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Waifs of Duldred #1
Oy Yew
'Lay low and grow' is the motto of the waifs of Duldred Hall. The only way to escape their life of drudgery is to reach the magical height of 5 thighs 10 oggits, yet Master Jeopardine is determined to feed them little and keep them small. When the Master's methods grow more sinister the waifs must face their doubts. What is kept in the Bone Room? Why is Rook's Parlour locked? A new waif arrives and the fight for survival begins. But this child brings another mystery. Who is Oy?
Times/Chicken House prize longlist, Wishing Shelf finalist, Eric Hoffer award finalist.
Times/Chicken House prize longlist, Wishing Shelf finalist, Eric Hoffer award finalist.
278 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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36 people want to read
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October 23, 2018
You can also find my review of Oy Yew on my book blog, Bastian's Book Reviews.
Oy Yew is a children's novel set in another world. It's not a world of magic or dragons or aliens, but a world much like ours around the time of Charles Dickens' stories.
Oy is a tiny boy who grows up sustaining himself on crumbs and the smells of food. He's mostly unnoticed until one day someone does spot him. Then, he is quickly caught and forced into servitude, first in a factory, then in a country mansion. His comrades in slavery are other waifs, children from Poria who arrived on the shores of Affland as boat people on tiny raft.
Oy is the smallest waif, the quietest waif, the one who listens and offers nothing but kindness and intuition to those around him. His presence gradually improves the lives of the other waifs, but it also brings with it an intuition that something is wrong. How come there have been more accidents than usual lately, always befalling the waifs about to be freed? What secrets lurk in the sinister Bone Room? And why is Master Jep, a bone collector, suddenly so interested in Oy's thumbs?
Oy Yew is a fantastically atmospheric novel. It reminded me of Otfried Preussler's Krabat, and of Michael Ende's Momo. (Oy is quite similar to Momo in many ways). Or, in more British terms, of Alan Garner's scary children's novels - except that the atmosphere in Oy Yew is richer, the story more lovingly told. There is a tenderness in Oy Yew where Alan Garner goes for grand drama, and that tenderness makes it a more beautiful story. Basically, it's a superior novel to The Owl Service and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen.
It's not flawless: at times, the text moves too fast, in a disorienting way. Some of that disorientation happens early on, which could discourage some readers. I don't know whether the author was trying to create an atmosphere of hectic movement, or whether she saw the story in her mind and left out some words that might have helped me as a reader to follow it. All I know is that there were quite a few times when I was a little bewildered over who was there, who was who, and what was going on. I imagine child readers are likely to get confused, too. Those moments of bewilderment are literally the only flaw, and it's very much worth persevering if the text befuddles you momentarily.
The prose is beautiful, the story is filled with atmosphere, creepiness, tension, kindness and joy. The waifs are lovely and the characters around them include quite a few memorable personalities. Even as an adult reader, I was on the edge of my seat at many points, and I felt the peril in the story was real.
To my mind, this is one of the finest children's novels ever written.
Oy Yew is a children's novel set in another world. It's not a world of magic or dragons or aliens, but a world much like ours around the time of Charles Dickens' stories.
Oy is a tiny boy who grows up sustaining himself on crumbs and the smells of food. He's mostly unnoticed until one day someone does spot him. Then, he is quickly caught and forced into servitude, first in a factory, then in a country mansion. His comrades in slavery are other waifs, children from Poria who arrived on the shores of Affland as boat people on tiny raft.
Oy is the smallest waif, the quietest waif, the one who listens and offers nothing but kindness and intuition to those around him. His presence gradually improves the lives of the other waifs, but it also brings with it an intuition that something is wrong. How come there have been more accidents than usual lately, always befalling the waifs about to be freed? What secrets lurk in the sinister Bone Room? And why is Master Jep, a bone collector, suddenly so interested in Oy's thumbs?
Oy Yew is a fantastically atmospheric novel. It reminded me of Otfried Preussler's Krabat, and of Michael Ende's Momo. (Oy is quite similar to Momo in many ways). Or, in more British terms, of Alan Garner's scary children's novels - except that the atmosphere in Oy Yew is richer, the story more lovingly told. There is a tenderness in Oy Yew where Alan Garner goes for grand drama, and that tenderness makes it a more beautiful story. Basically, it's a superior novel to The Owl Service and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen.
It's not flawless: at times, the text moves too fast, in a disorienting way. Some of that disorientation happens early on, which could discourage some readers. I don't know whether the author was trying to create an atmosphere of hectic movement, or whether she saw the story in her mind and left out some words that might have helped me as a reader to follow it. All I know is that there were quite a few times when I was a little bewildered over who was there, who was who, and what was going on. I imagine child readers are likely to get confused, too. Those moments of bewilderment are literally the only flaw, and it's very much worth persevering if the text befuddles you momentarily.
The prose is beautiful, the story is filled with atmosphere, creepiness, tension, kindness and joy. The waifs are lovely and the characters around them include quite a few memorable personalities. Even as an adult reader, I was on the edge of my seat at many points, and I felt the peril in the story was real.
To my mind, this is one of the finest children's novels ever written.
November 26, 2016
*Disclaimer- I reviewed a free physical copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion at all.
3.5
Summary From Goodreads:
'Lay low and grow' is the motto of the waifs of Duldred Hall. The only way to escape their life of drudgery is to reach the magical height of 5 thighs 10 oggits, yet Master Jeopardine is determined to feed them little and keep them small. When the Master's methods grow more sinister the waifs must face their doubts. What is kept in the Bone Room? Why is Rook's Parlour locked? A new waif arrives and the fight for survival begins. But this child brings another mystery. Who is Oy?
Plot:
Going into this book, I really didn't know what this book was about. But as soon as I started it, I was sucked in. Even thought at a lot of parts, it was quite boring, the world still fascinated me. As I kept reading, nothing "new" was introduced until the ending. It was same schedule most of the days. However, towards the very end, it talked about some more stuff that added to world-building. Those little pieces of information really got me excited for the next book, and made me bump it up to 3.5. Us readers are just craved for more interesting worlds.
Characters:
You know, the weirdest thing was that I could never actually visualize any of the waifs. I'm not sure if I missed a description, or there never was one. I know that it gives a magical measurement for their height, but not a height that I can actually see in my head. Anyways, I found that the characters didn't hold much depth. Honestly, if they didn't have names, you could almost mash them together and think they were the same character. But that's just my opinion.
Overall & Recommendations:
Overall, this was a fun, quick read. I'm excited to see what Ana Salote brings to the table in the sequel. I'd say this was a middle grade book, except for the few cuss words. I'd recommend to 10+.
