Jill Paton Walsh and Juliette Palmer bring the world of 19th century canals vividly to life. The plot is a simple interlude in the life of a cloistered Victorian child, desperately unhappy, who falls into the company of two children who are illegally operating a canal boat on their own so their grown brother, who has badly broken his arm, will not lose his contract to haul coal. She spends almost a week in their company, and returns home, where her hysterically reproachful family tries to make her forget all about it. Simple. But it's a well told story, extremely well researched. I found it interesting throughout and a second reading revealed new depths. The illustrations are marvellous. Even if I had not liked the story so much, I would have kept the book for the beautiful line drawings of narrowboats and canal folk. ( )

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