The Shadow of the Great Fire is a work of fiction for middle grade and YA audiences and was penned by author Wendy Leighton-Porter. Focused on the themes of time travel and the exploration of world history, the book forms the seventeenth volume in the Shadows From The Past series, continuing the amazing adventures of the trio Jemima, Joe and Charlie, as well as their enigmatic cat Max. In this adventure, we find our heroes in London in the year 1666, where plague is rife, but an even greater disaster is brewing. Just days before the Great Fire is due to take down the city, our heroes discover the truth behind those sparks.

Author Wendy Leighton-Porter is a timeless favorite of mine, and I was once again terribly excited to enter the world of Shadows From The Past. I cannot recommend this series enough to children and their families to bond over, and for the many educational benefits and historical learning opportunities that the books present. In this adventure, I was enraptured by the grimy heat of London in its plague-ridden state, and the characters who come into play within this new tale offer insights and realistic depictions of what it would be like to live at that time. This immersive quality allows us to learn along with the children, and of course, Max the reluctant adventurer cat offers plenty of laughs and hijinks to juxtapose the high drama. Overall, I would highly recommend The Shadow of the Great Fire for readers who enjoy immersive historical adventures with strong characters and great atmospheric writing.

Fires are dangerous. And scary. When the Great Fire of London demolished most of London, England, in 1666, many feared it was a foreign invasion. So much of the city was destroyed, reduced to ashes, even the famous St. Paul’s Cathedral. Time traveler children, the twins Jemima and Joe along with their best friend Charlie and the fantastical talking cat, Max, are set on another adventure. They’re not sure why the mysterious book that holds the portal to other eras wants them to return to London of 1666, just days before the Great Fire, and at a time when the plague threatened much of the population. And, when they learn at the end the reason, they are saddened to realize they were so close.

Wendy Leighton-Porter’s young people’s novel, The Shadow of the Great Fire, is the seventeenth book in the Shadows from the Past time-travel series. Like the other books in the series, this one doesn’t disappoint. There is lots of adventure coupled with history to attract young readers while at the same time educate them. The plot develops steadily and the characters are well developed. For fans of this series, it’s like joining a group of best friends on another exciting journey into the past. And you have to love the cat, Max. The author knows her history and, whilst some of the details are altered to serve the purpose of the story’s plot, the entire story is a marvelous re-telling of history. You can actually feel the heat of the devastating fire and smell the rot of a city still infested with a devastating plague. And, as in the previous books in the series, the author includes a concise glossary of interesting historical facts at the end of the novel. Another great read from an inspiring author.