Yesterday Crumb and the Teapot of Chaos: Book 2

Yesterday Crumb and the Teapot of Chaos is the sequel to Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup. Following on from the story, Yesterday has now passed the College of Witches tea test and she is beginning to further develop her magic skills. Still armed with her fox ears, Yesterday's adventures continue. The teashop is stolen by the Faerie Court and Yesterday finds herself visiting the Wild Feast Festival where she competes in a dangerous cooking competition.

This story is edge-of-your-pants reading and it would be perfect for those in KS2 who like longer chapter books. The language is easy to understand and the story is filled with many valuable themes for KS2 children - such as friendship, loyalty, and self-belief. The ending leaves you on a cliff hanger - with the promise of more Yesterday Crumb adventures to come.

384 pages / Reviewed by Emma Nelson, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

Yesterday Crumb and the Teapot of Chaos is the second in a trilogy. I reviewed the first book, Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup, which was clever and very unusual. There is always the concern that this success can be repeated successfully and I can report that, yes this has been done in this case.

Yesterday, Jack, Madrigal and Pascal along with the Dwimmerly End teashop run by Miss Dumpling - which moves around on its flamingo legs, serving tea, cakes and magic as it goes - are on their way to London to find Yesterday's mother. She had been married to Mr. Weep who, in the first book, had put a shard of ice in Yesterday's heart. But the teashop is stolen by the Faerie Queen and, to get it back, Yesterday and her friends have to enter the Wild Feast cooking competition. However, when faeries start to disappear and the finger points at Yesterday, she and her friends must race against time and the Cold Iron Club to put things right.

This story is a joy for children who love words. The descriptions of the brewing of the tea; the fantastical outfits, particularly of the Faerie Queen; the world created as the backdrop for this competition, all paint an incredible picture for the reader. Yesterday is a feisty and courageous heroine, fighting against the forces of evil - make no mistake, this is the battle she fights - aided by Jack and later on Napoleon who convincingly overcomes his upbringing to join the friends. Miss Dumpling, always there in the background with love and encouragement, and Mr. Wormwood the gardener, play their part to make a quite magical world which is not as fluffy as it might at first glance appear to be.

The story ends with the threat of Mr. Weep, suggesting a third volume is on its way. Disney is missing a trick if it misses the opportunity to make a film of these stories!

384pages / Reviewed by Janet Fisher, librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+