![]() ![]() There’s nothing especially new here, but what Woodfine manages to do is pull together a set of recognisable elements into a beautifully constructed whole that’s great fun and instantly enjoyable. A cast of brave, clever young characters is soon assembled, and between them they start to unravel a mystery involving the mysterious, dangerous figure of the crime lord known only as The Baron, the theft of an intricate, clockwork music box in the shape of a sparrow, and a plot that might spell the end of Sinclair’s if they can’t stop it. ![]() ![]() Right from the off the story rattles along at a fast pace, introducing the reader to Sophie and her colleague as she makes friends and rivals within the shop before quickly becoming caught up in a scandal that puts her and everyone she knows in danger. Into this steps Sophie Taylor, 14 and recently orphaned, trying to adjust to a new world and determined to stand on her own two feet. ![]() Set in Edwardian London, the story takes place in and around Sinclair’s department store, a sort of cross between Selfridges and Willy Wonka’s factory, full of wonders and intrigue, cubby holes and grand staircases, and as exotic to its customers as to the book’s readers. Tapping into a rich history of mystery and adventure stories, Katherine Woodfine’s debut novel – The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow – is a fast paced, exciting children’s book with plenty to capture the imagination of both younger and older readers. ![]()
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