Saffy's Angel (Casson Family)

Fun, heartfelt, poignant, easy to read but with real serious human issues, done in a whimsical, momentarily heartrending, fiercely optimistic style -- the Casson family is dysfunctional, with the self-absorbed artist father living in London and the humble caring ex-hippy artist mother taking haphazard care of the four children. the protagonist, Saffron, is a girl who discovers she's adopted, and can't live with it, but must seek for her lost legacy: an ornamental stone angel from the Italian garden of her childhood. Hard adult issues surface casually in passing remarks, the father's a jerk, the mother doesn't believe in herself, the grandfather is an invalid, the eldest daughter is flunking college -- but they carry on, coping in their own unique ways -- and in th eend, friends are made, closure is achieved, joy comes to them all in one way or another. This is the first of a series of six books, and they are all equally engaging -- very English, very droll, very absurd with glancing insights between the lines, yet done in simply words (mostly) that express subtle thoughts. I recommend it highly, though of course everyone's tastes are different.

It's highly unusual to find a series of books that is well-written (brilliantly written, in fact), warm, funny, and believable....AND that just keeps getting better.This is the only one I can think of right now -- even classics like THE TREASURE SEEKERS and SWALLOWS & AMAZONS start to lose energy (and credibility) with the later books.It's also unusual to find books that make you laugh and cry, without ever veering into sentimentality.The writing throughout is brilliant -- and she has a way that I can't quite figure out of sometimes building up to a big scene, then skipping over it and letting what happened emerge in dialog which only intensifies the emotional effect. I don't want to say anything about what happens, because suspense is part of the fun, too.READ THEM. I have just finished REreading the whole series (SAFFY'S ANGEL, INDIGO'S STAR, PERMANENT ROSE, CADDY EVER AFTER, and FOREVER ROSE) for the second time. I don't understand why these books aren't famous! I only found out about them because a friend did the new covers and posted about McKay's brilliance on Facebook.I am recommending them to everyone I know.My only regret is that the copies I got had the old covers (stock photos of girls) -- apparently the new ones won't be sold until the old ones sell out. The new covers are charming and capture the characters perfectly, judging by the only one I got (INDIGO'S STAR).Libby Koponen (author)

I love the Casson Family books. No one in them is perfect, but there is no character I did not end up liking. They deal with some tough family issues - adoption, marital difficulties, physical disabilities - while managing to be completely hilarious. Nothing is glossed over, yet nothing is too scary for young kids. All ages can enjoy these four children, whose artist parents have named them all after colors: Cadmium Gold, Indigo, Saffron, and Permanent Rose.Saffron, the only one of the four whose name is not on the artists' color chart on the kitchen wall, embarks on a quest for the real source of her name. Will she find it? Will Caddy pass her driving test? Where is Saffy's angel? Read on!

All of the books in the Casson Family series are great: A nice mix of humor and heart. They are very relatable to a large age group of young readers, which is unique since some can find it difficult to match age and reading level without being bored or delving into topics that are too sophisticated or heavy. There are a few British jokes and phases that may be lost to the American audience, but nothing that interferes with the enjoyment of the books. Highly recommended.

Charming introduction to an unusual yet appealing family. I expect the rest of the series to follow in the same style. Recommended for all.

I checked the audio tapes out from the library on a whim. What a find. What a crack-up. When I started listening I kept laughing, but thought something must be wrong with me--isn't this a serious book? Nope. The car ride to Wales at the end was really funny. The lady who does the narrating is terrific. Maybe the book is for children, but adults should enjoy it too--if they are British comedy fans. The plot is pretty simple, so I'd say its main attraction is the humor.

This was a quick , lovely read. I needed something light to take my mind off of being sick-and this did the trick. I am very disappointed that the next book in the series is not available in e format !Although this book was written for a young adult audience, I enjoyed it thoroughly!

I loved it. Saffy's angel has a unique charm that can not be replicated. I especially liked the ride to Wales and Saffron stowing away. I adore this story and I've read it again and again.

I really loved this book and recommend you to buy it. The storyline is one of the most interesting I have ever read about. I said to myself, I’ll only read the first chapter. A second later( or more like 30 minutes later) I was on chapter 8.

10代の子供向けの小説ですが、大人の私もはまっています。あまり難しくないので、英語のあまりできない私でもなんとか読めます。英語の勉強には良い教材だと思います。物語自体も非常に感動的なので、是非お勧めしたい一冊です。

What a fun read!Saffy's world is... controlled chaos.She has a crazy but loveable family, yet she feels out of place.This book is about her search for an object that will give her a sense of belonging.Very well-written. Can't wait to read all the other books in this series.

I bought this book after reading (and loving!) skylarks war. I immediately fell in love with it. It’s passionate and warm, the sort of book you curl up with in the evening I definitely recommend it to and age group between 10 and 14

The first of the Casson family books. Highly recommended. You don’t have to be a younger reader to enjoy! Brilliant.