Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
May 5, 2017/in Fiction 8-10 Junior/Middle /by Angie Hill
BfK Rating:
BfK 224 May 2017
Reviewer: Lynne Taylor
ISBN: 978-0192745828
Price: £6.99
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Genre: Fiction
Age Range: 8-10 Junior/Middle
Length: 224pp
Buy the Book

Mold and the Poison Plot

Author: Lorraine Gregory

In Mold and the Poison Plot we meet a wonderful new hero with a distinctive voice and an amazing ability to smell out danger.  Mold is small and puny, but he has an enormous nose and a big heart.  As a baby, he was found in a dustbin and adopted by Aggy, who makes a living from selling potions in the rag market.   Although she drinks more than he would like, they are getting on well, living in the Dregs next to their friend Begsy, the one-legged sailor.

After a visit from a mysterious, tattooed stranger, Aggy is accused of poisoning the King, and carted off to the dungeons.  Drawing on all his courage, Mold journeys to the city of Westenburg, with Begsy, to rescue her.

The story is set in the imaginary land called Pellegarno, made up of two islands.  The fantastic cover illustration and map by Tom Mead help to bring it to life.  Westenburg and the Dregs are on one island, and on the other live the green-skinned Skullenvar, in amongst the swamps.

Mold faces danger after danger as he plunges deep into the underworld of the city and even crawls through sewers to get to the castle.   This is a vividly realised fantasy world, with lots of blood and gore, stinky smells and strange plants and creatures.  The baddies are truly bad and the book doesn’t shy away from violence and gruesome detail.

Mold finds out how the desire for power has led to horrendous deeds, and how hatred between different peoples has meant his race – the Dai Kullen – have been virtually wiped out.  His acute sense of smell is central to the plot, enabling him to distinguish between people he can trust and the true villains.  He is a wonderful creation; a lovable and funny character who takes you with him every step of the way on his big adventure.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Angie Hill http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Angie Hill2017-05-05 22:17:002021-06-20 21:19:51Mold and the Poison Plot

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

BfK 254 May 2022 Download BfK Issue BfK 254 May 2022
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Shortlist for the 2022 SLA Information Book Award

June 23, 2022

2022 Yoto Carnegie Greenaway Winners Announced

June 16, 2022

UK Nominations for IBBY’s List of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 2023

June 14, 2022

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2022 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
See You in the Cosmos, Carl Sagan Say Zoop!
Scroll to top