Here's a book review by Mr Sayers:
Roger is a strange boy. He suddenly appears on Bob and Joan’s doorstep and doesn't seem to have any family history. He tears his bed sheets and has awful eating habits. Roger’s only explanation is that he was a rat.
How does such a strange boy know his way around the palace, like he’s been there before? Why is the princess prepared to help him when everyone else thinks he’s a freak?
This story is the work of a genius! The denouement leaves you saying “Oh, of course !” Philip Pullman is so good at getting you wrapped up in his stories, and he does the same here. The ending/solution should be obvious, but you get so wrapped up in the details of the story that you miss it – until the very end. Realising that you have been tricked, all along, actually makes you appreciate this book all the more.
His book, 'Northern Lights', is one of my favourites (don't compare it to the film - that's terrible, in my opinion!). I've just started reading 'The Ruby in the Smoke', from the school library. I think Sally Lockhart is a great character.
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