What a great great book! I have read this book many years ago in its Hebrew translation and have been searching for an original language copy ever since. I finally succeeded in purchasing this book through Julian Brogi, one of Amazon used book dealers. Reading the book in its original form has been a wonderful, unique experience. The author uses the slang and common language used at the time and place of the book (although the words can be understood from context, the book provides a glossary in the end) and this adds to the total experience of feeling "Coalgate" in its true form (as far as I understand Coalgate is not a true town, but more a combination of a few coal mining towns but I might very well be mistaken) One short example of the language can be the following arbitrary chosen phrase "Ay, I heard, said Mam. Dear knows how it'll all end. What does your man say?' Mr. Park was a pitman. 'Does he think the' really will strike? You couldn't blame them... That old Strike: folks'd been going on about that Strike for weeks. '... but there'll be a bonnie lot hungered if the' do...the bairns..." .
The story is about Jinnie Friend, an 11 year old girl who has been feeling bad lately due to her "overdoing it" in school, following a period of exams. Jinnie is troubled by her worries that she will not get the scholarship she needs for attending the Secondary school on her way to becoming a teacher. Jinnie's dad, the strict Mr. Friend, adds to her worries by claiming a person "should stay in the station to which God has called... not try to get above yourself which was a sin..." The doctor recommends that Jinnie has a complete change and have a week holiday, and hence Jinnie is on her way to her favorite "Gran at Coalgate " for a week vacation. What a vacation this turns to be! Coalgate is not like home, with Jinnie's father, who is very strict in religion and does not allow any "regular" life enjoyments...Gran lets Jinnie to go to the movies, eat fish and chips and even go to a dance, or more a "church social" as Jinnie constantly reminds herself (so as the word Dance will not slip out of her mouth). Coalgate visit is a "growing up" experience for Jinnie. She is insulted when treated as a child but can not always understand the grownups and their weird ways. This confusion is very well described and so is the way an 11 year old thinks. The story is also a story of the "pitman" - the miners and their way of life, described with a loving eye. Daily life is described in detail and so are the family and neighbors surrounding "Gran's" compassionate, understanding figure. This is a true hard working woman, stable as a rock, who struggles to cut ends and make a living for her family but does not forget for one minute what's important in life.
I can not understand why this book is marked as fitting to ages 4-8. I judge it to be appropriate for young adolescence ages 12-16 and have enjoyed it tremendously as an adult. I am quite positive that younger kids will not be able to understand the story. Also, as the previous reviewer mentioned, there are many nuances you can understand only as an adult and thus, the book is more enjoyable. The author (who has grown up in Northumberland, England) describes the area and its people that have inspired (as the cover says) all her books. Indeed, you can feel how acquainted she is with the place and people and can share the love she feels for them. So be a bonnie lass and get this book for yourself!

this book is out of print, but I recommend you try to find it used. such a wonderful book. it's set in Northern England at the time of the miners' strike in 1929. I used to get it out of the library several times a year when I was a kid, and as an adult I sought it out. it absolutely stands up to reading it as an adult; there are so many nuances I didn't get when I was 11. It's simply marvelous.

Adonell was born to an English father and a gypsy mother. When her mother went to live with her husband's family she had to give up her gypsy ways. Now, around 13-14 years later when her husband dies, Lureni feels she has made a mistake by raising Adonell as an English and not teaching her the Faa (gypsy) ways. Lureni is alarmed when she hears about witch hunts. She has known such things when she was young and what she knows is enough to make her feel afraid. Now she feels time is short; she is sick, and feels she must make sure Adonell is protected before she dies. She takes Adonell away to search her Faa tribe at their annual "Feast of the Serpent" to beg that they take Adonell over to the tribe. This is how the story "Feast of the Serpent" begins.
"Feast of the Serpent" is not an easy book and I do not think it was intended for children. Maybe for young adolescence and even so, the issues dealt with are not simple. Adonell faces hardships of various sorts and needs to struggle alone, to steal and cheat in order to survive. When finally after leaving the tribe she finds a place where she feels protected, warm and fed, she has to face the worst of all - the accusation that she is a witch in league with the devil, working in gypsy witchcraft..
I have read this book after reading (and tremendously enjoying) "Gran at Coalgate", a later book of Winifred Cawley's, after which I decided to read her other work. This book indeed benefits from Ms. Cawley's talent and from what I believe is an accurate (and thus very interesting) portrayal of another time and place. However, "Feast of the Serpent" is not as entertaining as "Gran at Coalgate" and this is most likely due to the difficult subject of witch hunts, the description of Adonell's lonely struggles and the English background conflicts. Adonell is a young girl and the reader's heart goes out for her. At first we want to see her warm and fed and then, like life, we want her to find happiness and love. Pretty soon all we want for Adonell is to stay alive. The witch hunt and trials part was rather hard for me to read. Off course it raises rage of the foolishness of people and their need to find a scapegoat.
All in all, an interesting book and a well written story with difficult parts. Sometimes tedious due to the need to give the reader some more understanding of the background which is done through various conversations. It is not that there are any didactic explanations but somehow the pace of the story is stopped.