Some book deliveries are more than parcels.

This week, residents from one of the Norwich care homes involved in HIDDEN received their own copies of the finished book. As a result, we now have a beautiful reminder of what this project was always meant to do: bring generations together through stories.

A book made from shared memories

HIDDEN is a collection of 27 new stories for readers aged 9+. However, these are not stories that began on a blank page.

Instead, they grew from real memories, conversations, and ideas shared by older residents with young people in Norwich. Two care homes and two schools helped shape the project. Therefore, the finished book did not originate solely from its authors, but from an intergenerational community.

The stories include unicorns, UFOs, gods, ghosts, secrets, surprises, and strange discoveries. Yet behind every magical twist is something true. Each tale began with a moment from real life.

The joy of receiving the finished book

When the care home residents received their copies, the joy was clear.

For some, the book was a chance to hold a finished piece of a shared creative project. For others, it was a reminder that their memories still have power, value, and life.

Above all, it showed that stories can travel far beyond the moment in which they are first told.

That matters. Because when we share our memories with others, we’re not only looking back. We’re also giving others new ways to imagine, understand, and create.

Why these photos mean so much

These photos are special because they show the human heart of HIDDEN.

The book is full of strange, funny, moving, and mysterious stories. However, the project itself was always about connection. It brought children, care home residents, teachers, staff, and storytellers into one shared creative process.

In addition, it gave young writers a different kind of starting point. Rather than inventing everything alone, they listened first. Then they used those sparks to create something new.

As a result, HIDDEN became more than a story collection. It became a record of what can happen when different generations are invited to imagine together.

A story project with a lasting life

HIDDEN can still be read, shared, discussed, and enjoyed by readers anywhere. Meanwhile, the stories inside it will continue to carry the voices, memories, and ideas that helped bring them to life.

That is why seeing these copies in the hands of care home residents feels so important. It shows the project coming full circle.

First, memories were shared. Then stories were created. Now the finished book has returned to some of the people who helped inspire it.

Discover HIDDEN

You can find out more about HIDDEN here on our website. You can also discover more Epic Tales books in our catalogue.

For schools, libraries, care homes, and community groups, HIDDEN is a strong example of how storytelling can bring people together. If you would like to talk to Epic Tales about a story project, please contact us.

You can also learn more about the HIDDEN installation at St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich, which inspired the book.