One in a coal bucket.
One in a picnic hamper.
One in a wheat sack.
And finally, one in a coffin-shaped basket. Those babies were Lotta, Egg, Fenna, Sem and Milou. And although Gassbeek might think they're 'unadoptable', they know their individuality is what makes them so special - and so determined to stay together. Then a most sinister gentleman appears and threatens to tear them apart. The gang decide to make a daring escape, fleeing the frozen canals of Amsterdam for an adventure packed with puppets and pirate ships, clock-makers and cruel villains - and with only a scrap of a clue to guide them. But is their real home - and their real family - already closer than they realise? "A corker of a story." Emma Carroll, author of Letters to the Lighthouse "A book to absolutely fall in love with." Cerrie Burnell, author of The Girl with the Shark's Teeth
I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming, yet at times disturbing, tale of 5 unique orphans who use their initiative and unusual skills to escape the evil Gassbeak (the matron of the orphanage) as well as the despicable Rotman - a sailor who wants to buy the orphans to work them to death. Set in 19th Century Amsterdam, the leader of this group of orphans is Milou - an orphan who believes her arrival at the orphanage is temporary and is waiting for her family to return for her but when faced with the reality of herself and her ‘orphanage family’ being sold to Rotman, the orphans fake their own adoptions, escape to the windmill Milou believes belongs to her family and they even create a puppet father (to keep adults away). The endearing characters of the orphans, as well as the intrigue, action and vile villains had me willing the children on to succeed and find happiness. I will definitely be recommending this book with year 6.