Rooftoppers

An intriguing statement opens this unusual novel which involves a quest for a missing mother with music playing an important part. Rescued from a shipwreck by scholar Charles, Sophie is brought up by him in an unconventional manner and their mutually supportive relationship, defiant of authority, is delightfully portrayed. Following their move to Paris, Sophie’s adventures really begin as she gets to know the children who live on the city’s rooftops and learns how to travel across them too. These ‘rooftoppers’ play a significant role in the resolution of her search.