Notes

Cosmo is sent from Australia to live with his cousin in England, where he escapes the loneliness of his weekdays at school at his cousin's ancient mill house, occupied by spirits only he can see - and who turn out to feature significantly in the family curse. A chilling, loss-addressing story ideal for Halloween.

Author Biography

Joan Delano Aiken (1924-2004) was the daughter of the American poet, Conrad Aiken. Joan had a variety of jobs, including working for the BBC, the United Nations Information Centre and then as features editor for a short story magazine. Her first children's novel, The Kingdom and the Cave, was published in 1960. Joan Aiken wrote over a hundred books for young readers and adults and is recognized as one of the classic authors of the twentieth century. Her best-known books are those in the James III saga, of which The Wolves of Willoughby Chase was the first title, published in l962 and awarded the Lewis Carroll prize. Both that and Black Hearts in Battersea have been filmed. Her books are internationally acclaimed and she received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in the United States as well as the Guardian Award for Fiction in this country for The Whispering Mountain. In 1999 Joan Aiken was awarded an MBE for her services to children's books.

Review

Stylish writing and vigorous invention * Publishers Weekly *
What a marvellous writer Joan Aiken is! * Leon Garfield *
Joan Aiken is a marvel -- Philip Pullman * The Guardian *

Promotional

A chilling supernatural time-slip adventure for Halloween!

Review Text

stylish writing and vigorous invention

Review Quote

stylish writing and vigorous invention-- Publishers Weekly What a marvellous writer Joan Aiken is!-- Leon Garfield

Promotional "Headline"

A chilling supernatural time-slip adventure for Halloween!

Details