The Witch of Clatteringshaws (Wolves Chronicles)
Grade 5-7 - In this latest installment in "The Wolves of Willoughby Chase" saga, Dido attempts to rescue Simon, now king of England, from that tedious role, by seeking out an alternate heir. She and her friend Piers set off to the remote village of Clatteringshaws to find Malise the witch, sister of Father Sam (former hermit, now Archbishop of Canterbury), who may be able to help with the search. While the combination of giant flying otterworms and an invading army of Wends that can be fended off by a sturdy game ofhnefatefl(a Wendish board game) may strain the plot's credulity, Aiken somehow brings this story off with panache. Readers soon realize that her characters are just as amused by events as they are, swinging the story away from the ludicrous into a jolly romp of a fantasy. Similar to Gerald Morris's Arthurian legends in its dry, sarcastic humor, this tale is a quick read that resonates with many well-known elements of folklore and history, hallmarks of Aiken's offbeat yet satisfying fantasies. While not a stand-alone volume,Clatteringshawswill please those who have read earlier titles in this series; they'll be glad to continue with Dido and Simon's adventures.- Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.