Walker Books ISBN: 9781406376319 £6.99
We are, “a company of inspiring thespians bringing stirring drama, heart-rending tragedy, and extraordinary excitement,” expounds Pa, as he drags his family out of London and to the unchartered lands of Victorian Northern England. The story tells of the family’s fluctuating drive for success whilst treading the boards. It also follows the lives of two other families: Arabella Poskett, a despondent, widowed heiress, who is struggling to keep the family’s ancestral home; and a mysterious baby magician and his light-fingered mother. The future of all three families collides at a small provincial town, as they scrabble together their last pennies. I really enjoyed how the author created distinct characters and kept a great pace within the story. This book could be a wonderful teaching source at KS2 for PSHE lessons on determination, resilience and how to deal with aggression. I wouldn’t recommend the book for lower than Year 4 because of the references to alcohol. There are lots of Victorian issues which could be explored: the role of women, self-sufficiency, class structure, the role of the post office and the police force, jobs such as milliners, and life in the work house.
Jamie Marshall