The Song of Seven
by Tonke Dragt
Translated by Laura Watkinson
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 10 to 12
Published by Pushkin Press, 2016
About this book
Deep in a forest is the House of Stairs - a crooked building with more staircases than one can imagine. In this house is a young boy who is kept prisoner by his uncle.
In a nearby village is Frans, a schoolteacher who delights his class with stories of his imaginary adventures as Frans the Red. But his stories suddenly come to life when a mysterious letter comes through his door. He soon finds himself deep in a conspiracy around a legend that concerns the boy trapped in the House of Stairs.
This is a very different story for fans of The Letter for the King, but with the same pace and brilliant imaginative storytelling. It is full of eccentric characters and mystery, with a slight touch of humour.
The Song of Seven is sure to go down as a classic in children's literature. It's only a shame it wasn't translated into English sooner.
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