The Steam Whistle Theatre Company

Vivian French's The Steam Whistle Theatre Company is a warm, rollicking historical romp for 10 year olds about a family of actors who leave their debts behind and take the train north.

What happens

The Pringle Players are broke. They owe rent. They've had to leave their pirate ship's sails at a pub instead of paying the bill. And their horse Hetty is too old to pull the cart much further.

So Rosie has an idea. Why not go by train, somewhere nobody knows them yet?

Pa Pringle loves it so much he renames the whole troupe on the spot (after a train whistle, obviously). Even Aunt Mags agrees in the end, as long as everyone knows she'll be suffering in the name of Art. But Ma has to stay behind in London with the little ones, and that's hard on Rosie.

Meanwhile, in the market town of Uncaster, a widow called Arabella Poskett has nothing but bills. Her servants have walked out with the silver. Her two spoilt children have locked themselves in their bedrooms. The only help she has left is Edie Boiler, a tiny kitchen maid from the workhouse who always bobs back up again.

And on the same train as the Pringles is Little Baby Bubbles, a child magician who looks at least fourteen, with a temper to match.

It's such fun to read. Everyone is SO dramatic. Pa can't say anything without flinging out his arms. Rosie can cry to order with a bit of onion hidden in her hankie. And Edie gets two bailiffs happily tipsy on Cook's elderflower cordial.

There's real feeling underneath the jokes, though. You see how hard it is to have no money, and how tightly the Pringles stick together. Edie is a lovely character to root for, cheerful, practical and brave.

There's a cast list at the front, which is handy, as there are a LOT of characters. Queen Victoria is on the throne, and trains are the exciting new thing (terrifying, if you ask Aunt Mags).

If your reader loves big-hearted stories with plucky heroines and plenty of mischief, this is a treat.

What to read next

For more from Vivian French, try The Runaways of Haddington Hall. Minnie helps her mam in a steamy wash house, and one angry turn of the mangle rips a gentleman's shirt.