YA Sci-fi/ Fantasy. British. Boy and a girl in a mysterious place where people age backwards. Something is buried/ lost in straw. Portal? Cover: blue/ purple. Read around 1972.

[Reader]

Start of the book had a foggy night and streetlights. People born old and get younger. Purple or blue cover. Something was lost in massive pile of straw. Read in England in the early 1970’s. Children’s or young adult book.

[Capn]

There is an Aging Backwards list, but I don't see any children's books from the 70s there (with the exception of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator from '72).


Can you tell us anything more about it, however vague or disjointed the memory/impression might be? :) I'd like to read it...!

Was it clear from the beginning that people were aging backwards, or was that the big reveal? (Assuming you can remember). Any further recollection of the protagonists or other characters?

[Reader]

I’ve made this post on behalf of a family member! They say that’s all they remember, they been searching for it for years! The book had a mystery/adventure feel to it. I think they went to a place where the people aged backwards. She thinks she probably read it in 1972ish.

[bookel]

All I can say for now is it does not sound like "Two against the tide" by Bruce Clements.

[Capn]

Reader wrote: "I’ve made this post on behalf of a family member! They say that’s all they remember, they been searching for it for years! The book had a mystery/adventure feel to it. I think they went to a place ..."

Wonderful - that helps! Adventure, possibly portal SFF, pre-1972, British. Something buried in straw. People aging in reverse. Boy and girl. Blue/purple cover.

:)

[Rainbowheart]

Mixed-Muddly Island?

British and a blue/green cover. There's a magic island with two different time zones, but not sure if the characters age backwards.