The Jade Boy: (Children of the Fire)

What if the Great Fire of London wasn't an accident? London, 1666. Eleven-year-old Jem Green is a lonely but resourceful kitchen boy, always in trouble with the cook for pilfering from the larder. He's fascinated by the wealthy visitors he glimpses in the Dukes' household but when the powerful and frightening Count Cazalon requests to meet him, it becomes clear that his life might actually be in danger. And he is not the only child involved in the Count's sinister plan. As Jem starts meeting secretively with Ann, a young sorceress, and Tolly, a mute slave boy who can mind-speak, the three of them piece together the Count's terrible plans to devastate the City of London, and try to understand why Jem is at the heart of it all. 'Recalls Joan Aiken and Sally Gardner in its confident blend of historical fact with creepy fantasy' THE TIMES

About the Author :
Cate Cain is the pen-name of Katherine Griffin who was the winner of the Stylist and Faber writing competition for her adult novel, KITTY PECK AND THE MUSIC HALL MURDERS. She currently works for the Society of Protection of Ancient Buildings in London, and has previously worked for the Sir John Soane Museum. She also writes a weekly column for the Watford Gazette. Cate began her career training as a teacher and then went into journalism. She lives in St Albans. Follow Cate on Twitter: @KateAGriffin.

Review :
Eleven-year-old Jem Green is a kitchen boy in the London household of a powerful duke, who spends most of his time doing unpleasant jobs and being shouted at by the other servants. But when the peculiar Count Cazalon arrives to see the Duke, Jem's humdrum life is dramatically disrupted. The Count has a sinister plan, and he needs Jem to play a part in it. Befriending the Count's mistreated young ward, apprentice sorceress Ann, as well as the Count's servant Ptolemy, who has magical powers of his own, Jem begins to uncover a whole new world of strange and powerful magic - and terrible danger. Jem determines to find out why he is so important to Cazalon, but as the Count's plan starts to unfold, the three children soon realise that it's down to them to stop the devastation he plans to wreak upon the city of London. Set during the reign of Charles II, in the run up ot the Great Fire of London, this lively adventure is rich with historical detail and atmosphere. With a brilliantly scary villain in Count Cazalon, a appealing group of young heroes and enough gruesome moments to please fans of horror, it will keep readers gripped until its final exciting revelations. Skilfully combining elements of a classic children's adventure story with history, magic and mystery, The Jade Boy is an entertaining and engaging read. This is one of the best debut novels for 9+ I've come across recently, and recalls Joan Aiken and Sally Gardner in its confident blend of historical fact with creepy fantasy