Escape from the Child Snatchers
Having left India on a quest to find Humza’s missing brother, Dani, Humza and his friend, Ranj, find themselves in London. Overwhelmed by the chaotic, loud city, they are delighted to meet Basil Brookes, who is not only kind to them, but speaks Hindi. However, when he takes them to an inn, they are warned by Daisy, the innkeeper’s daughter that Basil Brookes is not the kindly gentleman he appears, but a child snatcher, responsible for the disappearance of Daisy’s friend, Amina, amongst others. With Daisy’s help they escape, but how long with they be able to evade his clutches and will they ever find Dani?
‘Escape from the Child Snatchers’ is pacy adventure story, full of drama and tension.
Navigating Victorian London, Humza and Ranj are exposed to both the kindness of Daisy and her father as well as the residents of the Stranger’s Home and the callous cruelty of the exploitative Brookes and his henchmen. Fortunately for all concerned, good triumphs over evil in end with (spoiler alert!) the children all being saved, Brookes getting his comeuppance and Dani being reunited with his family; however, it offers an insight into experiences of life in Victorian London, sharing stories which children might not otherwise be exposed to. Sufiya Ahmed’s note at the end references some of the stories she discovered whilst researching the book and I think it would have been an excellent idea to include additional reading both for children curious to learn more, but also for teachers (or other adults) keen to explore this further. It has certainly sparked my interest, leading me to discover more about the ‘Stranger’s Home’. (If Sufiya Ahmed reads my review, I would be really grateful to know where I could learn more so I can share this with colleagues!)
Humza and Ranj are very engaging characters whose friendship is heart warming, making it easy to empathise with their experiences and cheer them on every step of the way. The story would make a very engaging class story with plenty to discuss and explore.
Escape from the Child Snatchers
Sufiya Ahmed
Andersen ISBN: 978-1839136511
