Diggory and the Boa Conductor

Big bully Tommy Vincent victimises Diggory, and his loneliness and fear are all too recognisable. Diggory remarkably and deservedly stands up to him, 'silently smiling, with his arms full of heavy green [magical] Boa Conductor, while Tommy Vincent shook with fright'. A relevant subject developed realistically and sensitively is made even more captivating by the subtle, inexplicable qualities of Diggory's mother and cat. They both add a wondrous quality to the other two equally gripping tales in this book from the 'Young Hippo Magic' series which has great illustrations on every page.