV4