Serena and the Moor's Last Sigh

Serena and her family move from England to Spain. There she befriends Ismael, a Moroccan boy.

They find a message on an ancient scroll that leads them to a castle dungeon where they discover the trapped spirit of Muhammad, the last Moorish King
of Granada. He tells them that he must see his beloved Granada one last time, only then will his spirit find rest. But Serena and Ismael have only hours to help him and, when Ismael's uncle shuts them in the dungeon, it seems all is lost.

Serena and The Moor's Last Sigh was highly commended at the Writing for Children Competition sponsored by Little Tiger Press, 27th Winchester Writers' Conference, University of Winchester, Hampshire.

Review of Serena and The Moor's Last Sigh
It's such a pleasure to read a well written children's story that earns its appeal from carefully drawn characters, a well paced plot, good dialogue and a strong sense of place. I loved the way Shirley Elmokadem weaves Spanish history into the story and takes the 11 year old heroine, Serena, across cultural boundaries. She is a much wiser girl by the end of the book having faced up to her fears and having widened her horizons. An enchanting story (and a great cover illustration too!)

Headmaster-Spain

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