Moss is eleven-years-old. She is feisty and lives in Tudor London. She lives with her father. He is an executioner. They live at the Tower of London.
Moss’ chores include helping her father: she carries the wicker basket which holds the heads of her father’s ‘clients’. She is a ‘Basket Girl’.
Around this girl and her gruesome chores Jane Hardstaff weaves a tale full of authentic characters and careful detail that is captivating young readers and last month The Executioner’s Daughter was The Times’ children’s book of the week.
The book – Jane Hardstaff’s first – is a fantasy adventure aimed at 10+ readers. As The Times helpfully pointed out, the Tower of London is on the primary curriculum for six-year-olds who may be a bit young for this tale.
Jane Hardstaff grew up in Marlborough. She went to St Peter’s, St John’s and to sixth form at the College. She remembers those days for time spent hunting mayfly-nymphs with her father and reading fairy tales with her mother.
She always wanted to be an artist, but somehow she has ended up as a television producer living in the east end of London – not far from the Tower of London and the river Thanes which feature so strongly in her book.
On Saturday (March 1) Jane Hardstaff is coming back to Marlborough to talk about The Executioner’s Daughter to young readers and parents at the Marlborough library (details below.)
After her talk there will be a chance to win a replica gold Tudor coin, to buy the book, have it signed – and to talk to Jane.
Released at the end of January, The Executioner’s Daughter is already attracting extraordinary acclaim from its readers. Here, courtesy the website Lovereading4kids, are a couple of the opinions of these expert reviewers:
Emma Stephenson, age 10:
“An amazing and clever story like no others I have read. Great historical detail shines through this book. It was a bit spooky but very exciting and I like the ending.
At first I found the story slightly gruesome when Moss was helping at the executions.
Then it became a bit spooky but exciting. I liked how Moss met real life characters
including Queen Anne Boleyn. My favourite person is Salter. He made me laugh and he has a mischievous character (a bit like me.)
I also liked Moss’s father and was pleased with the way the story ended. This wonderful book has become the best on my bookshelf.”
Jemma Rubens, age 10:
“This eventful story, which is full of suspense, is such a thrilling read. I was so annoyed when I had to stop reading as I was completely drawn in to Moss’s world!
I would recommend this book to anyone who can get their hands on it, apart from younger children (who may find it scary).
The only thing that I would consider changing is that you find out Moss’s secret
way out very early and it would be nicer if there were just several little clues.
Otherwise, I appreciated everything about it, from the beginning to the end.
Thank you so much to Jane Hardstaff…I think this is one of the best books I have
ever read!”
Talking of spooky: if you go onto the publisher’s website to buy a copy, you are asked to add the book “to your basket”.
Entry to Jane Hardstaff’s talk at the library at 2.00pm on Saturday (March 1) is free but tickets are needed and are available from the library and from The White Horse Bookshop.
The Executioner’s Daughter by Jane Hardstaff, Egmont Press, £6.99.
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