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Laura Wood - Author
A lively mystery about belonging somewhere new: Poppy’s unusual circus upbringing meets boarding-school traditions, while friendship and investigation draw her into a dangerous case involving an Egyptian ruby.
FamilyThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.School transitionThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.BelongingThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.
Consider
Fear and suspenseViolence and harmSocial conflict
Personalised Fit
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Poppy moves from a travelling circus family into a boarding school and initially does not fit in.MixedMixed: the book presents both supportive and critical signals.Mixed: the book presents both supportive and critical signals.
How the book presents it: The contrast appears to value both her unconventional background and the friendships she develops at school, rather than presenting only one world as sufficient.
Talk about: Does Poppy find a way to remain connected to her circus family while making a place for herself at school?
Friendship and trust during investigation
Poppy, Kip and Ingrid investigate the accidents and the stolen ruby together.FavourableFavourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.Favourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.
How the book presents it: The trio’s co-operative investigation is presented positively, with their friendship helping them pursue questions others explain through the curse.
Talk about: How do the friends share risk, evidence and responsibility when their theories are tested?
Appearance, evidence and explanation
Accidents are attributed by some characters to a Pharaoh’s curse, while Poppy and her friends look for who is really causing them.Exploratory / explanatoryExploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.Exploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.
How the book presents it: The premise sets a supernatural-seeming explanation against an investigation for a human cause, encouraging attention to evidence without establishing a broader message about belief.
Talk about: What evidence makes the curse seem convincing, and what evidence points towards another explanation?
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Why It May Be Worth Reading
It offers comic eccentricity alongside suspense, with an unconventional extended circus family, a new-school setting and a puzzle that invites readers to question whether the apparent curse explains what happens.
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What Deserves Attention
Consider whether the child enjoys stories where danger, unexplained accidents and a stolen valuable create tension, alongside humour and friendship. The opening may feel particularly suspenseful before the mystery is resolved.
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A Conversation Worth Having
How does Poppy respond when circus life and school life pull her in different directions, and does the investigation change how she understands friendship, trust or belonging?
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Reading Approach
If suspense feels intense, pause after a tense chapter and invite predictions about the accidents or ruby without demanding a solution. Afterwards, compare the apparent curse with the explanation the story provides.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
Belonging between different worlds: The supplied extracts do not establish the ending or the longer-term balance between these communities.
Friendship and trust during investigation: The extracts do not show disagreements within the group or explain how the investigation concludes.
Appearance, evidence and explanation: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
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