Written for junior readers and perhaps an attempt to introduce these readers to the magical world that will eventually take them to the literary heights of Harry Potter. The storyline seemed to have some parallels. When Carlo and his mother, Jessica, accept a free bus ticket from a strange old woman in the supermarket, they are really only being polite. Secretly they think she must be slightly batty, with her talk about hundred free bus rides to the supermarket at the end of the world. How absurd! And yet, right outside their supermarket, which is of the most ordinary, everyday kind, a Number 13 bus pulls up . . . dark blue and with gold stars, just like the ticket. Feeling suddenly adventurous, Jessica and Carlo take their seats . . . and nothing turns out the way you would expect. Because the wonderful supermarket is real - but so are the horrible Dowlers, who are plotting and scheming to destroy it. ( )

When Carlo and his mother are given a bus ticket they board a strange blue bus and are transported to the supermarket at the end of the world. They meet a girl, Jessica and her father and together the all discover the wonderful things there. But there are also dangers lurking there, such as the evil Dowlers who threaten to destroy the wonderful supermarket. This is a strange story from Margaret Mahy and I think it could have done with a bit more editing. Read it and tell us what you think of it. ( )