Andy sagar Books

Yesterday Crumb is a girl with fox ears who lives in a cage in a circus. She is exhibited as a freak and now twelve years old, is desperate to escape. When she finally gets her chance, Yesterday finds a world full of magic and enchantment, a travelling witch’s teashop and friends as well as enemies. As the tag line says, “Adventure and magic await in every teacup….”

This book has been compared to the Strangeworlds Travel Agency and Starfell, and while I can see why, it is entirely original in other ways. Yesterday is a marvellous and feisty heroine and her new friends are equally delightful. The villain, because of course there has to be a villain, is suitably scary and there are many heart-stopping moments of peril. Overarching all of this is the wonderful setting of the teashop and the magic therein. It has now become one of the places in fiction I want to visit; I would love to sip hot chocolate and eat cake surrounded by the usual magical customers.

There is a theme of belonging (or not belonging) and feeling different that runs throughout the story. There is also a strong thread of finding your confidence and standing up to bullies in the story. Beatrice Blue’s cover is a vivid capturing of the essence of the book, – full of life and colour and magic.

Andy Sagar has a truly delicious debut on his hands, one I want to read aloud right away as the voices of all the characters come across so clearly. I am overjoyed there will be more Yesterday Crumb adventures yet to come.