All of the Casson children have paint color names, given to them by their artist mother: Cadmium, Saffron, Indigo, and Rose. Their names, and their close bond with each other, add to the confusion and isolation Saffy (Saffron) feels when she discovers that she is adopted, and that the others are actually her cousins rather than siblings. When Saffy was three, her mother died in a car crash, and she was brought by her Grandfather to live with the Cassons. Saffy pulls away from the family as she tries to come to terms with her muddled emotions, and embarks on a quest to find a stone angel, a bequest from her Grandfather. Sarah, a new friend of Saffy’s and an unstoppable force, determines that the two girls will search for the angel at Saffy’s mother’s last residence. Doing so necessitates a trip to Siena, but Sarah is up to the challenge and soon Saffy is a stowaway as Sarah’s family embarks on an excursion to Italy. Although the plot borders on preposterous, the memorable characters in this unique and chaotic family, the excellent dialogue, and the laugh-out-loud humor conspire to create a thoroughly enjoyable book. Several entertaining sub-plots and distinctive secondary characters add to this masterfully orchestrated exploration of the definition of family. (Ages 9-13)

Those of you who have read Hilary McKay's earlier books, among which are The Exiles, Dog Friday, and Dolphin Luck, will happily welcome her new story, Saffy's Angel. Whether you have read her work or not, you have a special treat in store in Saffy's Angel.
You'll meet the four Casson children, whose mother, Eve, a fine-arts painter, has given them the names of paint colors. Cadmium, called Caddy, is the eldest; then comes Saffron, known as Saffy; Indigo, the only boy; and Rose, the youngest. When Saffy discovers quite by accident that she has been adopted, she is deeply upset, though the others assure her it makes no difference at all. Saffy is the daughter of Eve's twin sister, who lived in Siena, Italy, and died in a car crash. Grandad brought Saffy, as a very small child, back from Siena.
At Grandad's death, he leaves something to each of the children. To Saffy, it is "her angel," although no one knows its identity. How Saffy discovers what her angel is, with the help of an energetic new friend, lies at the heart of this enchanting story. Unforgettable characters come alive in often deeply humorous and always absorbing events to make a book to be treasured for a long, long time.