Crab-boy Cranc; The Dragon Ring

These two short novels for newly confident readers are both set in Wales and include many Welsh words and phrases and references to Welsh culture. In Crab-boy Cranc, new boy Caradog comes to the school and he befriends Cai. But Cai limps, is not popular, and gets teased a lot. How their friendship develops is told in a thoughtful way, revealing that even the seemingly strong have their weaknesses. We are also reminded that not all teasing in malicious, even though it is sometimes construed in that way by the victim. This engaging story is told in a way that encourages the reader to turn the pages.

In The Dragon Ring Sara finds an old ring on the way back from school and discovers that she is able to travel back in time. Thus Sara becomes familiar with a Wales when everyone speaks Welsh; she begins to enjoy this until she is punished in school for speaking Welsh instead of English (as happened in the past). There are plenty of interesting points for reflection this story, and Haigh is well aware of the world of young children who are alternately best of friends and then not friends at all. The ending of the book implies that a sequel is possible, which could prove to be another interesting and fruitful read.