For anyone who hasn’t been a 14 year old year girl, the letter game consists of an exchange of letters between two connected but separated characters, yet neither of the writers may divulge the plot to the other.

I always suspected girls got the best children's games, but until I read the above my theory was never really borne out by the evidence available to me (namely hopscotch). Vindicated at last!

Sounds like good fun, definitely my sort of thing. I'll have a look for it.

I've probably been on facebook too much, but Jamie Johnston's comment makes me want to 'like' it. :D

Why thank you! I shall imagine a small blue thumbs-up.

It's so good! I was grinning and chuckling pretty much the whole way from Oxford to Cambridge yesterday. "Georgette Heyer meets Diana Wynne Jones" is how I described it to my sis-in-law (she wants a copy now).

I never understood Hopsotch, despite ostensibly being a girl. I always presumed it was some kind of gateway drug into the world of secret, err, games.

Shimmin, I'm really glad you enjoyed it - it really is a perfect read for journeys and holidays. Candyfloss for the brain.

I never understood Hopsotch, despite ostensibly being a girl. I always presumed it was some kind of gateway drug into the world of secret, err, games.

Scary thought. I remember going through a hopscotch phase. That was before my jax addiction...

I have the sequel now - The Grand Tour - but I haven't got round to reading it. I'll let you know!

I have it too - but I've haven't been feeling frivolous enough to read it. Let me know :)