The Gypsy Crown

The Gypsy Crownby Kate ForsythYet another well-written and creative story from Kate Forsyth. It's rare that you find a story where Gypsies are the main characters and focal point. This was unlike any other story I have read.Two 13-year old Gypsy cousins, Emilia and Luca have to travel through England to help save their family from jail (gaol, as it is written in the book). Their travel companions are a monkey (ZiZi), a dog (Rollo) and a dancing bear (Sweetheart). Constantly chased by the evil Coldham, the two children must beg the other Gypsy clans for help lest their family be hanged.Although I found the writing superb and the adventure exciting, I was not as enchanted with this book as I was with The Puzzle Ring. I might even say out of all books that I have read by the author this is my least favourite. I didn't hate the book, I just didn't connect as much with the main characters as I have with her other books. I found many of the characters unlikeable and can officially say I don't really care for stories about gypsies. Not for any other reason than I'm just not enchanted by them. I also don't care for vampires or werewolves either. I'm more of a witch/faerie kind of girl.The best part of this story for me was Sweetheart the bear. The way she was described was eerily similar to my eldest dog, Annie. Always wants food, thinks everything might result in food, grumbles when she has to move or not get food. Sleeps on her back with all paws in the air. Also, large, black and fat. Yep, that's Annie.I did find the ending of the book rather rushed. It took so long for Milly and Luca to travel across country to reach each of the other Clans that it seemed that they got back to their starting point VERY fast in ONE day. And although the other families did send representation to help the kids get their family out of gaol, everything had been taken care of before they even all met up.I believe this story was originally released in individual books (each "part" of the story) and it would be more akin of the way the Spiderwick Chronicles were released. The size of the one-volume book might be daunting for some young readers, but the story is simple and engaging. Teens might find it a little dull, but I think it's a perfect Middle Grade read!