Quicksilver is a novel about three children, Wolfie, Tala and Zi'ib, originally from different parts of the world, but who seem to have been brought together by fate. The book is set in a deliberately unremarkable part of South London called Thornham (think Streatham and you've got the idea). Wolfie, who is the English character lives in a sweet shop that has been run by his family for generations.
One other key character lodges with them, Mr Forester. (No, make that two key characters, we mustn't forget the dog Elvis!) Mr Forester is an old fashioned Earth Mysteries researcher, of the kind who used to write for the Ley Hunter magazine. He has his own theory about ancient sites and alignments, including that Thornham once had a stone circle which has yet to be found.
Quite separately from all this, the children find they have parts of the same ancient key. They also find they have the ability to dowse - rather spectacularly - and some other mysterious powers that get them into difficulties at school. The author has great fun showing how they try to explain these away.
Something that appealed to Marion Lloyd, the publisher, and I agree with her, is that this is a very grounded, down to earth book, while still being a very engaging fantasy tale. It reflects the cultural melting pot that is modern day London, there are no magic wands or wizards and the magic is more believable (certainly along the lines expressed in our Mysteries forum in any case!).
Samira (Sam) like one of her three main characters, hails from Sudan. This was home to the fascinating and not very well understood ancient civilisation of Nubia, which built more pyramids than Egypt, according to the recent very enlightening BBC programme Lost Kingdoms of Africa (Part 1 - Nubia, catch it on BBC iplayer while you can). http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pq946/Lost_Kingdoms_of_Africa_Nubia/
As well as the pointed pyramids and the rest of the architecture of the ancient city of Meroë, there is a rock outcrop attached to the hill of Gebel Barkal which the ancient Egyptians held sacred as it was (and indeed still is) shaped like a cobra
http://www.learningsites.com/GebelBarkal-2/GB-index.htm
Anyway, I digress, I'll ask Sam more about her influences in my interview with her.
Getting back to the book, Sam has researched the subject thoroughly, attending the Megalithomania conference amongst many others, and this shows in the book's understanding of the Earth Mysteries subculture. However the EM crowd of the world of Quicksilver are totally unaware of what the three children are about to experience...
A great read for kids from about age 10+
Review by Andy Burnham
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road