The weans at Rowallan

Rain, kitchen gossip and a threatened loss of sweets set the children at Rowallan planning an ill-judged intervention. Patsy overhears news about Mrs M'Rea, the village shopkeeper, and passes it to Jane, Mick, Fly and Honeybird. Their attempt to frighten her into better behaviour soon leaves them trying to repair the damage. Kathleen Fitzpatrick builds this family novel around the gap between a child's confident reasoning and the complications it creates for adults.

The comedy also turns on a charitable clothing scheme whose gifts put villagers into startling old fashions. Lull, working in the kitchen and serving soup, has to face the results as each visitor arrives. Written largely through lively conversation and local speech, the episodes give a close view of sibling alliances, village gossip and practical kindness. Readers of childhood stories will find humour rooted in specific household routines and good intentions that prove difficult to manage.