The cover above is much more likely to appeal to 21st century children, but it doesn't really match the vibe of the story. ?�I read the Puffin paperback, and that doesn't have a good cover either, just being Gareth Floyd's colorized sketch of a thug with a gun and a boy cowering in the back. ?�Yes, the boy Davy does have the gift of mind-reading, and there is a thug with a gun, and Davy does spend some time in the shadows trying not to be seen.

But under the adventure is a Welsh legend, a bit of an explanation of modern Welsh politics, a family story, and a lesson in humanity. ?�Turns out this thug has such disturbed thoughts that Davy almost immediately realizes that he's more deserving of compassion than of prison. ?�It's a sophisticated message, and I would not necessarily except child readers to understand it. ?�Davy is fourteen during the bulk of the story, and I wouldn't recommend that children younger than 12 'read up' to this.?�

However, I would recommend it for YA and adults. ?�Dickinson is a terrific author. ?�And the illustrations inside my edition, by Gareth Floyd, are just sufficient to enhance the mood and line of the story.?� ( )