Malory Towers meets The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency in this delightful series set in 1990s Nigeria. Sabine Adeyinka has drawn on her own memories and experiences to write these books, and they are heartfelt and genuine, giving young readers a real insight into a life that seems at once familiar and very, very different. This first book is full of heart and kindness, brimming with Nigerian sayings and songs, and vibrant with the colours, clothes, landscape and flavours of its setting. It's a gentle read, not thrilling, but warm and sunny with friendship, loyalty, and, in the best Blyton tradition, plenty of food!! No ginger beer and sandwiches here though, but puffpuffs, fried fish and jollof rice, and the celebrated agbalumo fruit!

The story is heartwarming and inspiring too. Jummy's friend Caro, forced to work at the school because her family would never be able to afford its fees, slaves all day for the school's harsh and dishonest Matron and is made to be a maid to Bolaji, a stuck up, rich, new girl in the first year. Jummy and her friends find a way to triumph in seeing justice dealt out to Matron, and Caro accepted into the folds of the school proper, through rising up and protesting that all children should have equal access to everything the River School has to offer, regardless of their ability to pay.

If you have a child who loves a boarding school story and you want to immerse them in somewhere new, you should definitely give this series a try!!