When curious blue rays light up the sky over Cockermouth in
a mysterious pattern, young sisters Mae and Isla Donaldson face shape-shifting
adversaries. With the help of their irascible Granddad, the girls discover how
to break a secret code and unlock the truth about a group of special agents who
disappeared from a Lake District beauty spot while investigating UFOs. The
girls must prove their suspicions about the glamorous new people in town before
it's too late.
Meet the Donaldson girls - primary schoolers and detectives. Mae, clever and very, very proper. Isla, a wild, artistic soul most at home wandering the fells of England's beautiful Lake District. They are united by an uncanny ability to share their thoughts.
About the Author :
Author Biography:
Warren Cabral practised law in Bermuda for 30 years before taking up his
pen as author of fiction for adults and children. Even before his second career as a writer, he
had written short stories, plays, pantomimes and the books for two
musicals. He was the winner of The Royal
Gazette prize for one of his short stories. His most recent theatrical work was
On the Line, staged at The Tea House Theatre in London. The Lakeland Mysteries, of which The Fire on
Slate Fell is the first book, is Warren's first venture into children's
fiction.
Illustrator Biography: Corryn Webb is a Welsh freelance illustrator
and designer based in the rugged mountains beside the North Wales coast in the
UK. Living with her husband, children and rescue dogs. With her vivid
imagination and eye for detail, Corryn has been lauded for her beautiful
award-winning pieces bursting to the rim with creativity. She is fascinated by
the beauty, magic, and mythology of the natural landscape of Wales, which
regularly inspires her art. When she's
not working, you can find her tending her indoor jungle, reading or making,
whether that be model making or embroidery she loves to create. Corryn's
passionate about creating unique and eye-catching illustrations for children's
books. Creating new characters, embarking on adventures with old friends,
exploring magical kingdoms and sparking the imagination of small and big humans
are her raison d'etre.
Review :
What elementary-level mystery fan wouldn't be attracted
to The Vanishing Young of Rydal Cave, with its promise of intrigue and cave
exploration built right into its title, alongside colorful cover art by Corryn
Webb?
The tale opens with a compelling question:
"Do you believe in Unidentified Flying Objects?''
Isla's query to her sister Mae opens the door for a clash
between practical and creative thinking as the oscillating lights outside their
window prove that practicality can run headlong into scientific explanation and
improbability. The sisters investigate the strange phenomenon, only to discover
that possible shape-shifters and aliens may be involved in local
disappearances.
That's only the tip of the investigative iceberg as the
siblings confront not only the impossible, but their own perceptions of UFOs,
newcomers to town, and secret codes that could provide clues to the
disappearances that took place when others tried to investigate.
England's Lake District once again is the backdrop for
adventure and discovery as Isla's acceptance of the natural world and its
puzzles clashes with practical Mae's proclivity for doubt. The contrasts
between Isla's inclination to find oddities beautiful and Mae's determination
that they could pose threatening new possibilities makes for particularly rich,
insightful reading as the young detectives square off over what's impossible.
Equally thought-provoking is how Isa and Mae work with the
adults around them to consider and identify ghosts and real problems,
confronting the adults' tendency to calm the kids' fears without really
addressing the problem.
As a mysterious building with a modern appearance proves to
have a basement that appears ancient and reeks of fish, presenting the girls
with dangerous possibilities, kids will appreciate how the mysteries accumulate
to provide involving, tense revelations.
Adults will appreciate the inclusion and interactions of
parents and characters whose age, guidance, and maturity contribute to the
action in unexpected ways.
Librarians and young readers alike will be drawn to The
Vanishing Young of Rydal Cave's special abilities to explore the unexpected,
create connections between different mindsets, and evolve a mystery that enters
supernatural realms as a pair of clairvoyant young detectives pursues answers.
Diane Donovan for MidWest Book Reviews (2025)
"This is a mystery that will appeal to readers who have an interest in history, spies and alien communication." LoveReading4Kids
