Mathew Tobin
I'd like to start a #JoanAikenApprectiation thread. Are there particular books that have stuck with you? What's the story behind your choice? It'd be lovely to hear and see recommendations. https://t.co/zfYtSATJ0d
Book mentions in this thread
Votes: 115
A Handful of Gold
by Joan. Aiken
Votes: 8
The Kingdom under the Sea and Other Stories
by Joan Aiken
Retells the stories of fairies, goblins, princes and princesses, knights, dragons, and mermaids.Votes: 20
Shadow Guests, The
by Joan Aiken
After the mysterious disappearance of his mother and older brother, Cosmo is sent away to live with his father's eccentric cousin, and to a strange school where he is lost and lonely among his unfriendly classmates. Luckily he can escape at weekends to the peace of his cousin's ancient mill house, and the shadowy companions only he can see. But then he learns about the family curse, with which his visitors from the past seem to be connected. The 'shadow guests' welcome Cosmo's help but are their increasingly menacing activities linked to his own problems?Votes: 10
Arabel and Mortimer
by Joan Aiken
Three adventures of a little girl, Arabel, and her pet raven, Mortimer.Votes: 8
Arabel's Raven (Arabel and Mortimer)
by Joan Aiken
Presents three previously published works about a pet raven named Mortimer, who talks, eats everything in sight, and causes all sorts of trouble.The Cuckoo Tree
by Joan Aiken
While her friend Capt Hughes recovers from a carriage accident, Dido is marooned with the odd inhabitants of the Tegleaze estate. Soon suspicious things happen; a priceless possession is stolen, a boy kidnapped, a twin sister found and when Dido catches a glimpse of her rascally father in Petworth, she is sure she is in the midst of another wicked Hanoverian plot. Can she combat mass hypnotism, smugglers, and a gang of murderers to prevent the plot to put St Paul`s Cathedral in the River Thames?Bridle the Wind
by Joan Aiken
Packed-off to boarding school and bullied by his peers, Felix feels sad and trapped. Although he has a home in England, his heart lies in Spain - so he runs away. But Felix's journey is cut short when his ship is caught in a storm off the French coast. Despite being shipwrecked and then held prisoner in a remote monastery, Felix's spirit is far from broken - and he needs all the strength he can muster to battle against the demonic Abbot Vespasian and his evil powers . . .Votes: 5
Is Underground (The Wolves Chronicles (8))
by Joan Aiken
King Richard, son of James III lies gravely ill and there are rumours that the king's enemy, the Duchess of Burgundy, is preparing an imminent invasion. The ancient crown of Alfred must be found so King Richard can pass it on to his successor. Is Simon, Duke of Battersea and friend of the king, next in line to the throne or will the evil werewolf Baron Magnus Rudh succeed in his plot to make his son, Lot, king? To add further complications, Dido Twite, held prisoner by the Baron and the Duchess, does not know the whereabouts of either Simon or the dying king: can she escape in time to find and warn them of the treachery afoot? This adventure with a truly galloping plot and breath-taking situations will delight all fans of Joan Aiken's booksVotes: 5
The Serial Garden
by Joan Aiken
'I wish we'll have two children called Mark and Harriet. And I hope lots of interesting and unusual things will happen to them. It would be nice if they had a fairy godmother, for instance. And a phoenix or something out of the ordinary for a pet. We could have a special day for interesting and unusual things to happen - say, Mondays. But not always Mondays, and not only Mondays, or that would get a bit dull' As a result of their mother's honeymoon wish, Mark and Harriet Armitage have a fairy godmother, a pet unicorn, and are prepared for anything life can throw at them (especially, but not always, on a Monday): hatching griffins in the airing cupboard, Latin lessons with a ghost, furious Furies on the doorstep, and an enchanted garden locked inside a cereal packet. Life with the Armitages can be magical, funny, terrifying - but never, ever dull.Votes: 5
The Teeth of the Gale
by Joan Aiken
"Don Francisco wants you home, and in double-quick time, too. We must leave tomorrow at dawn . . ." Felix's heart sinks at Pedro's words. What can be wrong? Is his beloved grandfather ill? Dashing and loyal, he speeds towards Villaverde - and a rescue mission. Donna Conchita's children are kidnapped and Felix may be reunited with the feisty Juana, if he agrees to help. Despite warnings of a conspiracy and his own suspicions of a trap, Felix fearlessly plunges into a plot thick with intrigue and danger. His grandfather said it was a matter of life and death - but whose?Heaven Is A Real Place
by Gaynor Carrillo
Heaven Is a Real Place is the remarkable true story of a psychic mediums journey into the Afterlife. This delightful book shares the true stories of psychic medium Gaynor Carrillo and her visits to a world beyond ours. Here she reveals how her ability to see and communicate with Spirit has helped her to pass on Spirit messages to thousands of people from around the world, sharing her understanding of what it's really like in the Spirit world. Gaynor has answered questions about Spirit and the Afterlife in her usual honest and down to earth way. What happens when we die? Is there really such thing as life after death? Where is Heaven? Are our Spirit loved ones happy? Do we meet our pets in Heaven? Do angels exist? Is Heaven a real place? This book will give you the answers to these questions and many more, along with a guided view of life after death and a clearer understanding of the place some call Heaven.The Smile of the Stranger (Paget Family Saga, 1)
by Joan Aiken
The Paget Family Saga comes to a riveting conclusion in this historical romance reissue from legendary author Joan Aiken Love and scandal are close on her heels... Ellen Paget moves to Paris, longing to flout convention and spread her wings in Society. She wants nothing to do with the charming Hon. Benedict Masham, an old family friend who's made it his business to look after her welfare. But when tragedy and scandal force Ellen back to England, it takes all her ingenuity to keep her family safe, and Benedict's steadfast help and unwavering support are suddenly indispensable... What readers love about The Paget Family saga: "Romance and high adventure." "Cracking entertainment." "Vivid vocabulary and vibrant imagery." "A relatable, believable heroine." "Period romance full of thrills and chills."