Superb otherworldly adventure with a great baddie and a classic feel

In this world, some are born as part human and part animal - groundlings. These poor beings are often rejected, excluded and marginalised. Young groundlings can be sent to Miss Carbunkle's Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures, as homely a place as it sounds.

Number 13 is one such unfortunate, a one-eared part-fox with no name, no family and no friends. Forced into bravery by the bullying of another orphan, he makes a friend in Trinket, a wingless bird, and the two manage to think of a way to escape their prison.

Now named Arthur by his friend, the pair run from their persecutors into the unknown wider world, where danger and adventure await them, and a dastardly plot that they may have to attempt to foil...

This felt a little like the Redwall series, The Letter for the King, books about animals and quests, with villains and banding together and pooling strengths.

Arthur is the put-upon boy trying to find his place in the world, and his history. Trinket is the resourceful and upbeat friend, not quite as well-developed who allows him to feel hope, camaraderie and helps him out of the rut and into the world where the plot can move on. Our bad guy, or girl - Miss Carbunkle - is deliciously wicked. Of course she runs a revolting orphanage, and she also has dark powers and evil creatures at her bidding.

A great quest / adventure story, with a classic-looking cover, chapter pages and feel to it. It's quite a hefty-looking tome, though it rattles along nicely. I would say confident readers of 9 and above will comfortably become enthralled by it.

With thanks to Walker Books for the sample reading copy.