InkyThink

Written by Linda DeMeulemeester

Cover Illustration by John Shroades

Cat is thrilled she's been picked to be on the Darkmont soccer team. Finally, after starting at her new school, she's becoming popular, her teachers love her, and she's quite the soccer player to boot! Everything seems to be going very good for Cat until her little sister, Sookie, starts acting weird, and telling Cat she should not play in the Halloween soccer match. Does Sookie know something Cat doesn't? And why does Sookie always hang out with the creepy girl in black clothes on the bleachers? Soon, Sookie disappears, and Cat finds herself caught up in mysteries both in her world, and a world not her own! Will Cat be able to find Sookie? Or will the mysterious Fairy world capture her forever?

Winner of the Silver Birch award - an award where children read the nominated books and cast the votes themselves - it's no wonder The Secret of Grim Hill made its mark on the children who read it. It is fun, intriguing, and mysterious. The characters are relatable, smart enough to figure out what's going on, and yet real enough that readers aren't left in any doubt as to whether, or not, this could have played out the same had it been happening to them. It's frustrating in the right moments, and relieving in the next. I really liked this first book, and was even lucky enough to have it signed by Linda herself! The Secret of Grim Hill is a great adventure, and I'm thoroughly looking forward to starting the next book.