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The Travelling Restaurant by Barbara Else

Under the reign of Lady Gall (Provisional monarch of Fontania), the word magic is forbidden. It is also a land where no-one dares question or disagree with the ruler (Lady Gall), and because everyone says nice things about her, because they are too scared to say otherwise, everyone believes that they are the only ones who don't like her. This is the world where Jasper Ludlow lives.

The book starts with a strange visitor wanting to talk to him and find out whether he is twelve, then things get stranger when his mother tells the visitor (a journalist) that Jasper is only ten when he reached that age two years earlier. Things get stranger still when his parents flee the city, leaving him behind.

With Lady Gall's men looking for him, he finds refuge on 'The Travelling Restaurant', a sailing ship captained by old Dr Rocket and crewed by feisty Polly, who are also on the run. Together they face a journey across seas and rivers to face whirlpools, storms and hungry pirates.

He embarks on this dangerous adventure in order to find his baby sister, Sibilla. However his missing sister isn't the only mystery in Fontania. Jasper searches for answers to why his parents abandoned him, who the true monarch is and why Lady Gall is hunting him. Jasper must also decide who he can trust. Is it his unreliable uncle, the mysterious journalist, or the gutsy flute-playing orphan?

The Travelling Restaurant is an entertaining adventure for pre-teens covering themes of trust, hope, fairness family bonds and the possibility of magic. It is filled with colourful characters, humour and of course food.

RRP $24.99
Published by Gecko Press
 

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