The Hidden Staircase

This is the third in a series of books featuring Polly, recently moved from London because of her mother's new job at Penhallow Hall in Cornwall. Penhallow Hall is a large country house open to the public and Polly has discovered its secret. There are ghosts at Penhallow Hall; specifically, the spirits of dogs who live in the dog statues and the ghost of William who lived there as a boy. In this book, Polly starts at the local school and makes friends with Lucy, but Lucy also has a secret that she does not feel she can share with anyone. Together, Lucy and Rex resolve to help Lucy and the strange little dog spirit that lives in the nursery. Though this book could be read as a standalone (there is enough background information given to enable readers new to the series to pick up on what has happened in the previous books), it probably would work best if read as part of a series. Newly confident, independent readers will enjoy getting to know Polly and would benefit from reading about Polly's first encounters with Rex, Magnus and William. Many young readers will already have come across books by Holly Webb through the many books she has written for young children. The 180 pages of the book are divided into 8 chapters; a manageable length for the new reader which also serves to develop reading stamina. The black and white illustrations are plentiful and help to break up the text, which is clear and well-spaced. The vocabulary is straightforward, allowing the reader to become absorbed in the story. There are details in this book which may spark off wider conversations between adult and child readers. Polly's father has recently died and she hates the reaction this produces in people who hear the news and Lucy's parents are separating. We hear also of Penhallow's past as a temporary home for wartime evacuees, a topic which is very popular in Key Stage 2 classrooms. 192 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by June Hughes, school librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 7+