The Chestnut Roaster
The Irish author of Elsetime returns with a second book for children aged nine and above, set in Paris in 1888 as the city prepares for the Exposition Universelle and the unveiling of the Tour Eiffel. Piaf is twelve years old, and she remembers everything, from the day she was born; it’s a gift and a curse as her head rattles with information and never quietens. Piaf works as a chestnut roaster, alone now as her brother is hospitalised and her mother waits by his bedside. A child snatcher stalks the streets, kidnapping gifted children, and an epidemic of forgetfulness makes the people of Paris believe it is still 1887; only Piaf remembers as the wicked Dr Le Chandelier threatens both Piaf and Luc, and they must team up to find the missing children and restore memory to the people of Paris. Their adventure takes them through the streets of Paris and to the dangerous catacombs beneath the city.
McDonnell is a gifted writer who weaves a page-turning tale. Her characters are compelling; Piaf is intrepid, brave, and loyal. Luc is smart and kind, and Madame Legrand is a comic delight. The plot is tightly crafted, and the storytelling, though woven with darkness, is playful and poetic. The Chestnut Roaster has all the hallmarks of a future children’s classic and will be enjoyed by fans of Jennifer Bell, Helena Duggan, and Celine Kiernan.
