Little Plum Rumer Godden Published by Macmillan Children's Books ISBN 978 0 330 4513 7
This story is a gentle step back in time to a more innocent world - a children's novel of its time (1962) that has been re-issued. What the children will make of it, it is difficult to guess. Little Plum was written in an age when young girls had little to distract them other than playing with dolls. How times have changed.
Whether Little Plum has anything to appeal to today's young readers is doubtful, though nostalgic Mums might love it.
The Fell children, Anne, Tom and Belinda, and their cousin Nona, live a comfortable life in a big house in a middle-class suburb of the city. Nona's prize possessions are two beautiful Japanese dolls called Miss Happiness and Miss Flower.
When the children are told a new family will move in next door they are excited. There might be new children to play with.
But the new family proves to be a disappointment. Mr Jones seems aloof, and his daughter Gem is spoilt and wants nothing to do with the children next door.
