Clover Twig and the Perilous Path by Kaye Umansky
| Clover Twig and the Perilous Path by Kaye Umansky | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Ruth Ng
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| Summary: A brilliant, quirky and funny story that will entertain both children and adults. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 240 | Date: March 2010 |
| Publisher: Bloomsbury | |
| ISBN: 978-1408801871 | |
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There's non-stop fun and action in this story. Granny Dismal comes to warn Mrs Eckles that the Perilous Path has been spotted in the forest, and this kicks off a funny story involving witches (both good and bad), trolls, missing little boys, clowns, imps and magic sweeties. It's the sequel to Clover Twig and the Incredible Flying Cottage, but I don't think I lost out too much for not having read that first. Everyone is generally so well described, and previous story arcs are quickly filled in if required. This is the sort of book I would have stayed up late reading under the covers with a torch when I was a little girl myself, and is now the sort of book I would steal from my daughter's room late at night so I can keep reading it without waiting for a chapter a night!
I really like Kaye Umansky's writing style. She creates great characters with funny names and quirky characteristics. It's quick, witty, silly and lots of fun. She doesn't talk down to her readers, but the story and vocabulary are very accessible, with a scattering of illustrations too to help the story along. I love how full her books are, so she doesn't just concentrate on the main characters but there are little off-shoots of story that seem as well formed as everything else. It's cleverly thought out and the pace is great - I just kept reading and reading!
The story is lively and fun. There is the sense of danger at times that adds to the excitement, and clown phobics should be aware that there's a whole section with a school for clowns, but generally it romps along in an amusing manner rather than anything scary. I laughed out loud over some parts, and I love some of the ideas Kate Umansky has thought up that make your mind spin off in other directions whilst you're reading, imagining this world she's created.
I did knock half a star in the end because I felt Clover herself didn't quite come over so well as a character, and since this is her story I would've liked her to have had a bit more personality somehow. I was much more interested in all the witches, and in Wilf too, than I was in Clover. Perhaps I need to read her first outing to fully appreciate who she is, and this isn't a big criticism because really I loved this story. It would be perfect for bed time stories for those not able to read it through for themselves, or would keep boys and girls quiet for a while. And their parents too. Hopefully there will be another Clover story for me to enjoy soon!
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
The first outing for Clover is Clover Twig and the Incredible Flying Cottage or you could try something from her fabulous Pongwiffy series.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Clover Twig and the Perilous Path by Kaye Umansky at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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