132,588
edits
Changes
A Finder's Magic by Philippa Pearce and Helen Craig (view source)
Revision as of 16:45, 19 November 2009
, 16:45, 19 November 2009no edit summary
It's a gem of a book but then after reading [[Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce|Tom's Midnight Garden]] I knew that it would be. Philippa Pearce was one of the finest children's writers of the twentieth century and it was lovely to see her returning yet again to one of her regular themes - the relationship between the old and the young. There are her magical elements, which never seem forced and a gentle humour which leaves you smiling.
Children used to more action-based stories might find the book a little understated but it's worth encouraging perseverance. The deceptively simple story is thought–provoking and there's a beautifully worked puzzle to solve, with the aid of Helen Craig's illustrations. They're not there not to pad out a story, but - they're an intrinsic part of it, giving clues and gentle hints as to what has happened. Some are works of art in their own right – there's a drawing of a cowslip which I would love to hang on the wall.
When I finished the book I had a strange sense of peace. All was well with my world. The book was, as expected, a gem.