Children's Book review

The Black Book of Secrets

By FE Higgins

Published by Macmillan Children's Books

When pickpocket, Ludlow Fitch, runs away from his evil parents, fate leads him to the quiet village of Pagus Parvus and the company of the mysterious and marvellous Joe Zabbidou. Joe is a pawnbroker who seems to deal mainly in secrets – that is, he trades people's deepest, darkest secrets for cash. As each fiendish confession is committed to Joe's Big Black Book, the atmosphere in the village begins to change until one day things become positively explosive. An original and fascinating book by a talented new writer, which explores themes of trust, redemption, forgiveness and natural justice in the context of a dark and gripping mystery.

---

Reading age: 10+
Interest level: 10-15