The Uncommoners: The Crooked Sixpence

When Ivy and Seb Sparrow’s grandmother, Sylvie, is rushed to hospital with a suspected broken hip, the children are thrown into turmoil. After settling Sylvie in hospital, they return home but find that there has been a break-in. Even worse, there is unexplained blood-red writing on the wall saying ‘We can see you’.

After this, things start to get much stranger. Ivy and Seb are chased by a group of men in an old-fashioned hearse and end up travelling to a city under London called Lundinor.

This is a fast-paced and exciting adventure, featuring a Victorian-style otherworld, that will appeal to fans of the Harry Potter and Chrestomanci series. The plot is complex but carefully thought-out and the detail about the magical city of Lundinor is interesting and intriguing, bringing to life a sense of London from various periods including the Victorian period and the eighteenth century.

The three children are extremely engaging protagonists, and the use of male and female main characters means that the book will appeal to both girls and boys. This is an extremely enjoyable read and a well-deserving addition to the magical fantasy genre.