Octave of Angels [Paperback]

Margaret McAllister (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2001

A mystery story about a boy called Calum who moves to a small town and is caught up in the preparations for the local festival - The "Octave of Angels". But there is a deeper and more sinister past linked to the Octave - away from all the festive bunting - a past that seems to involve Calum's family.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Margaret McAllister's fourth novel for OUP - her previous books, A Friend for Rachel and Hold My Hand and Run have been well reviewed.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Oxford Childrens (September 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192718770
• ISBN-13: 978-0192718778
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Easy read, interesting story, March 21, 2004

By 

Maura Scholl "Teacher" (Evanston, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Octave of Angels (Hardcover)

I read this story for a children's literature class. It was a thoughtful story with interesting characters. The summary on the book makes a bigger deal about the story's "mystery" than it actually is. Toward the end of the story, the mystery is not really that big of a deal...but that doesn't make the story disappointing in any way, as it does end well. The story is set in England, and there are some terms and situations that a younger reader, not familiar with England, might have questions about. There are several young characters, who are well-developed and easy to distinguish. In addition, there are several, less well-developed, adult characters. I found myself having to take longer to recall which adult was which and felt this could be somewhat confusing for younger readers. This would be a good leisure read for students in grades 3-6.

4.0 out of 5 stars A "gentle" mystery for upper elementary, January 27, 2006

By 

HenderHouse (Libertyville, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Octave of Angels (Hardcover)

Young Calum moves to Beckerton, his family's ancestral town, and learns that the village is not so welcoming to newcomers. He becomes involved with an ancient tradition and a not-quite-as-ancient mystery, making friends along the way. I would classify this story as a "gentle" read, recommending it to children who don't want anything scary and/or to parents who don't want violence, occult, sexuality, or similar issues in their children's literature. Offered by Eerdmans, a Christian publisher, the religious element is very subtle in this title.