Penelope’s Pendant
by Douglas Hill; ill. Annabel Spenceley (Macmillan, 1990)
A tale of malfunctioning magic and unexpected consequences, given real narrative impetus by the escalating threat of violence. Hill comes obliquely at the underlying moral (consider possible outcomes) while doling out some much-needed, cathartic comeuppance to Penelope’s tormentors. A short, exciting read.