Christopher became obsessed with cricket almost overnight. So did Oneir. “It’s the King of Games,” Oneir said devoutly, and went and bought every book on the subject he could afford. He and Christopher decided they were going to be professional cricketers when they grew up. “And my father’s business can just go hang!” Oneir said.

I was unsure about this book. Too many cat references. I wasn’t sure where the story was taking me. But oh the cricket bits saved it. And here, Diana Wynn Jones recreates that feeling of first discovering something you’re going to obsess over the rest of your days.

Jones, Diana Wynne. The Lives of Christopher Chant. United Kingdom: HarperCollins Publishers Limited, 2008. pg110,111