The Fire Within by Chris d’Lacey (Orchard Books pound;4.99) is a magical book in every respect. It draws the reader in before the title page with an advertisement offering lodgings, which ends “Must like children and cats and dragons”, and a letter from a 20-year-old geography student in need of a home. Thus David Rain takes up residence with Liz Pennykettle, her 10-year-old daughter Lucy, and the numerous clay dragons that Liz makes in her studio.
From the beginning, there are hints that the models are not quite what they seem. Lucy is concerned about a one-eyed squirrel she calls Conker who has recently disappeared from their garden, and her fears increase when a bad-tempered neighbour sets a trap to catch squirrels. Liz gives David his own dragon, which appears to inspire him as he writes a squirrel story for Lucy. The hints about the dragons become stronger - David burns his hand on the studio door when he ignores a notice warning “kilning in progress”, although he does not recall seeing a kiln in the room.
Chris d’Lacey deftly weaves the various strands of the plot with great sensitivity and humour. He combines the realistically natural and the magical to such effect that all disbelief is suspended. Readers in Year 5 and above will be utterly entranced, racing to the end, willing it to be happy.
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