Everyone should have a Tensy Farlow in their lives: bold, gutsy and perceptive. Albie Gribble finds Tensy as an orphaned baby and loves her immediately, only to lose her to the Home for Mislaid Children. He never forgets her and when, ten years later, he discovers she has not died, his quest is to find her again.

This sounds like a sweet adventure, doesn’t it, but there is evil afoot when Albie’s world meets the celestial spheres and guardian angels have to protect mere mortals. The deliciously nasty Matron Pluckrose, with her hair issues, provides the right amount of humour to balance the pervading sense of menace that Storer weaves very successfully in this marvellous book. This would make a great class read-aloud and my only suggestion is that in subsequent printings, a glossary would be a welcome addition.

For ages 9 and up.