Lion Hudson ISBN 9781782643173 £7.99
What a great idea – take a little-known true story about the Tower of London menagerie and the attempt by its keeper, Alfred Cops, to buy new animals to keep it working as a viable attraction. Add a special delivery from India of two tigers. Weave around it the tale of Sahira and her family delivering the tigers to London. Add a little tragedy – her parents dying of disease on the trip. You end up with an engaging and powerful story of an orphan in London attempting to overcome adversity.
The difficulties of keeping wild animals in a confined space like the Tower of London; life in a very grim orphanage; cruelty and bullying; avarice and greed; the difficulties of being mixed race – and a young girl – in C19th London are all explored in this gripping story. Will there be a happy ending? Readers will find themselves fully engaged with the trials and tribulations of Sahira. Thoroughly enjoyable and recommended for Upper KS 2.
Alf Wilkinson
