Margaret Mahy's use of language is inspirational. The character and place names are really evocative, and the delicious sounding "Cockahoop Honey Cake" has been adopted by my family as a far more exciting way to describe a Victoria Sponge!

By the end of this whirlwind of a story, we can understand the relief felt by our heroine as she sinks, exhausted but satisfied, into bed, having done a good job well!