Goodly and Grave: In a Bad Case of Kidnap

Children are going missing all over the city. Who is behind it? Arriving at Grave Hall as the new Boot Girl, Lucy Goodly notices strange things afoot – moving statues, magical books – and clearly Lord Grave has a secret. Might this be the link? It is up to Lucy to uncover the truth.

Debut author, Justine Windsor, has written a lively, enjoyable and very accessible adventure. There is plenty of humour (anchovy omelettes) and satisfying element of magic, a neat subversion of expectations – and a black panther. If the villains have more than a whiff of the pantomime, this just adds to the enjoyment. Lucy is a resourceful heroine, Lord Grave suitably enigmatic. To add to the pleasure of reading, Becka Moor has illustrated the text throughout. Her images provide welcome additions to what is quite a substantial read, not just as decoration but really enhancing the fun. This is set to be the first of a series and I suspect young Lucy will quickly gather a following.  Recommended for KS2 readers who are both confident and hungry for books that provide a satisfying reading experience that is completely appropriate to their age.