Crown of acorns by Catherine Fisher
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Hodder Children's Books, 2010. ISBN 9780340970072.
(Age 14+) Recommended. Three stories weave their way in this
fascinating mystery by Catherine Fisher. A 17 year-old girl has arrived
anonymously in Bath. Giving herself a new name, Sulis, she goes to stay
with a new foster family, but lives in fear of being discovered by a
mystery man from her past. A parallel story in the 18th century tells
of Zac, the teenage apprentice to architect Jonathan Forrest, who
dreams of building a circle of houses based on druidic
principles. Working only because his father has gambled away
their family fortune, Zac is destructive and consumed with envy. Then
there is the voice of Bladud, a mythical figure, who has been cured of
a leprous disease by the healing waters of the sacred spring of Sulis.
Fisher gradually builds up the suspense around the teen, Sulis, who is
convinced that someone is following her. She is very frightened and I
was intrigued by the mystery surrounding her fear, never being sure if
she was delusional or actually was being stalked by the person who
murdered her young friend. There is suspense too in the relationship
between Zac and his employer, Forrest, and I was kept on the edge of my
seat, hoping that Forrest's great architectural dreams would be
fulfilled and not foiled by Zac's mean machinations.
It was interesting that one of the main protagonists, Zac, is not an
attractive character at all and this added spice to the story. However,
Josh, Sulis' co-worker is a wonderful caring person and her foster
parents are portrayed very sympathetically.
The magical setting, Bath, will enthral anyone who has ever visited
that wonderful city with its golden stone. Those who are new to the
setting will long to visit it. An afterword by Fisher gives information
about John Wood, architect of the King's Circle in Bath.
Pat Pledger
Editor's note: Crown of acorns is on the CILIP Carnegie Medal
longlist,
2011.