The Secret of Splint Hall
“Mum said the war was over, but Isobel thought that it was not. She could see it in the tight lips of the women as they queued to buy sugar, butter and bacon.” The opening sentences of this fantasy adventure point to its theme: that the war against evil is never completely over.
The story unfolds in two Acts. In the first, we meet sisters Flora (10 years) and Isobel (12), fleeing their bombed home with their mother at the end of WW2. They take refuge at Splint Hall (their mother’s ancestral home) with their aunt and uncle. However, their uncle-by-marriage now controls the household in a climate of fear. As the sisters explore their surroundings, strange and unsettling events start to multiply.
Act 1 paints a vivid picture of post-war Britain. Rationing, clothing, the effects of grief and trauma on various characters—all are integral to the storyline. Katie Cotton writes beautifully, weaving in observations of domestic life and evoking the rivalries between the two sisters. Moments of anger and smugness are handled as easily as their shared grief at losing their father. Later they join forces with two brothers from the village, whose loyalties and differences are depicted with similar complexity.
Act 2 takes us firmly into fantasy, where the girls discover that the secret of Splint Hall involves evil creatures (Splints) who are re-gaining strength, and dragons who seek to stop them. The sisters embark on a challenging quest to help the dragons. Readers who love a tense, page-turning adventure will not be disappointed here. The narrative twists and turns satisfyingly, whilst never losing its connection with the emotional and thematic truths that underpin the story. At 300 pages, this is a long and engaging read for children of 9+.
