Under the Cat's Eye

While adults will detect many of Rubinstein's oblique references to the classics of children's literature and appreciate how these echoes contribute to the ethos and atmosphere of her richly-textured novel, younger readers will be more likely to respond to its central gripping narrative. Here, the emphasis is on Jai Kala, a new arrival at Nexhoath, a gothic mansion now serving as a boarding school, and the 'unimaginable adventure' on which he is to embark. It is a tale of parallel worlds, shape changers and eerie encounters, not least with the chilling principal, Mr Drake, from which Jai emerges wiser, if heavier of heart. Read this one slowly to enjoy its numerous twists and turns to the full.