3.5
Summary From Goodreads:
'Lay low and grow' is the motto of the waifs of Duldred Hall. The only way to escape their life of drudgery is to reach the magical height of 5 thighs 10 oggits, yet Master Jeopardine is determined to feed them little and keep them small. When the Master's methods grow more sinister the waifs must face their doubts. What is kept in the Bone Room? Why is Rook's Parlour locked? A new waif arrives and the fight for survival begins. But this child brings another mystery. Who is Oy?
Plot:
Going into this book, I really didn't know what this book was about. But as soon as I started it, I was sucked in. Even thought at a lot of parts, it was quite boring, the world still fascinated me. As I kept reading, nothing "new" was introduced until the ending. It was same schedule most of the days. However, towards the very end, it talked about some more stuff that added to world-building. Those little pieces of information really got me excited for the next book, and made me bump it up to 3.5. Us readers are just craved for more interesting worlds.
Characters:
You know, the weirdest thing was that I could never actually visualize any of the waifs. I'm not sure if I missed a description, or there never was one. I know that it gives a magical measurement for their height, but not a height that I can actually see in my head. Anyways, I found that the characters didn't hold much depth. Honestly, if they didn't have names, you could almost mash them together and think they were the same character. But that's just my opinion.
Overall & Recommendations:
Overall, this was a fun, quick read. I'm excited to see what Ana Salote brings to the table in the sequel. I'd say this was a middle grade book, except for the few cuss words. I'd recommend to 10+.
February 28, 2021
Dickensian yet otherworldly, Oy Yew follows the trials of a small unwanted child, aka a waif, as he and his fellows try to survive a particularly cruel household. This is a dark, unfriendly and satirical world with its own strange terminology, but it’s pacy and easy to follow, and I was swept up in the dangers of a waif’s life. Things reach almost stressful levels of excitement by the end, with the way left open for the rest of the series. Oy Yew also makes a compelling story on its own.
August 1, 2015
I expected to enjoy this, because I know and like Mother's Milk Books. What I didn't expect was to love it so much that I want to have children, just so that I can read it to them. It's that sort of book, and ought to become a classic.
The 'parentless children exploited by brutal person(s)' trope is hardly a new one,especially since the industrial revolution, but here it's done in a new way. For one thing, there's the writing:"He fed daily on the smell of bread, letting the vapours swirl around his brain and conjure of themselves a high-risen floury loaf. He would seize it with his two hands, break open the crust and inside it would be fluffy and white with a puff of steam". Or, of two friends about to be parted: "...their faces were passive but their eyes were busy storing friendship."
Then there are the characters. The 'villain' is a well-rounded character and we see his motivations (and they are more than money/power/cruelty for the sake of it).And at no point do the waifs start quipping and wisecracking while twirling swords. But best of all is the character of Oy. A lesser writer might have chosen one of the other characters - the determined Alas or the responsible-before-her-time Lucinda - as a protagnist,and they would be good, but I fell for the gentle, humble, mysterious Oy. His emotions - and how lovely to have a main character with some sensitivity - are tremendously wel-handled and very moving. We're usually shown them by the responses of other people to them, as they notice his odd reactions.
The story progression breaks with the cliches of the trope and does new things. Rather than finding a magic key,the waifs educate themselves with touching slowness and work out ways to solve problems. It's done realistically and convincingly and the reader roots for them, while knowing that it won't be a simple process. But the story arc follows its own course and doesn't become obvious or lazy.
If this review hasn't made it sound wonderful then that's my fault as a reviewer, not the book's. I'm absolutely desperate to read the next installment - and I'm 47, for goodness sake! There are also some unanswered questions about Oy and the others.Buy it for children if you have them and yourself if you don't. And Ms Salote, please get writing the others! I need them!
The 'parentless children exploited by brutal person(s)' trope is hardly a new one,especially since the industrial revolution, but here it's done in a new way. For one thing, there's the writing:"He fed daily on the smell of bread, letting the vapours swirl around his brain and conjure of themselves a high-risen floury loaf. He would seize it with his two hands, break open the crust and inside it would be fluffy and white with a puff of steam". Or, of two friends about to be parted: "...their faces were passive but their eyes were busy storing friendship."
Then there are the characters. The 'villain' is a well-rounded character and we see his motivations (and they are more than money/power/cruelty for the sake of it).And at no point do the waifs start quipping and wisecracking while twirling swords. But best of all is the character of Oy. A lesser writer might have chosen one of the other characters - the determined Alas or the responsible-before-her-time Lucinda - as a protagnist,and they would be good, but I fell for the gentle, humble, mysterious Oy. His emotions - and how lovely to have a main character with some sensitivity - are tremendously wel-handled and very moving. We're usually shown them by the responses of other people to them, as they notice his odd reactions.
The story progression breaks with the cliches of the trope and does new things. Rather than finding a magic key,the waifs educate themselves with touching slowness and work out ways to solve problems. It's done realistically and convincingly and the reader roots for them, while knowing that it won't be a simple process. But the story arc follows its own course and doesn't become obvious or lazy.
If this review hasn't made it sound wonderful then that's my fault as a reviewer, not the book's. I'm absolutely desperate to read the next installment - and I'm 47, for goodness sake! There are also some unanswered questions about Oy and the others.Buy it for children if you have them and yourself if you don't. And Ms Salote, please get writing the others! I need them!
February 17, 2013
Can there be any charm in a novel written about children used almost as slave labour? Indeed there can. Ana Salote’s novel is a work of fantasy, where the rich may own ‘waif rights’, the right to use young children to work for little more than crumbs and water.
The author has created characters with that essential charm, humour and resourcefulness. As Oy Yew arrives to work for Master Jeopardine, he knows he must bring about change. With the help of his fellow waifs he learns how to survive.
I adored how Ana Salote was able to lift the mood of this story. Her plot entertained and amused with a gentle humour that came from the characters and their dialogue. Is there anything entertaining about working in drains, clearing blockages? Yes, if you’re Oy Yew.
Jeopardine’s decline into horrific madness offers readers of all ages the same thrill as the Fleming’s Child Catcher. But earlier there’s the almost hysterical scene with Master Jeopardine and the measurer of the waifs, Miss Spindle. Told with such subtlety, underplayed entirely, it was a genuine laugh out loud moment that goes against the apparent theme of the book.
I’ve used charm more than once in this review because I was charmed. There’s almost a feel of a classic about this novel. A generation ago it would have been adapted for Sunday afternoon TV - sitting well between John Halifax and The Moonstone.
Complete in its telling, I still hope this novel has a sequel.
So many self-published novels garner five stars reviews - but this one deserves every single one of them.
The author has created characters with that essential charm, humour and resourcefulness. As Oy Yew arrives to work for Master Jeopardine, he knows he must bring about change. With the help of his fellow waifs he learns how to survive.
