Book Review: Hilary McKay

Recently I read two of Hilary McKay's books, Indigo's Star and Permanent Rose. I liked them very much, so I decided to review them.

Indigo's Star

In Indigo's Star, thirteen-year-old Indigo Casson has trouble with a bully gang in school. Then he meets Tom Levin, who stands up with him against the bullies. Indigo has a large family: Permanent Rose, his eight-year-old sister, who decides Tom is a wonderful person even when Indigo doubts him; his older sister Saffron, or Saffy, who is adopted; eighteen-year-old Caddy, trying out boyfriends but knows the one for her is Darling Michael, the driving instructor; Eve, their mother, who is an artist and paints pictures of peoples dead pets; Bill, their father, also an artist, living in London and doesn't come home much; and Sarah, Saffy's handicapped best friend, who is like one of the family. This book has good humour, witty characters, and a good plot. It's on my favourite books list.

Permanent Rose

Rose, Indigo and the others are back once more. Now, Tom has gone back home to America for the summer, and hasn't contacted them at all. Rose is worried that Tom has forgotten about them, and they have no address or phone number to check on him with. Caddy is beginning to feel doubtful about Michael. Indigo reads a book about King Arthur and Sir Lancelot and the knights of the Round Table, and tries to get Rose interested in it. David, a former gang member, becomes friends with Indigo. Rose detests him at first. Saffron wants to find out who her real father is; she already knows her mother, Linda, was Eve's twin sister. Eve herself is feeling a little down because of Bill, who is still in London. Permanent Rose is even better than Indigo's Star, showing a different side to Rose, all it's characters with still more humour, a few surprises here and there, and yet another wonderful story to tell. I love this book as well.

I still have to read Saffy's Angel, the prequel to Indigo's Star, and Caddy Ever After, sequel to Permanent Rose. Currently I'm reading The Exiles, another one of McKay's books, in which four sisters are sent to their grandmother's house for the summer.
Hilary McKay is one of my favorite authors, and I hope those of you who haven't read her books will try them out!