Tally and the Angel (Canada) is set against the frozen landscape of northwest Canada, which provides the location for Tally’s new adventure. This is Book Two and, as before, she is accompanied by Jophiel, an angel who hides in her pendant, left to her by her mother when she passed away. Jophiel has powers but mainly protects and helps the young girl.
We meet Tally in India, the scene of her former adventure, when she learns the new destination she will visit with her surgeon dad. Tally is homeschooled and these trips provide an educational aspect to the story, which is aimed at an 8–12-year-old audience.
Short, fast-paced chapters will appeal to the intended age group. Each begins with a brief, underlying narrative concerning the angel’s background. These appear to be detached from the main text initially and could be confusing, but as the story progresses, their relevance becomes more apparent. However, I felt the wording used and level of knowledge required are perhaps beyond this age group.
The main character, Tally, is a brave young teenager who will appeal to readers with her normal feelings and reactions. Her main objective is to help others, usually children, to overcome the adverse situation they are experiencing.
There is a wide cast of characters with Inuit names. Time is taken to gain an understanding of the environment, the Gold Rush history, the First Nations people, the animals – wild and tamed – and the clothing required to survive the freezing temperatures. The author uses a natural style of dialogue which aids the plot development and grabs the reader’s attention from the outset.
The highs, lows, twists and turns encountered create an action-filled narrative. Danger abounds throughout the scary journey as Tally seeks to break a curse which has bound the native people… assisted by her angel, Jophiel.
The author’s writing is expressive, with a great use of similes which paint vivid pictures. These, coupled with a good imagination, provide an exciting adventure in this next episode for Tally and the Angel.
I award this book 4 stars.
