The Game By Diana Wynne Jones Published by HarperCollins Children's Books ISBN 978 0 00 726379 0 Veteran children's author Diana Wynne Jones has come up with an intriguing idea for her new novel, The Game. Parallel world stories are two-a-dollar on youth fiction bookshelves these days, but Wynne Jones has devised a neat twist for her take on what happens when human and fantasy worlds collide. Just beyond the Earth's atmosphere is another dimension called the mythosphere populated by characters from myths and legends. There are links between the mythosphere and Earth, but it is dangerous and rare for a human being to recognise them and actually use them to journey beyond the Earth. But it can happen, and when it does the consequences are always perilous. Parallel worlds are meant to stay apart. Hayley's mother and father disappeared when she was a baby. No one knows what happened to them, or if they do, they're not telling. Hayley has been brought up by her grandparents - Grandfather travels a lot and is rarely at home, and Grandmother is a control freak who doesn't allow Hayley to spend time with people her own age. But when Hayley befriends a couple of musicians called Fiddle and Flute, it's the last straw. Grandmother flies into a rage and bundles Hayley off to stay with unknown relatives in a castle in the countryside. But the intended punishment doesn't turn out to be as unpleasant as expected. Hayley is soon being looked after by a collection of aunts and cousins she has never heard of. And for the first time ever, she is surrounded by fun people who know how to enjoy themselves. One day, her relatives invite Hayley to play The Game, causing Hayley's future to take a very unexpected turn. The Game involves travelling to the mythosphere to fulfil various challenges. Hayley has to explore this new world and bring back to Earth a list of mythical objects that her eldest cousin has drawn up. Another cousin will guide Hayley on her first trip to make sure she knows what to do and doesn't get lost. It all sounds very exciting. Hayley discovers that her new family are parallel characters from the mythosphere who can live in both worlds. She also discovers that her parents are trapped there as punishment for insulting the gods. The Game is a short novel with a detailed plot which the author manages to keep credible. Readers unfamiliar with mythology might struggle with some of the references, but there is a glossary at the back. John Millen can be contacted on MillenBookshelf@aol.com