The curse of Rocamadour - Louise Dale

For ages 8-12. This classic children's adventure centres around Newark Castle's connections with the misdemeanours of King John. Alice and Robert travel on a school trip to France from their home town of Newark in Nottinghamshire. Newark Castle, where King John is reported to have been foully murdered, is under threat from mysterious flooding, and now the storms seem to be following the children to France. Alice and Robert team up with a sultry French boy called Jean-Marc and they are propelled into a dangerous quest towards the restitution of a Time Trigger that was stolen from an Ice Age Troglodyte burial cave in the Middle Ages. Thwarted by their teachers and delayed by school projects and class bullies, the trio must find a way to succeed before it is too late. There are a host of enchanting, animated characters in both the present day and from the past to thrill and amuse young readers. The historical aspects of the plot are vividly brought to life with knights, vultures, shamans and skeletons. They are balanced by stunning descriptions of modern day France and a veritable feast of delights for child readers including moped rides, hair braids, chocolate cake, tadpoles, snakes and comical teachers. There is a smouldering tension and a hint of romance among the three modern day child heroes.