I've just finished reading a new children's book, aimed at 9-12s, by debut author S. P. Moss. And what a book! Young Billy, staying with his gran, finds a kaleidoscope in a box of toys in what used to be his mother's bedroom. Rather an interesting kaleidoscope, as it turns out, since when Billy turns it he is whisked back to 1962, where he meets a dashing young RAF pilot who turns out to be Billy's granddad (who in the present day has been dead for the past twelve years).
In spite of the shock, it doesn' t take Billy long to find his feet (and his wings, as it were) in 1962, and soon he's on the way with Grandpop to the depths of South East Asia, where he pilots a flying boat, rescues a captive tiger, comes face to face with an Indian cobra and pits his wits against a mad dictator...
It's all very real - certainly not a dream - and very convincing to read. S. P. Moss knows her stuff about the RAF (I know - I'm an RAF crewman's daughter) and she has the language of 1962 and the sights and smells of that long-lost age off pat (again, I know... my memory just about goes back that far!)
But in spite of the retro feel there is nothing old-fashioned about this tale - certainly nothing slow and ponderous. Billy's adventures unfold at (at least) Mach 3 - and whatever your age, you'll be chewing your knuckles with the excitement of it all long before the thrilling (and rather moving) end.
Climb aboard, hold tight, prepare for take-off... whoosh! away we go....
With Billy and Grandpop for company, flying out over enemy territory to battle with beasts, baddies and bombs, you'll have tons of fun with no need for screens, apps and computer games.
(And I should add that this adventure is great for girls as well as boys - yet another of those books I wish had been around when I was young!)
The Bother in Burmeon has its own wonderful website, too.
Well done to S. P. Moss and here's wishing her lots of success. Let's hope she has some sequels in the pipeline...
Title: The Bother in Burmeon
Author: S. P. Moss
Age-range: 9-12 approx
Publication date: 2012
Publisher: Circaidy Gregory Press
Price: £7.49 (paperback version); £4.11 (Amazon Kindle version). EPub edition coming soon - see publisher's website for details
The Bother in Burmeon is available direct from the publisher, Circaidy Gregory Press
