The Wind on the Moon (New York Review Children's Collection)
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Winner of the Carnegie Medal
In the English village of Midmeddlecum, Major Palfrey asks his two daughters to behave themselves while he is off at war. Sighs Dinah, "I think that we are quite likely to be bad, however hard we try not to be," and her sister Dorinda adds helpfully, "Very often, when we think we are behaving well, some grown-up person says we are really quite bad. It's difficult to tell which is which." Sure enough, the mischievous sisters soon convince a judge that minds must be changed as often as socks, stage an escape from the local zoo (thanks to a witch's potion which turns them into kangaroos), and—in the company of a golden puma and silver falcon—set off to rescue their father from the tyrant of Bombardy. A tale of hilarity and great adventure, The Wind on the Moon is also a work of high seriousness; after all, "life without freedom," as the valiant puma makes clear, "is a poor, poor thing." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
In the English village of Midmeddlecum, Major Palfrey asks his two daughters to behave themselves while he is off at war. Sighs Dinah, "I think that we are quite likely to be bad, however hard we try not to be," and her sister Dorinda adds helpfully, "Very often, when we think we are behaving well, some grown-up person says we are really quite bad. It's difficult to tell which is which." Sure enough, the mischievous sisters soon convince a judge that minds must be changed as often as socks, stage an escape from the local zoo (thanks to a witch's potion which turns them into kangaroos), and—in the company of a golden puma and silver falcon—set off to rescue their father from the tyrant of Bombardy. A tale of hilarity and great adventure, The Wind on the Moon is also a work of high seriousness; after all, "life without freedom," as the valiant puma makes clear, "is a poor, poor thing." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was first read this book in Fourth Grade (at about 8 years old), and over the years I have continually borrowed it from our local library (I am now 27). It is a wonderful ORIGINAL story about two sisters who are naughty (and the consequences and adventures that come from being so). It has witches and animals, detectives and townspeople, and for all that it was written in 1944, is completely timeless. This is a fantastic book that I would recommend to anyone of any age.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read and re-read this book many year's ago when it was first published and then handed my copy to our children in their turn who similarly loved it. It has adventure, magic and a subtle sense of humour. (Bendigo the bear who steals the zoo keeper's Times to read in his cage at night). There is great imagination. The children are nowhere near as 'good' as, say, those in Swallows and Amazons. Turning yourselves into kangaroos in order to bounce upon your enemies is a nice thought. Quite a lot of the story still has its relevance when the children's father has to be rescued from an evil tyrant in an oppressed country. As you would expect with Linklater it is well written. Nicolas Bentley's marvellous illustrations add greatly to the enjoyment of the book. I am very pleased it has been released now in paperback form so that at last I can recommend it and know that it is available again on the shelves.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"When there is wind on the moon, you must be very careful how you behave. Because if it is an ill wind and you behave badly, it will blow straight into your heart, and then you will behave badly for a long time to come." These words uttered by Major Palfrey, Dinah and Dorinda's father, is a foretelling of a year's worth of naughtiness for the two girls. With their father gone, they do their best to make mischief as when they try to do good they end up getting scolded anyway.
First the sisters eat too many pies, steaks and bread to blow themselves up into the shape of balloons. Then, after the village kids prick them with pins to see if they would burst, they cried themselves thin. Their real adventures begin with thoughts of revenge.
With the help of Mrs. Grimble, they bewitch themselves into kangaroos ("I have often wondered what I shall be when I grow up, whether a teacher of dancing, or a circus rider, or a mother of ten, but never, never, never did I expect to be a kangaroo."). With kicks, leaps and bounds they terrify the village people. But their rampage is short-lived. Lassoed by the zoo's owner and caretaker, they are caged and tended as other zoo animals. Here, they solve the mystery of lost Ostrich eggs and free two beasts who become their loyal friends.
Their appetite for naughtiness and cleverness whetted, they turn their attention to freeing their beloved dancing teacher from the county jail. All this is just preparation for the greatest escape adventure of all, rescuing their father from the castle dungeons of a far country.
Eric Linklater's humor shines and the plot zigs and zags unexpectedly. Dorinda and Dinah will be the envy of any child who yearns to take their naughtiness to a higher level.
Caution: Some sentiments in the book may be offensive to some: that fat people are ugly or a person whose face is blackened by dirt looks like a 'negro'.
Overall it is a fun romp with two very naughty girls. Just one thing boggles this reader's mind: Why doesn't their mother ever notice them missing for days or weeks at a time?
First the sisters eat too many pies, steaks and bread to blow themselves up into the shape of balloons. Then, after the village kids prick them with pins to see if they would burst, they cried themselves thin. Their real adventures begin with thoughts of revenge.
With the help of Mrs. Grimble, they bewitch themselves into kangaroos ("I have often wondered what I shall be when I grow up, whether a teacher of dancing, or a circus rider, or a mother of ten, but never, never, never did I expect to be a kangaroo."). With kicks, leaps and bounds they terrify the village people. But their rampage is short-lived. Lassoed by the zoo's owner and caretaker, they are caged and tended as other zoo animals. Here, they solve the mystery of lost Ostrich eggs and free two beasts who become their loyal friends.
Their appetite for naughtiness and cleverness whetted, they turn their attention to freeing their beloved dancing teacher from the county jail. All this is just preparation for the greatest escape adventure of all, rescuing their father from the castle dungeons of a far country.
Eric Linklater's humor shines and the plot zigs and zags unexpectedly. Dorinda and Dinah will be the envy of any child who yearns to take their naughtiness to a higher level.
Caution: Some sentiments in the book may be offensive to some: that fat people are ugly or a person whose face is blackened by dirt looks like a 'negro'.
Overall it is a fun romp with two very naughty girls. Just one thing boggles this reader's mind: Why doesn't their mother ever notice them missing for days or weeks at a time?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A childhood favourite
I read this book (in Polish translation) when I was about 7 years old, so c. 1970. I loved it then, so much than when a schoolfriend asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Anica
fantastic book!!
what a fabulous book this is, I read it when I was a child and loved it. I bought the book again this year to read to my eight year old daughter and was worried I might not find it... Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2010 by L. Mant
A masterpiece
I was bought this book when I was 8 - just a year after it was first published in 1944. As a child I just loved the story - two children whose father is about to set off on... Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2009 by Kenneth Mines
Favourite children's book
I am delighted to see that this book is currently in print. Like another of the reviewers, I have read and re-read it constantly for many years and am still enchanted by its... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2006 by T. W. Jones
Good memories from my childhood
an imaginative, and in places dark, story ideal for children, with more imagination than most available childrens books, and better written too.
Published on 2 Mar 2006 by Ms. Caitlin B. Blanchard
Treasured childhood book
I read this book whilst at primary school, and tracked it down through booksleuth - A book you will find hard to put down, not only suitable for the younger members of the family,... Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2004
Fantastic
I also had this book read to me at school when I was 8. It had the whole class totally enthralled. It is particularly good for reading aloud as it has a strong and fast paced story... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2001
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