S. J. Barratt Inspires Young Readers With Eco-Fiction Rooted In Myth, Science, And Nature
PHOTO: S. J. Barratt, eco-fiction author and creator of the award-winning Living at the Edge of the World series.
Award-Winning Author Brings Scotland’s Wild Landscapes To Life Through Adventure And Environmental Storytelling
S. J. Barratt blends myth, ecology, and adventure in her Living at the Edge of the World series, inspiring middle-grade readers with authentic environmental themes, cultural identity, and scientific curiosity.
S. J. Barratt crafts middle-grade fiction that teaches as it thrills — an imaginative, eco-conscious storyteller whose Living at the Edge of the World series brings Scotland’s wild beauty, myth and science vividly to life. Rooted in two decades of sustainable agriculture and informed by immersive research, Barratt’s work balances urgent environmental themes with adventure and heart, making her books essential reading for young readers hungry for stories that matter.
“Research deeply, reach out to experts, and stay open to inspiration—curiosity can transform any story into something truly meaningful.” – S. J. Barratt
Barratt’s novels, beginning with Winter and continuing in Spring, place curious, conflicting twins Tabitha and Timothy at the centre of island life on fictional Papala, inspired by Foula and other remote Shetland settings. The contrast between Tabitha’s social-media aspirations and Timothy’s nature-first curiosity provides a lively emotional core while allowing Barratt to weave in hands-on science, archaeology and folklore — from a real-life woollen find that sparked Viking-inspired plotlines to classroom-friendly experiments that show how organic materials break down over time.
Environmental education sits at the heart of Barratt’s storytelling. Her knowledge of agro-ecology and peatbog conservation informs plot points and moral purpose alike: peatbogs are presented not as distant facts but as lived landscapes with real stakes for local communities. Barratt’s commitment to authenticity shines through her field visits, correspondence with island rangers, and meticulous blending of cultural detail with accessible science, ensuring that young readers come away informed and inspired rather than lectured.
Recognition has followed: Winter won a Silver Medal at BookFest 2024 (Children’s Books: Diversity & Multicultural) and a Bronze Medal at the Global Book Awards 2024 (Geography & Culture), while Spring has continued to gather accolades. Barratt is already working on Summer, which will tackle ocean pollution and Selkie legend — she recently completed a first draft and plans careful rounds of editing, beta reading and illustration with Jenny Nutbourne ahead of a targeted summer release.
At Mosaic Digest, we celebrate authors who spark curiosity and stewardship in the next generation. S. J. Barratt’s fusion of myth, science and place does exactly that: her stories invite readers to fall in love with the natural world and to care for it.
Originally published in Reader’s House Magazine.
