The year is 1872 and young Penelope Pickering lives in a boarding school. One day, very unexpectedly, her aunt - Miss Harriet Marchmont arrives. Aunt Harriet is an author. She is the author of sensational stories printed on cheap paper called 'penny dreadfuls'. And yes they only cost one penny. Each contains only part of a gripping story about things like highwaymen, vampires and werewolves. These publications are extremely popular. Aunt Harriet is a rich woman.
Aunt Harriet has had news that Penny's parents are missing or perhaps just away and so Aunt Harriet is now Penny's guardian. Aunt Penny dislikes her former boarding school and so she whisks Penny off on an adventure. Along with her publisher Uriel Crowley and Aunt Harriet's pet monkey, Jones, the group set off for Hampshire to visit Mr Toddington's Museum of the Curious and Absurb. Aunt Harriet, as advised by Mr Crowley, has heard there is a mystery there and Aunt Harriet is sure she will uncover delicious plot ideas for her new set of Penny Dreadfuls.
The museum is rumoured to have a display of taxidermy kittens that come to life at midnight. Could this really be true or is it all an elaborate hoax and what of Mr Crowley - there is something stranger, perhaps even sinister about him - Penny needs to uncover the truth.
This book is filled with drama and mystery but sensitive readers who love cats may find some parts a little distressing which is why I am going to say this is a book of readers aged 9+.
Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens will be published in August, 2022 by Walker Books Australia. Thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance copy. Bronte Rose Marando has created a very appealing cover too.
This book is the first in a planned series and Allison Rushby does provide a hint that more will follow about this early in the first book when Penny reads a letter purportedly sent by her parents which mentions flowers such as Monkshood, Rhododendrons and Oleander. Two of these are poisonous and they don't flower in October and why would her parents be in Switzerland? I will need to continue to series to solve this mystery.
About Penny Dreadfuls: The term typically referred to a story published in weekly parts of 8 to 16 pages, each costing one penny. The subject matter was typically sensational, focusing on the exploits of detectives, criminals, or supernatural entities.
You can see some examples here on the British Library web site. Read about their popularity with children.
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