The house at the edge of magic by Amy Sparkes

I am always skeptical when a book likens an author to Diana Wynne Jones, however in this case I think it is justified and I loved this book.  I have already recommended it to several people as it is well written with the magical element sitting so well within the real world and characters who are believable and mostly likeable. 

The story follows Nine who is an orphan pickpocket who dreams of escaping from the Nest of a Thousand Treasures.  When she steals a strange tiny house from a lady's purse it sets off an adventure like no other.  Nine is a feisty self-reliant girl who only helps if there is something in it for her, she refuses to say sorry or thank you and has learnt to never show weakness of any kind.  The House she steals is magical and inside are trapped an oddment of characters that only Nine can help.  Flabberghast is a young wizard who lives in the house and is unable to leave, along with the other house inhabitants they have been trapped in the cursed house with a toilet that moves, a tea cupboard that won’t open and a garden they can’t access.  As the story develops, Nine and the other characters must work together to solve the riddle to break the curse on the house.

I loved this book as it really appealed to the sense of fun; Amy Sparkes has created a story that is wildly imaginative and will appeal to a wide audience.  This is a book that could be used as a read aloud or read along class novel but either way it will be a book that is enjoyed by the reader, with the sequel being much anticipated.

Themes: Magic, Sibling rivalry, Orphans, Curses.

Mhairi Alcorn