Bali Rai's mixture of third and first-person narrative serves to heighten tension while the city scene depictions are sordid and threatening . . . a well paced thriller

Exhilirating sequel to The Crew . . . unflinching and authentic

Expertly paced . . . the ending is tragic, but the energy and verbal brilliance evident on every page also convey hope . . . An author to watch out for

Rai holds his reader with a convincing, disturbing portrait of excluded people struggling for something better . . . a thought-provoking, eye-opening picture

A hard-hitting, totally convincing and yet strangely sympathetic tale of life on the streets of our cities today

An intricately plotted drama . . . Rai builds his story with consummate control . . . his empathetic portrayal of his multi-cultural cast of characters is underpinned by a sure grasp of street-language and mores

This is a fast-paced short chapter book (perhaps as you would expect from a book about racing!) but it pauses in just the right places for the laughs.

To get children's attention when it comes to reading, you have to have engaging characters - and situations... and Dixie O'Day has both in spades. Aimed at children who have just gained the confidence to read alone, this charming and utterly brilliant story, which kicks off a new series, is also perfect for sharing. The illustrations suck you in, the story will have you smiling, then laughing... Absolutely brilliant!

The book has a nostalgic feel, which gives the impression that it is a classic already, with simple red, white and black illustrations, and there are some added bonuses in the form of a detailed map prior to the story illustrating the adventure, and a quiz which will support any young reader to dip back into the text to find the textual references. This is a fast-paced short chapter book but it pauses in just the right places for the laughs. Ages 5-9.

Clara Vulliamy’s illustrations are filled with a nostalgic charm that perfectly complements her mother’s writing.The characters are brilliantly created, with my favourite being the duo’s neighbour and nemesis, Lou Ella. Adults can marvel at the overall design of the book and chuckle along to the pop-culture references scattered throughout. With activities at the back and an introduction to the characters at the front, this delightful book is also so much more than just a story. With such close attention to creating something to treasure, by one of England’s own treasures when it comes to younger fiction, I feel I can easily make the claim that Dixie O’Day will still be found on shelves in 2043 (gosh that seems such a long way away).

Canine capers in a beautifully designed package from a mother-and-daughter author/artist team.