I adored how Ana Salote was able to lift the mood of this story. Her plot entertained and amused with a gentle humour that came from the characters and their dialogue. Is there anything entertaining about working in drains, clearing blockages? Yes, if you’re Oy Yew.
Jeopardine’s decline into horrific madness offers readers of all ages the same thrill as the Fleming’s Child Catcher. But earlier there’s the almost hysterical scene with Master Jeopardine and the measurer of the waifs, Miss Spindle. Told with such subtlety, underplayed entirely, it was a genuine laugh out loud moment that goes against the apparent theme of the book.
I’ve used charm more than once in this review because I was charmed. There’s almost a feel of a classic about this novel. A generation ago it would have been adapted for Sunday afternoon TV - sitting well between John Halifax and The Moonstone.
Complete in its telling, I still hope this novel has a sequel.
So many self-published novels garner five stars reviews - but this one deserves every single one of them.
May 20, 2022
I wasn't sure about this at first but quickly became engrossed in the story of enslaved orphans trying to earn their freedom and avoid getting murdered. I was impressed at how it handled lots of characters. It is set in a fantasy world which we see so little of, I wasn't really sure why it wasn't just the real world, but as the story galloped towards the exciting finale and the pages ran out before the plot did, I realised that this isn't a complete story and just a part 1. That was extremely frustrating. I really enjoyed this book, but since it doesn't really have an ending, I'm not sure what I will make of it once I read the rest in the series.
March 21, 2016
An intriguing and original children’s story. 4/5 stars.
This review was originally posted on my book blog: https://clairehuston.wordpress.com/20...
Ana Salote contacted me to ask if I would read and review her middle grade children’s book, Oy Yew. Intrigued by the blurb, I jumped at the chance.
Obviously now I’m in the tricky position of having to describe this book, which is a difficult task because it’s a quirky and original tale. Without going into too much depth, the world of Oy Yew is one where child slave labour is the norm. The waifs – who are a different race to their masters – are kept in servitude until they grow to reach a certain height, at which point they should be set free. Unwilling to lose his workforce, their master does everything he can to stunt their growth and therein lies the crux of this story of survival and struggle.
The characters are great, and I can imagine this book’s core audience (it’s billed as middle grade, so 8-12 year olds, which felt spot on to me) loving the waifs and hating the “baddies” in equal measure. And while the waifs and their plots are at the centre of the story, it’s the villain (as is often the case) who becomes the star of the show. Master Jeopardine is increasingly unhinged and sinister but never cartoonish. In his best moments, he brought to mind other nasties of children’s fiction such as Mrs Trunchbull in Roald Dahl’s Matilda.
The story is well-written and sinister and creepy in places without becoming frightening. And while the waifs suffer, there’s nothing which will traumatize younger or more sensitive readers (particularly if they’ve already read and enjoyed the works of Dahl or Lemony Snicket).
I did wonder if the book is a little too long for its core audience. However, that said, I could imagine reading a couple of chapters of this a night with a child because the story can be divided easily into short episodes. I do think more illustrations would be a valuable addition. There is one at the start of the book which shows the waifs and it’s wonderful. I think four or five more like this dotted throughout the book would add a lot to the story.
Oy Yew is the first part of The Waifs of Duldred trilogy and the second installment will be published later this year. Thank you again to Ana for giving me the opportunity to read and review her book.
This review was originally posted on my book blog: https://clairehuston.wordpress.com/20...
Ana Salote contacted me to ask if I would read and review her middle grade children’s book, Oy Yew. Intrigued by the blurb, I jumped at the chance.
Obviously now I’m in the tricky position of having to describe this book, which is a difficult task because it’s a quirky and original tale. Without going into too much depth, the world of Oy Yew is one where child slave labour is the norm. The waifs – who are a different race to their masters – are kept in servitude until they grow to reach a certain height, at which point they should be set free. Unwilling to lose his workforce, their master does everything he can to stunt their growth and therein lies the crux of this story of survival and struggle.
The characters are great, and I can imagine this book’s core audience (it’s billed as middle grade, so 8-12 year olds, which felt spot on to me) loving the waifs and hating the “baddies” in equal measure. And while the waifs and their plots are at the centre of the story, it’s the villain (as is often the case) who becomes the star of the show. Master Jeopardine is increasingly unhinged and sinister but never cartoonish. In his best moments, he brought to mind other nasties of children’s fiction such as Mrs Trunchbull in Roald Dahl’s Matilda.
The story is well-written and sinister and creepy in places without becoming frightening. And while the waifs suffer, there’s nothing which will traumatize younger or more sensitive readers (particularly if they’ve already read and enjoyed the works of Dahl or Lemony Snicket).
I did wonder if the book is a little too long for its core audience. However, that said, I could imagine reading a couple of chapters of this a night with a child because the story can be divided easily into short episodes. I do think more illustrations would be a valuable addition. There is one at the start of the book which shows the waifs and it’s wonderful. I think four or five more like this dotted throughout the book would add a lot to the story.
Oy Yew is the first part of The Waifs of Duldred trilogy and the second installment will be published later this year. Thank you again to Ana for giving me the opportunity to read and review her book.
June 30, 2016
This book was entered and was a FINALIST in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Oy Yew
Author: Ana Salote
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 23
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 23 readers:
22 would read another book by this author.
23 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt the blurb was enticing.
6 thought the well-developed characters were the best part of the book.
17 felt the author’s no. 1 skill was balancing humour and a strong plot.
Readers’ Comments
‘A fabulous read. Very much enjoyed it. Brill’ cover too.’ Male reader, aged 34
‘The little boy, ‘Oy, Yew’ breaks the heart. I loved him and want to adopt him right now. A well-crafted plot and a fully envisaged world. One of the best books in this year’s Wishing Shelf Awards’ Female reader, aged 53
‘There’s so many aspects I enjoyed in this children’s book for adults. I loved the adventure aspect but the world the author created was by far the best part: the waifs, Duldred Hall, even the evil Jeopardine. I would thoroughly recommend it to anybody…ANYBODY!’ Male reader, aged 35
‘Accessible writing style, glorious plot and a wonderful setting. I liked the murder mystery element too.’ Male reader (editor), aged 62
‘Totally engrossing and totally unputdownable. A gem of a book.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Oy Yew
Author: Ana Salote
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 23
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 23 readers:
22 would read another book by this author.
23 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt the blurb was enticing.
6 thought the well-developed characters were the best part of the book.
17 felt the author’s no. 1 skill was balancing humour and a strong plot.
