The Candle Trees product reviews

I have read this book twice - once before I gave it to a friend's son (aged 15) so he could offer his opinion, and again when he had finished it because I enjoyed it so much. Although it is aimed at older children/teenagers, I found I was just as enthralled as he had been. Holcroft is a master storyteller; having read the first page, I was completely drawn in and eager to get to the next chapter. The main character is a girl, but there is nothing "sissy" about her adventures: it would appeal equally to boys or girls.

The story is crafted as a narration placed between a brief introduction and summing up by the great-grandson, Julian. It spans two eras - the modern and the late Victorian, when things were very different! Great-grandmother Julia tells the tale of her adventures in a dangerous and inhospitable environment, where nature and unfriendly people present an ongoing threat to anyone careless enough to invade their territory. It has the same exotic attraction as other "lost world" adventures like Robinson Crusoe or The Mysterious Island, two other books I could not put down once I had started them. There is a satisfying mix of the real, the possible, and the supernatural to the point where it becomes necessary to simply suspend disbelief and just go along with the story.

I did like the way the youngster Julia began by thinking that Taina was inferior to herself - she described with contempt the foods that were offered, the lack of ability to communicate via the English language, and the general disdain for Western gear like shoes. This would be normal for a girl of that era who would have been brought up to believe her society was the only one that was civilised! Holcroft skilfully shows how Julia's mindset changes until she can accept that Taina is not only her equal - a friend, even - but much more knowledgeable in the ways of the forest. Julia's mind is open to new ideas, and as the story progresses she is able to apply some of her newfound survival skills when they are needed. Moreover, she is aware that she has made mistakes and is prepared to learn from them.

Having read the notes I had made and finished the book himself, my young friend said there was little he could add. I had already referred to everything he would have included. However, he did say he felt the ending was rather abrupt, and hoped that was a sign that the author might be considering a sequel. I had not considered that, but on reflection I do agree with him. There is more than enough material which could be expanded into a follow-up volume. It could be a continuation of Julia's adventures, or possibly a modern-day revisiting of the jungle by Julian as he retraces his great-grandmother's footsteps.