Cat Chant’s sister is a witch. And a very powerful one at that – everyone in their village always says so. So why has Cat been taken to live at Chrestomanci Castle, with the greatest enchanter in all the worlds, when he has no apparent talent for magic at all? Enter the magical worlds of Chrestomanci and his eccentric and beautiful dressing gowns. Cat is certain that living at Chrestomanci Castle is going to be terrible and dull, but soon life is more exciting and unexpected than ever before. Nothing and nobody is as it seems – could Cat really have more than one life? How did his violin become a cat?

Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favourite authors of all time. Her body of work is prolific and it is impossible to choose which book is her best. I first received a copy of Charmed Life in 2001 when I was nine years old and it changed my life. I have read and re-read her books ever since. Her writing is simple, imaginative and engrossing. It is just as good to re-read as it is to read aloud. Perfect for ages 8+ and those readers who have loved Harry Potter or A School for Good and Evil.

Julia Gorman works as a bookseller at Readings Carlton and Readings Kids.