Readers’ Comments
‘A fabulous read. Very much enjoyed it. Brill’ cover too.’ Male reader, aged 34
‘The little boy, ‘Oy, Yew’ breaks the heart. I loved him and want to adopt him right now. A well-crafted plot and a fully envisaged world. One of the best books in this year’s Wishing Shelf Awards’ Female reader, aged 53
‘There’s so many aspects I enjoyed in this children’s book for adults. I loved the adventure aspect but the world the author created was by far the best part: the waifs, Duldred Hall, even the evil Jeopardine. I would thoroughly recommend it to anybody…ANYBODY!’ Male reader, aged 35
‘Accessible writing style, glorious plot and a wonderful setting. I liked the murder mystery element too.’ Male reader (editor), aged 62
‘Totally engrossing and totally unputdownable. A gem of a book.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
February 18, 2013
A story for children but based on erudite foundations. The waifs will grab your heart and not let go. The author uses great skill in devising the delicious names of people and things and the writing style is charming and witty - Charles Kingsley meets Jasper Fforde. Shades of Gormenghast in
Jeopardine and Duldred Hall. This book entertains on so many levels. I absolutely loved it and I think I may have to read it again. I hope there's a sequel.
I think dear little Linnet was my favourite.
Jeopardine and Duldred Hall. This book entertains on so many levels. I absolutely loved it and I think I may have to read it again. I hope there's a sequel.
I think dear little Linnet was my favourite.
May 19, 2018
After a few years of being in critiquing groups, I now know the ‘rules’ of writing. Stick to one point of view in a scene, ideally of one or two characters in the whole book, describe new people so we can picture them, use a character entering a new situation to cause the catalyst that kick-starts your story, and place your characters in peril. Oy Yew, the first book in Ana Salote’s trilogy The Waifs of Duldred, breaks all these rules, and gets away with it.
I was expecting the story to stick with the point of view of Oy, the boy who thought the calls of ‘Oy, you!’ meant that was his name. After all, the book gets its title from him. In fact, the story ranges from one set of eyes to another quite freely, giving us scenes from the viewpoint of other waifs and scenes none of the waifs could witness. This is particularly effective in that it shows us a range of responses from the waifs to their plight. Washed ashore in a foreign land and set to work in factories, these children might be chosen after a while to work for the bone collector Jeremiah Jeopardine - up teetering ladders and tight chimneys or down drains. All these nasty jobs require small bodies, so the ambition of every child is to grow tall enough to be released. By standard conventions, it should be Oy, the newcomer, who questions the status quo. In fact, Oy is not an agitator but a thinker. Alas, another waif, is more of a conventional boy, frustrated at the injustice of it all, keen to act. He and Oy contrast well, because Oy is gentle and empathic, traits that are traditionally feminine and, moreover, traits that can be ignored in a world that wants protagonists to be active go-getters.
The world of Oy Yew is made of elements of Victorian Gothic, but it also had details unique to the pen of Ana Salote. Descriptions are minimal, and as I read I’d wonder who a character was or what this or that custom involved. The effect, though, was to immerse me in this alternative world in that this was how the waifs would see it, familiar with much of its workings already and in no need of explanation. I particularly liked the system of religion used at Duldred Hall, and the unique species of animals were fun too.
The air of menace hung over the book all through the story; the waifs are thrown from one perilous situation to another. Eventually it becomes clear that their release is not at all the happy ending they were hoping it would be, and in fact a terrible fate is in store for some of them, Oy included. The details are kept quite vague, perhaps so as not to distress younger readers. The characters of the waifs, however – brave, resourceful and supportive to each other – made me root for them. The resolution at the end was superb, as it moved seamlessly from wrapping up the arc of Book 1, where Jeopardine exploits the waifs, to introducing a new danger that will throw the children, literally, into a new land and new dangers.
The book is published by independent press Mother’s Milk Books, and as is usual for that press, is a pleasing book to look at and hold as well as to read. I love the way the tunnels used by the waifs travel over front, back and spine of the book.
Book 2 of The Waifs of Duldred, Nondula, is out now, and the final, Nigma, is due this year.
I was expecting the story to stick with the point of view of Oy, the boy who thought the calls of ‘Oy, you!’ meant that was his name. After all, the book gets its title from him. In fact, the story ranges from one set of eyes to another quite freely, giving us scenes from the viewpoint of other waifs and scenes none of the waifs could witness. This is particularly effective in that it shows us a range of responses from the waifs to their plight. Washed ashore in a foreign land and set to work in factories, these children might be chosen after a while to work for the bone collector Jeremiah Jeopardine - up teetering ladders and tight chimneys or down drains. All these nasty jobs require small bodies, so the ambition of every child is to grow tall enough to be released. By standard conventions, it should be Oy, the newcomer, who questions the status quo. In fact, Oy is not an agitator but a thinker. Alas, another waif, is more of a conventional boy, frustrated at the injustice of it all, keen to act. He and Oy contrast well, because Oy is gentle and empathic, traits that are traditionally feminine and, moreover, traits that can be ignored in a world that wants protagonists to be active go-getters.
The world of Oy Yew is made of elements of Victorian Gothic, but it also had details unique to the pen of Ana Salote. Descriptions are minimal, and as I read I’d wonder who a character was or what this or that custom involved. The effect, though, was to immerse me in this alternative world in that this was how the waifs would see it, familiar with much of its workings already and in no need of explanation. I particularly liked the system of religion used at Duldred Hall, and the unique species of animals were fun too.
The air of menace hung over the book all through the story; the waifs are thrown from one perilous situation to another. Eventually it becomes clear that their release is not at all the happy ending they were hoping it would be, and in fact a terrible fate is in store for some of them, Oy included. The details are kept quite vague, perhaps so as not to distress younger readers. The characters of the waifs, however – brave, resourceful and supportive to each other – made me root for them. The resolution at the end was superb, as it moved seamlessly from wrapping up the arc of Book 1, where Jeopardine exploits the waifs, to introducing a new danger that will throw the children, literally, into a new land and new dangers.
The book is published by independent press Mother’s Milk Books, and as is usual for that press, is a pleasing book to look at and hold as well as to read. I love the way the tunnels used by the waifs travel over front, back and spine of the book.
Book 2 of The Waifs of Duldred, Nondula, is out now, and the final, Nigma, is due this year.
July 13, 2022
A beautifully written and richly imagined fantasy with Dickensian overtones. Can't wait to continue the trilogy.
May 28, 2017
Among last year's casualties were a number of books I'd been planning to review, so alongside some reviews of recently read books, it's time to put that right, because there's some writing that's much too good to miss. And although I'm not approaching them in any particular order, we'll start with an absolute gem.
Quite early in 2016, Ana Salote asked me to review her debut children's novel, Oy Yew, and when I read the description and saw the cover I was pretty sure that I was going to like it. Before I go any further, not only do I adore this cover, but I loved the physical look and feel of the book, beautifully produced by Mother's Milk Books, a small publisher which aims to "celebrate femininity and empathy" by producing a small range of carefully chosen books.
