5 Stars
Wow! What a read! It's easy to see why this first novel from
Fletcher Moss won the 2013 Times/Chicken House Children's novel competition.
It's a swashbuckling, sewertramping, riverswimming,
mudswilling, punchflinging, pistolshooting adventure story. Set at an
indeterminate time - but one that recalls aspects of the Georgian, Victorian
and Edwardian eras - and in the fictional town of Highlions - a sort of
smaller, darker London type city - complete with river running through, the
book has crime, intrigue and plenty of surprises - as well as a bit of sweet
and innocent first love.
And, hurrah, there's not a vampire in sight!
The story is told in a succinct and uncluttered way which
gives it the brisk pace that its target readership demands. The plot is
essentially a quest - a quest for justice and to solve a mystery. The main
character is Dalton Fly who works as a poison boy. His work involves pre-tasting
the food of the rich in order to ensure it's safe to be eaten. After his friend
and fellow poison boy dies horribly having drunk some poisoned wine, Dalton is
on a mission to find the poisoner. The mission is dangerous, shocking and
throws up some unexpected truths for Dalton.
The characters are complete originals. Dalton is a wonderful
and endearing hero who is both brave and vulnerable. His friends, acquaintances
and adversaries are also well-drawn. A few deft brushstrokes and his friends
including Sal Sleepwell, Scarlet Dropmore and Luke Eppington are brought instantly to life. You only need
to meet them once and you feel you know them.
Dalton's enemies are equally vivid. The truly awful Pallis Tench is
gruesome, grotesque and great!
We are led through sewers and tunnels, up chimneys and along
rivers, lanes and streets. We are steeped in mud, river water and filth. We see
the sights, hear the sounds and smell the smells with lifelike clarity.
The imaginative use of language is superb. I especially love
the character names and the 'swear' words - all complete inventions. And I suspect readers may well want to adopt
'dreck' and 'kite' as undercover curses.
The novel is aimed at 10 to 14 year-olds and would probably
appeal most to the middle of that age range. But I have a feeling it could well
be a 'crossover' book - appealing to adults and children alike.
This a stunning debut. I would love to read Dalton Fly's further adventures and really
hope there's a sequel planned.
The Poison Boy is published
by The Chicken House and is available from bookshops and on Amazon.
Anne Stormont is a
writer and teacher. She can be a subversive old bat but maintains a kind heart.
As well as writing for this fine organ, she writes fiction for adults - mainly
of the menopausal and post-menopausal female persuasion - and for children. She
blogs at http://annestormont.wordpress.com - where you can find out lots more about
her.
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