Whilst I didn't get on that well with Liz's Philippa Fisher title, I absolutely loved this one. Yes it's the fourth book in the series and whilst there are some spoilers for the previous novel, this one definitely is readable without prior knowledge of events or the characters. It's fun, it has adventure and above all else it carries the message of people accepting others cultures which is a message that should be imparted to children of all ages. Add to the mix characters that not only "swish" off the page, but bring to life their world alongside their emotional worries and you know that it's a title that the 8+ range will get a blast from. I really will have to check out the other titles in this series.