Oy was slight, weakly, overlooked. He had thought himself some kind of ghost till one day, when he was about seven (he guessed), someone saw him.
"Oy, you," said the girl. Startled, he had slipped away, through a gap, into a yard, through a hole, into the innards of a half-collapsed shanty. There he survived on crumbs and smells until, some years later, he was seen again.
Doesn't that make you want to read on? From that moment on, I was completely on Oy's side, willing him to find a better life. Unfortunately, when the second sighting happens, he is netted by the waif-catchers, older, stronger, faster children for whom capturing waifs is a sport. He is taken to a factory where, for the first time ever, he has someone to talk to. But he's not there long before he's sent on to work for the factory owner, Master Jeopardine, in the "big house".
Oy Yew is a book rich in influences and echoes: first and foremost, for me at any rate, is Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies, but there are also echoes here of the less well-known At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald. Both Dickens' and Peake's influence is clear in the glorious nominative determinism of the characters: Mrs Rutheday, Mrs Midden the cook, Miss Spindle and, of course, Jeopardine himself. Shades of Joan Aiken's Black Hearts in Battersea series, too, and Leon Garfield's Smith - all those wonderful dystopian, steampunk-y alternate histories which allow authors to explore complexities in a setting untrammelled by modern mores.
Amidst all this baroque extravagance of naming and setting, Salote keeps a firm grip on her story. The child characters are easy to care about and the creation of the microcosm of the big house and the wider world, which the children mostly know only by rumour and vague memory, is convincing and intriguing - where do the raft children come from? and where do they really go when they grow too large to be classed as waifs? And most of all, of course, who is Oy? An uncertain future lies before them all, always supposing they survive in the first place - it's a dangerous world, and waifs are cheap and disposable, there's always another climbing boy if one has a fatal accident. Or, perhaps, shows too much curiosity.
I've said before on this blog that I think some of the very best writing today takes place in the world of children's books, and I continue to be optimistic about the future of books when writers as good as Salote keep emerging. The sequel, Nondula, is due for publication shortly, so this is the ideal time to immerse yourself in Oy's world.
Quite early in 2016, Ana Salote asked me to review her debut children's novel, Oy Yew, and when I read the description and saw the cover I was pretty sure that I was going to like it. Before I go any further, not only do I adore this cover, but I loved the physical look and feel of the book, beautifully produced by Mother's Milk Books, a small publisher which aims to "celebrate femininity and empathy" by producing a small range of carefully chosen books.
Oy was slight, weakly, overlooked. He had thought himself some kind of ghost till one day, when he was about seven (he guessed), someone saw him.
"Oy, you," said the girl. Startled, he had slipped away, through a gap, into a yard, through a hole, into the innards of a half-collapsed shanty. There he survived on crumbs and smells until, some years later, he was seen again.
Doesn't that make you want to read on? From that moment on, I was completely on Oy's side, willing him to find a better life. Unfortunately, when the second sighting happens, he is netted by the waif-catchers, older, stronger, faster children for whom capturing waifs is a sport. He is taken to a factory where, for the first time ever, he has someone to talk to. But he's not there long before he's sent on to work for the factory owner, Master Jeopardine, in the "big house".
Oy Yew is a book rich in influences and echoes: first and foremost, for me at any rate, is Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies, but there are also echoes here of the less well-known At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald. Both Dickens' and Peake's influence is clear in the glorious nominative determinism of the characters: Mrs Rutheday, Mrs Midden the cook, Miss Spindle and, of course, Jeopardine himself. Shades of Joan Aiken's Black Hearts in Battersea series, too, and Leon Garfield's Smith - all those wonderful dystopian, steampunk-y alternate histories which allow authors to explore complexities in a setting untrammelled by modern mores.
Amidst all this baroque extravagance of naming and setting, Salote keeps a firm grip on her story. The child characters are easy to care about and the creation of the microcosm of the big house and the wider world, which the children mostly know only by rumour and vague memory, is convincing and intriguing - where do the raft children come from? and where do they really go when they grow too large to be classed as waifs? And most of all, of course, who is Oy? An uncertain future lies before them all, always supposing they survive in the first place - it's a dangerous world, and waifs are cheap and disposable, there's always another climbing boy if one has a fatal accident. Or, perhaps, shows too much curiosity.
I've said before on this blog that I think some of the very best writing today takes place in the world of children's books, and I continue to be optimistic about the future of books when writers as good as Salote keep emerging. The sequel, Nondula, is due for publication shortly, so this is the ideal time to immerse yourself in Oy's world.
May 10, 2016
Oy Yew is book I of the Waifs of Duldred Trilogy and was longlisted for the Times/Chicken House prize for children's fiction. I would have awarded it first place. Occasionally I pick up a YA book to read and the title of this one intrigued me. I discovered it is a terrific read, one I could not put down, and I think anyone from 12 to 100 would love it.
The author has created a totally believable and engrossing dystopian world, one in which goodness blossoms and evil exists but is not spelled out. It begins with a small boy, so small and pale that no one notices him. He lives outside a bakery, living on the wonderful smells of bread and sweets and scraps from garbage. When he is mistakenly nabbed as a Porian – a child discarded from that land and sent by raft to drift to Affland or die on the way – he is brought to a factory to work. When asked his name, his captors say he responds to “Oy, You!” and he is named Oy Yew.
Oy Yew slaves away in the factory along with other waifs, who are fed little and worked hard. He makes his first friend and is enjoying his life for the first time, but one day he is chosen to serve at Duldred Hall. ‘Lay low and grow,’ is the motto of the waifs of Duldred Hall, because if they reach the magical height of 5 thighs 10 oggits, they get to leave their life of drudgery. But their Master, Jeopardine, is determined to feed them little and keep them small.
The manor is populated by all sorts of great characters with names that look familiar but aren’t, and the waifs themselves are given names according to their assigned work. Oy becomes Drains, because he is small and can get into drains and sewers to clean them. There’s Stairs and Ceilings and Peelings, too. The waifs get around to clean, polish, change linens and sheets, etc by a system of small waif tunnels that run between floors and rooms, so they are not seen. When the head cook falls ill, and Molly, her assistant, is unable to make the complicated dishes demanded by Jeopardine for himself and his guests, Oy steps in. It seems he has a real knack for cooking, although where he learned it, no one, not even he, knows.
Even the diseases which strike Master and waif alike are fascinating. Oy is afflicted for a short while by seeing small, incredibly hued fish swimming around in his eyes.
Jeopardine is a collector of bones and will do anything to become the next President of the Grand Society of Ossiquarians. Even though Oy becomes invaluable as a cook, the reader gradually becomes aware that Jeopardine values the bones of Oy even more, and his methods of working the waifs and particularly Oy, become sinister.
