I loved this book. It's one of those marvellous children's books that is rich enough to speak to adults. It's also true to the spirit of the gospels, filling in gaps in the narrative in an entirely credible way. I particularly enjoyed the characterisation of the various apostles and other adults (including James - 'don't call me Jamie' - the brother of Jesus, for example, and \[of course\] Peter). The first time a gospel event occured it crept up on me - I knew I was reading a story set in those times, but no immediate connection was apparent, then suddenly I found myself in the centre of the action and the dying lady I'd just met was the one I know from Mark 1 and Luke 4. It was a real thrill each time it happened (and it happened a lot). The part that affected me most deeply was the account of the crucifixion, which is all the more powerful because we know what is happening, while the central character doesn't - she's not in Jerusalem and all she knows is that all the light and joy have abruptly gone out of the world. I won't spoil the last chapters for you by saying how the story unfolds, but I will warn you that I wept buckets - first in grief, then in joy. And joy is the note on which the story ends - huge, satisfying and full of hope. An ideal book for parents and children (up to early teens I think) to read together.