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I spent 20 years as a teacher of French, Latin and Classical studies, before a change of career led me to writing children's fiction. Originally from the UK, I now live in France with my husband and our beautiful Tonkinese cat.
Shadows from the Past is a series of time-travel adventures, featuring 3 children and a rather special Tonkinese cat - the incomparable Maximus Lancelot to give him his full name. I'm currently working on the eighteenth book, The Shadow of the Slave Ship. The full-length books are also accompanied by some shorter stories, Max's Adventures, all of which see the talking feline hero, Max, undertaking solo missions in the past.
As I take my young readers on a magical mystery tour through the past, I'm hoping that my love of history, myth and legend will rub off on them too.
Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite
Get ready for another extraordinary time-traveling journey in Shadow of The Norman Arrow by Wendy Leighton-Porter. Eleven-year-old twins, Joe and Jemima Lancelot, are still searching through the past for their missing parents. Accompanied by their best friend, Charlie, and Jemima's huge talking Tonkinese cat Max, the children are ready to set off on another thrilling adventure in the seventh book of The Shadows From The Past series.
Opening the thick Shadows From The Past book that swallowed the twins' parents a few months before, the children soon discover that they will be traveling back to 1066 England. They hope to at least find a clue leading to the Lancelots' whereabouts while helping King Harold defeat William The Conqueror. Feeling confident that they know the story of the Norman Conquest, the children and Max step through the mists of time. Only they soon discover that there are some things their history lessons have left out concerning the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings. Or, at least, the children had assumed that the stories were just myths and legends. Until they meet them face-on! Will the children finally find their parents? Will they be able to help King Harold and prevent his death? Or are they fighting against destiny?
Action packed with battles, legends, and myths, this book is another spectacular story by Wendy Leighton-Porter. The reader won't be able to put this book down from page one. Digging deep into English history, myths, and legends, The Shadows From The Past Series is more than just a great succession of exciting stories; they are super educational! I love that the author challenges young readers to think beyond what they see, what they are told, encouraging them to research history, myths, and legends. For myself, it is refreshing to read history that hasn't been barely scratched over or watered down. I would recommend this book - along with all the Shadows From The Past books - for children ages 7-10, though the author's unique and descriptive writing style entertains adults as well as children.
