I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and enjoy the New Year. 2022 has certainly been a busy time for me and to end the year, I thought I would discuss what is most certainly a modern winter classic.
Title: A Night at the Frost Fair.
Author: Emma Carroll.
Illustrator: Sam Usher.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster.
Published: 2021.
Format: Hardback.
Source: Own copy.
In this story, Maya finds herself swept back in time to the Georgian period where she witnesses the Frost Fairs that took place back then. It is here that she meets Eddie, a boy of the same age as her who introduces her to all the delights that the Fair has to offer. Not only is it somewhere that people can have fun, but it also offers a place to escape to, especially for Eddie...
Originally starting out as a short story, Carroll has expanded it into a chapter book version that keeps the magic of the original whilst bringing something new to it. Usher's illustrations help to capture the spirit of the story, especially for pictures where you can see the Frost Fair in action. It is an exciting adventure story with intrigue in it, but it also makes the reader think about important topics such as the importance of freedom, especially with regard to Eddie and Maya's grandmother who is in a care home in the present day.
In general, this is a perfect story to read during wintertime, either as a way of celebrating Christmas or to just will away the cold dark nights of the early months of the year. It appeals to old and young alike, whether you are into historical fiction or not.
