When the four orphaned Linnet children are sent to live with their strict grandmother, they decide at once their new life is unbearable and they run away. Making their way through the English countryside, the encounter a host of unforgettable characters and begin their search for the missing Valerians. Will they be thwarted by the witch Emma Cobley and her magic cat?

A wistful, nostalgic fairytale. I loved the children and their uncle. Was not so fond of the final chapters. As wonderful as that might be, childhood is not immune from tragedy, sorrow, or the unknown. It should be a time when resilience, hope, and faith for the future overcome whatever hard times may come. ( )

A sweet tale - not saccharine, just sweet. It has very much the same flavor (with entirely different ingredients) as The Little White Horse. Four children and a dog, in early 1900s England...except magic, on several levels. Animals that are a lot more than animals, for one thing - and evil spells, and good spells, and other powers. Lost and separated people, that come back together - and a happy ending. Pleasant read...except I kept thinking I had read it before (I hadn't, I didn't know any details, but the style was so familiar...). ( )

A peculiar but rather lovely book in the vein of Edith Nesbit or Diana Wynne Jones. The plot is not strong but it doesn't need to be - the point of this book is its atmosphere and spiritual truth. ( )

#5 A children's classic: I really enjoy Elizabeth Goudge's writing style. And the characters were well drawn. I was not completely comfortable with the magical elements, especially the voodoo-type parts. So if I were to recommend it, it would be with reservations. I do look forward to reading more of her adult works, though.