Plum Puddings and Paper Moons

This is the fifth story in the award-winning Australian Kingdom of Silk series. This story focuses mainly on one of the Silk sisters and works as a standalone, but readers who have already met the characters in the earlier stories will find it easier to understand the magical world of the Silks. (There are also several references to events in the earlier stories, including the loss of a baby sister, which may cause some readers distress.)

The Kingdom of Silk in Cameron’s Creek is a place of love, warmth, creativity, family and wishes. While matriarch Nell and the children are busy making plum puddings and tin foil stars for the approaching Christmas celebrations, Scarlet, the eldest Silk girl, discovers the true and tragic story of her new friend Anik, forced to flee from a faraway war-torn country. Scarlet is determined to change the world and so she declares peace on the town of Cameron Creek, bringing the community together and drawing the outsiders in. A heart-warming and inspirational story of how one girl can spread peace and goodwill dominates this second half of the story, whilst the first part is dominated by the family’s plans for the coming celebrations and a focus on different characters. The two parts flow into each other but readers may notice a distinct gear change in the storyline and the feel of the book.

Written throughout in a warm, descriptive, almost poetic style, readers cannot escape the magic and delight of the Kingdom of Silk. An enjoyable read for 9+.