Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Ruth, Naomi, Rachel and Phoebe are sisters, aged between 13 and 6. Their lives seem rather dull to them, as they never seem to go anywhere, but they do read a vast number of books.. and appear to get into various scrapes at school and elsewhere. Then their parents decide to do some house renovations, and the girls are packed off to stay with their rather fearsome grandmother.

'Big Grandma' turns out to be less of a slave driver than expected, but she does expect the girls to do some chores, to take responsibility for themselves, and to go out whatever the weather. She has no books in the house, other than a few recipe books and a large Shakespeare volume, and they have no idea how they will spend the summer...

I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy this at first; the family didn't have the instant appeal of the Casson family (in the author's series beginning with 'Saffy's Angel'). But they grew on me, and I found myself liking it more and more. The pace is just right, there's a little light humour, the girls gradually develop as individuals, and the whole reminded me at times of Noel Streatfeild's 'The Growing Summer'. The climax was somewhat predictable but exciting nonetheless.. I shall be looking out for others in this series in the future.

Suitable for any age, really, but will probably appeal most to girls of between about eight and twelve. Recommended