There are many mysteries in addition to the fate of the waifs. Who and what is Oy? He is not a Porian but doesn’t know where he came from or who he is, just that he is different. Can the waifs escape? Who can they trust? What will happen as Jeopardine descends into madness?
Oy Yew is a children’s classic for adults, too. It tickles the brain as a lighthearted fairy tale with a murder mystery and an adventure story. This is a book I will definitely read again, and if I could give it ten stars, I would. I can’t wait for the second book in this series.
The author has created a totally believable and engrossing dystopian world, one in which goodness blossoms and evil exists but is not spelled out. It begins with a small boy, so small and pale that no one notices him. He lives outside a bakery, living on the wonderful smells of bread and sweets and scraps from garbage. When he is mistakenly nabbed as a Porian – a child discarded from that land and sent by raft to drift to Affland or die on the way – he is brought to a factory to work. When asked his name, his captors say he responds to “Oy, You!” and he is named Oy Yew.
Oy Yew slaves away in the factory along with other waifs, who are fed little and worked hard. He makes his first friend and is enjoying his life for the first time, but one day he is chosen to serve at Duldred Hall. ‘Lay low and grow,’ is the motto of the waifs of Duldred Hall, because if they reach the magical height of 5 thighs 10 oggits, they get to leave their life of drudgery. But their Master, Jeopardine, is determined to feed them little and keep them small.
The manor is populated by all sorts of great characters with names that look familiar but aren’t, and the waifs themselves are given names according to their assigned work. Oy becomes Drains, because he is small and can get into drains and sewers to clean them. There’s Stairs and Ceilings and Peelings, too. The waifs get around to clean, polish, change linens and sheets, etc by a system of small waif tunnels that run between floors and rooms, so they are not seen. When the head cook falls ill, and Molly, her assistant, is unable to make the complicated dishes demanded by Jeopardine for himself and his guests, Oy steps in. It seems he has a real knack for cooking, although where he learned it, no one, not even he, knows.
Even the diseases which strike Master and waif alike are fascinating. Oy is afflicted for a short while by seeing small, incredibly hued fish swimming around in his eyes.
Jeopardine is a collector of bones and will do anything to become the next President of the Grand Society of Ossiquarians. Even though Oy becomes invaluable as a cook, the reader gradually becomes aware that Jeopardine values the bones of Oy even more, and his methods of working the waifs and particularly Oy, become sinister.
There are many mysteries in addition to the fate of the waifs. Who and what is Oy? He is not a Porian but doesn’t know where he came from or who he is, just that he is different. Can the waifs escape? Who can they trust? What will happen as Jeopardine descends into madness?
Oy Yew is a children’s classic for adults, too. It tickles the brain as a lighthearted fairy tale with a murder mystery and an adventure story. This is a book I will definitely read again, and if I could give it ten stars, I would. I can’t wait for the second book in this series.
August 2, 2018
Never before have I read something so utterly original – and in a children’s book no less! I genuinely want to sit a bunch of kids down and read this tale of woe and adventure to them.
Yes it is that good.
Oy Yew takes place in a fictional land with plenty of nonsense words and fictional nations. The words feel Roald Dahl-esque, which the geography puts me in the mind of Six of Crows. In this world, waifs are pressed into slave labour until they reach the height of 5 thighs, 10 oggits and escape…
…or do they?
The waifs of Duldred Hall discover something much more sinister lurking within its walls. The story gets creepy sometimes, but never tips into horror (which is just as well, considering it’s a children’s book).
The plot is gentle but pulls you in irresistibly. The plot line of the waifs is interwoven with that of the villainous Master Jepoardine beautifully and I rooted for them all the way.
Oy is a magical protagonist.
So…unassuming, so quiet. Yet his little heart and instincts just grow throughout the novel as he blossoms. As a character, he doesn’t say much, but as they say, actions speak louder than words.
A particular favourite character of mine was Alas. His resilience and determination stuck out and flipped my initial perception of him. The sibling-like relationship between him and Oy was sweet – it finally felt like there was someone to look after the both of them. The relationship between Alas and Lucinda was sweet too, again more sibling-like than anything else which I just loved after reading so many young adult romance books.
There are multiple view points, and more than a couple of times I had to double check who was who; some of the waifs seemed to blend into one another. That being said, the ones that were developed were written perfectly. A few of the adults blended into one another too, but being me, I wasn’t so interested in them.
This book was just…yes. I will be reading the sequel. And I will be lending it to the children that live across from me because they need this book in their lives.
I would recommend this for anyone that enjoyed Rose by Holly Webb, Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson or any Roald Dahl books as a child (Or if you have children! Or grandchildren!).
Yes it is that good.
Oy Yew takes place in a fictional land with plenty of nonsense words and fictional nations. The words feel Roald Dahl-esque, which the geography puts me in the mind of Six of Crows. In this world, waifs are pressed into slave labour until they reach the height of 5 thighs, 10 oggits and escape…
…or do they?
The waifs of Duldred Hall discover something much more sinister lurking within its walls. The story gets creepy sometimes, but never tips into horror (which is just as well, considering it’s a children’s book).
The plot is gentle but pulls you in irresistibly. The plot line of the waifs is interwoven with that of the villainous Master Jepoardine beautifully and I rooted for them all the way.
Oy is a magical protagonist.
So…unassuming, so quiet. Yet his little heart and instincts just grow throughout the novel as he blossoms. As a character, he doesn’t say much, but as they say, actions speak louder than words.
A particular favourite character of mine was Alas. His resilience and determination stuck out and flipped my initial perception of him. The sibling-like relationship between him and Oy was sweet – it finally felt like there was someone to look after the both of them. The relationship between Alas and Lucinda was sweet too, again more sibling-like than anything else which I just loved after reading so many young adult romance books.
There are multiple view points, and more than a couple of times I had to double check who was who; some of the waifs seemed to blend into one another. That being said, the ones that were developed were written perfectly. A few of the adults blended into one another too, but being me, I wasn’t so interested in them.
This book was just…yes. I will be reading the sequel. And I will be lending it to the children that live across from me because they need this book in their lives.
I would recommend this for anyone that enjoyed Rose by Holly Webb, Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson or any Roald Dahl books as a child (Or if you have children! Or grandchildren!).
March 20, 2016
Nabbed by waif-catchers in the alley where he spends his days sniffing bread and dreaming of floury loafs, Oy Yew is dragged in front of the wiry-haired Mrs Rutheday who sets him to work at bench 54. Oy meets Linnet Pale, a colour-drained girl who becomes his first friend. But assembling unknown items intended for nameless people is not destined to be his lot for long and the new boy is soon recognized as a perfect specimen for Duldred Hall.
