A sweet, easily read children's book -- it's almost as fun to read as the romp through historic mythology that the main characters take. ( )

Haley has been raised by her strict grandmother and often-absent grandfather. She's angered her grandmother, however, and has been sent off to visit cousins in Ireland. There, she makes some interesting discoveries about her heritage and the universe through a game her cousins play in the back meadow.

I somehow missed this late novel of Jones' before now. 'The Game' has all of the hallmarks of one of her adventures: young protagonists with hidden depths and deep magic. On top of it all, it has her taking another look at stories and how we tell them and how they shape us. I would have loved this as a child, as an adult I can only admire it for it's potential. Jones was onto something here, but didn't give herself a proper amount of space to tell the story. ( )

Solid and interesting mythology based fantasy. ( )

Consider this Jones' version of a Strindberg dream play. It begins like many YA novels with a young orphaned girl, Hayley, who has been living with a mean aunt. The story begins when she is sent away to live with another set of aunts. The new house is full of precocious children, and bits of magic enter the scene. So far, typical. Then Hayley plays the Game and the mode of the story changes completely. Where the Game takes people, who the aunts are, and who Hayley is, is gradually revealed but I won't say more. I do wonder what the target audience made of this though.

It's Diana Wynne Jones. Of course it's recommended. ( )

This delightful little novel takes the reader on a rompt through Greek mythology in the form of a ridiculous family feud. Jones draws on constellations and planets to give life to an exuberant family who live under the thumb of Uncle Jolyon (Jupter's human-esque form) until a little upstart, Hayley )yes, the comet) rebels and put the old man back into his celestial place.

The myths that Jones draws on are some of the lesser known Greek myths, but reader don't need to have an in depth knowledge to enjoy little Hayley's antics and her uncle's mad dash to keep his power. ( )