A Sudden Puff of Glittering Smoke and Other Stories; aka Genie, Genie, Genie by Anne Fine (Mammoth, 1992); audiobook read by Nigel Planer (Bolinda, 2015) Three stories involving middle-grade children and genies. Fine explores the culture and mythology of Ancient Persia, alongside notions of wish-fulfilment and consequence, perspective and empathy. The first tale is more entertaining and outstrips its two…