Peopled with strangely-named characters like Alas Ringworm, Raymun, Mrs Midden and the hateful Master Jeopardine, the waifs of Duldred are assigned duties around various parts of the big house ('Drains', 'Ceilings', 'Stairs' etc), and expected to perform their tedious obligations out of sight of the Master and his upservants. Oy learns about the strange hierarchy of the place, the peculiar regularity of 'accidents' and the habitual 'measuring' routine where children must reach the perfect height of 5 thighs 10 oggits in order to escape the everyday graft of the Hall. But if escape is so wonderful, why are the details kept under lock and key? And what strange secrets are hidden in Rook's Parlour and the Bone Room? Gradually, with Oy's help, the waifs begin to educate themselves and their discoveries lead to revelations that will change their lives forever.
Ana Salote's first book in 'The Waifs of Duldred' trilogy is, she says, a crossover fantasy for ages 9 to 90, and I can well believe it. The world she creates is original and yet familiar, with its Dickensesque settings and a host of intriguing characters. I'll definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.
I received a paperback copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
Peopled with strangely-named characters like Alas Ringworm, Raymun, Mrs Midden and the hateful Master Jeopardine, the waifs of Duldred are assigned duties around various parts of the big house ('Drains', 'Ceilings', 'Stairs' etc), and expected to perform their tedious obligations out of sight of the Master and his upservants. Oy learns about the strange hierarchy of the place, the peculiar regularity of 'accidents' and the habitual 'measuring' routine where children must reach the perfect height of 5 thighs 10 oggits in order to escape the everyday graft of the Hall. But if escape is so wonderful, why are the details kept under lock and key? And what strange secrets are hidden in Rook's Parlour and the Bone Room? Gradually, with Oy's help, the waifs begin to educate themselves and their discoveries lead to revelations that will change their lives forever.
Ana Salote's first book in 'The Waifs of Duldred' trilogy is, she says, a crossover fantasy for ages 9 to 90, and I can well believe it. The world she creates is original and yet familiar, with its Dickensesque settings and a host of intriguing characters. I'll definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.
I received a paperback copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
December 23, 2017
'Oy Yew' is a book for older children. Luckily (being all of 52) I qualify as an older child... and I loved it! Ana Salote's world of "waifsploitation" exists somewhere between Dahl, Hogarth and 'Upstairs Downstairs' in the richness of its characters (you can even detect a dusting of Dickens and a sprinkle of JK Rowling... and maybe even the dark comedy of Blackadder the Third thrown in for good measure).
It had me gripped from the off, before being launched into a pantomime populated by the grotesque inhabitants of Affland and Duldred. I loved the idea that Oy, whose origins are mysterious to say the least, feeds only on 'crumbs and smells' from the bakery near to the alley in which he exists. The rest of the world Salote creates is carefully crafted with similar invention and attention to detail. It's characters all belong firmly in their world and each has a back-story that brings them to life. You can't help but root for the waifs and "boo" the villains as the high ladders, dark chimney's and narrow 'below stairs' passages of Duldred push you to the edge of your seat, especially when the dark intentions of 'the master' become ominously and horrifyingly clear.
My only disappointment was to find, on the last page, that this was the first instalment of a trilogy and I closed the cover at the end feeling a little unfulfilled (I'm not really a fan of trilogies). If it wasn't for that I would have awarded the book five stars. Nonetheless, I would recommend 'Oy Yew' without hesitation as a great read for children of all ages. It will be interesting to see if Salote can maintain the momentum across two more books.
It had me gripped from the off, before being launched into a pantomime populated by the grotesque inhabitants of Affland and Duldred. I loved the idea that Oy, whose origins are mysterious to say the least, feeds only on 'crumbs and smells' from the bakery near to the alley in which he exists. The rest of the world Salote creates is carefully crafted with similar invention and attention to detail. It's characters all belong firmly in their world and each has a back-story that brings them to life. You can't help but root for the waifs and "boo" the villains as the high ladders, dark chimney's and narrow 'below stairs' passages of Duldred push you to the edge of your seat, especially when the dark intentions of 'the master' become ominously and horrifyingly clear.
My only disappointment was to find, on the last page, that this was the first instalment of a trilogy and I closed the cover at the end feeling a little unfulfilled (I'm not really a fan of trilogies). If it wasn't for that I would have awarded the book five stars. Nonetheless, I would recommend 'Oy Yew' without hesitation as a great read for children of all ages. It will be interesting to see if Salote can maintain the momentum across two more books.
August 28, 2015
My 9 and 11 year old children loved this book. Here is my 11 year old daughter's review:
Oy Yew thinks he is a ghost until the waif catchers get him, they take him to the factory where he makes his first friend, Linnet Pale. But when he gets taken away to Duldred Hall, where Jeopardine the master of the factory lives, he promises to find her again. At Duldred, the waifs think there is something going on. When waifs reach a certain height they are freed but recently, when they reach the measuring line, waifs are having strange accidents. Could the master be causing them on purpose? The master will do anything to win the upcoming election for the bone society, but he needs a unique bone to win. Oy isn't quite like the other waifs; he can bend his joints in odd ways. Could Jeopardine be after his bones?
I didn't really have a favourite character; I liked all the waifs equally, and all the characters felt real as I read about them. It was really exciting and once I had started reading I couldn't put it down, it kept me guessing all the way though. One thing I found annoying was that you don't find out what happens to a few of the characters, although Oy Yew is the first in a trilogy, so you might find out in a later book. but apart from that I think it's a very good book and I would thoroughly recommend it.
Oy Yew thinks he is a ghost until the waif catchers get him, they take him to the factory where he makes his first friend, Linnet Pale. But when he gets taken away to Duldred Hall, where Jeopardine the master of the factory lives, he promises to find her again. At Duldred, the waifs think there is something going on. When waifs reach a certain height they are freed but recently, when they reach the measuring line, waifs are having strange accidents. Could the master be causing them on purpose? The master will do anything to win the upcoming election for the bone society, but he needs a unique bone to win. Oy isn't quite like the other waifs; he can bend his joints in odd ways. Could Jeopardine be after his bones?
I didn't really have a favourite character; I liked all the waifs equally, and all the characters felt real as I read about them. It was really exciting and once I had started reading I couldn't put it down, it kept me guessing all the way though. One thing I found annoying was that you don't find out what happens to a few of the characters, although Oy Yew is the first in a trilogy, so you might find out in a later book. but apart from that I think it's a very good book and I would thoroughly recommend it.
August 29, 2015
This is a thoroughly enjoyable children's book which adults will find a guilty thrill in enjoying too. I would equate it with Lemony Snicket and 'A Series of Unfortunate Events.'
