THE CASTLE OF YEW

Unlike the author's Green Knowe books, this story is for younger readers and it is only a slight exercise of the imagination, not a true fantasy. Joseph wanders into a large, elaborate, old-fashioned garden and is given permission to roam there at will. He is fascinated by some yew bushes cut like chessmen, and as he yearns to enter the yew castle, he turns into a miniature size to fit. Another beshrunken boy has preceded him; the two spend the afternoon playing together as knights, with a sparkler as cannon and a moorhen as dragon. The story has a sense of atmosphere and the miniature boy's eye view of detail is amusing. But it's very British, the action is subdued, and it's hard to imagine much of an audience for this.