Age: 7-10

Eva Ibbotson is known for two kinds of books — substantial historical adventures about faraway places and other times (Journey to the River Sea and The Star of Kazan), and shorter, fantastical tales of ghosts and magic. This sparky and humorous new book is of the second kind. It is the story of a brother and sister staying with eccentric relations in a decaying castle that does not cut the mustard as a tourist attraction. Nobody who lives there has any business sense, so the gift shop only sells burnt buns and home-knitted, four-fingered gloves. This matters because the castle is also the home of a herd of beautiful and rare wild white cows that need expensive care and protection. Meanwhile a rich, unfeeling neighbour covets the land, and adventures ensue involving five enjoyably gory ghosts, a hair-raising car journey and a nasty scientist who meddles with nature. Ibbotson is dextrous with pace and suspense, accessible, always amusing, and a treat to read aloud, and the book is both joyously light-hearted and profoundly good-hearted.

(Macmillan £12.99)

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