Oy Yew is an unfortunate of unknown origin. He is caught by the waif catchers and sent to work first in a local factory and then in Duldred Hall. Waifs are the workers unseen and uncared for and are the cast-offs from the Porians. They do all the horrible jobs to keep the Hall and the factory running. The waifs motto at the Hall is 'Lay low and grow' but recently their friends have not been sent back to their families but met with accidents when they are tall enough to return home. Oy Yew is a surprising character in that he is able to do more than you would expect – he is as thin as a wisp but has powers that make him able to do exceptional things.
I enjoyed this book which is the first in a trilogy and will be waiting with bated breath for the next one in the series which is due out next year. There is plenty to discuss in a book group such as the different levels of society and the way they regard each other. The question is would your book group enjoy what is nominally a children's book?
Read and reviewed for NB/Nudge
Oy Yew is an unfortunate of unknown origin. He is caught by the waif catchers and sent to work first in a local factory and then in Duldred Hall. Waifs are the workers unseen and uncared for and are the cast-offs from the Porians. They do all the horrible jobs to keep the Hall and the factory running. The waifs motto at the Hall is 'Lay low and grow' but recently their friends have not been sent back to their families but met with accidents when they are tall enough to return home. Oy Yew is a surprising character in that he is able to do more than you would expect – he is as thin as a wisp but has powers that make him able to do exceptional things.
I enjoyed this book which is the first in a trilogy and will be waiting with bated breath for the next one in the series which is due out next year. There is plenty to discuss in a book group such as the different levels of society and the way they regard each other. The question is would your book group enjoy what is nominally a children's book?
Read and reviewed for NB/Nudge
June 28, 2014
This book was in my Kindle for several months before I read it; when I finally got into it. I could have kicked myself for not reading it earlier. Yes, the title is weird, and the first few pages seem like it's going to be a fairytale type thing; but then you are drawn into a totally unique world with it's own rules for society. This story of child slave labor could have been depressing, but it is told with a wicked sense of humor; from the names of the characters to some of their outrageous situations, the reader will find himself laughing. When I read so called "young adult" books like this, I am really jealous of the current generation of young readers; my childhood was spent with "Little Women" !! But I do recommend this book for anyone out there, including seniors, like myself.
I can only hope that the ending indicates that there is a sequel in the works....I am eager to know more about Oy Yew; what he is about, and where he is going.
I can only hope that the ending indicates that there is a sequel in the works....I am eager to know more about Oy Yew; what he is about, and where he is going.
July 19, 2016
Shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award Children's and YA
We are catapulted into an alien world of waifs, who we quickly care about, of people with power, where we find injustice, loyalty and friendship in equal measure. The reader is never patronised – we are expected to accepted this world without explanation, and we do, immediately. This is the first of a trilogy, and there are many promising themes – a fascination with bones, the rafts that bring the waifs to the shore, the puzzling origins of Oy Yew himself – which offer potential for the future novels, but this all heightens the tension and leads to a breath-taking climax. Our reader was so impressed she intends to recommend the entire trilogy for her school library.
www.ruberybookaward.com
We are catapulted into an alien world of waifs, who we quickly care about, of people with power, where we find injustice, loyalty and friendship in equal measure. The reader is never patronised – we are expected to accepted this world without explanation, and we do, immediately. This is the first of a trilogy, and there are many promising themes – a fascination with bones, the rafts that bring the waifs to the shore, the puzzling origins of Oy Yew himself – which offer potential for the future novels, but this all heightens the tension and leads to a breath-taking climax. Our reader was so impressed she intends to recommend the entire trilogy for her school library.
www.ruberybookaward.com
August 17, 2013
This is a great book. Oy Yew caught me from the first page. There is something utterly vibrant and compelling about Ana Salote’s writing. The characters are enigmatic and intriguing, especially Oy, who is a most original and subtle hero; he touched my heart. The story encapsulates, what is for me, one of the best themes: freedom from slavery and convention. Highly recommended.
April 29, 2017
Extremely enjoyable and innovative tale of waifs in servitude in a right-wing society.
In this fantasy world, ‘spare’ children are put on rafts in hope of finding a better land, only to end up in dire servitude. A child with no background, living rough on the streets, is lumped in with them. But Oy Yew seems different, somehow, and has skills nobody else has – yet lacks some of the characteristics of the others. Through teamwork and a desire to better themselves, the waifs start to take over….
This book drew me in right from the start. Oy’s ‘differences’ are intriguing. He makes friends with another, ‘different’ from the rest, only to be dragged away to a different life. The range of characters below stairs including the waifs and the cooks could be confusing, but eventually most of them became distinct characters and rounded personalities. Duldred Hall has plenty of mysteries to explore, and I may have read too much into some, and not enough to suspect others. Whether this was my lack of attention or the author’s misdirection I can’t tell.
This book kept pulling me back. I was itching to find out what happened next. In a particularly busy week it was a joy to insist I had to complete the book on schedule – I loved it. The story may have tailed off a little towards the end, which is why I only gave it four stars on Goodreads, but I think of it fondly and may go for the second in the series. But that really is why the fifth star is missing – I could easily leave Oy and his friends where they are, without seeing how their adventure develops. The story continues without being a cliff-hanger. Extra marks for that!
A brilliantly constructed world, so solid you could touch and smell it. Exciting and intriguing at the same time. One for everyone’s bookshelf, especially middle grade readers!
In this fantasy world, ‘spare’ children are put on rafts in hope of finding a better land, only to end up in dire servitude. A child with no background, living rough on the streets, is lumped in with them. But Oy Yew seems different, somehow, and has skills nobody else has – yet lacks some of the characteristics of the others. Through teamwork and a desire to better themselves, the waifs start to take over….
This book drew me in right from the start. Oy’s ‘differences’ are intriguing. He makes friends with another, ‘different’ from the rest, only to be dragged away to a different life. The range of characters below stairs including the waifs and the cooks could be confusing, but eventually most of them became distinct characters and rounded personalities. Duldred Hall has plenty of mysteries to explore, and I may have read too much into some, and not enough to suspect others. Whether this was my lack of attention or the author’s misdirection I can’t tell.
This book kept pulling me back. I was itching to find out what happened next. In a particularly busy week it was a joy to insist I had to complete the book on schedule – I loved it. The story may have tailed off a little towards the end, which is why I only gave it four stars on Goodreads, but I think of it fondly and may go for the second in the series. But that really is why the fifth star is missing – I could easily leave Oy and his friends where they are, without seeing how their adventure develops. The story continues without being a cliff-hanger. Extra marks for that!
A brilliantly constructed world, so solid you could touch and smell it. Exciting and intriguing at the same time. One for everyone’s bookshelf, especially middle grade readers!
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