Category: Fiction

Dancing the Charleston by Jacqueline Wilson

 

Hello all!

I have just finished reading Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s latest book called Dancing the Charleston!

It is based in the 1920’s and focuses on a young girl named Mona and her Aunt. Mona’s parents both died in World War 1 and Mona only has her Aunt to look after her. They live in a small cottage on the picturesque land of Somerset Manor.

When Lady Somerset dies, Mona and her Aunt’s lives are thrown into turmoil!  Will Mona make friends with the young Somerset children or be rushed of onto the streets?

This book also includes a well-favoured character from Jacqueline Wilson’s other stories and is filled with various plot twists and turns!

I personally loved this book: I couldn’t put it down!

If you want to find out more about  Jacqueline Wilson visit her website, jacquelinewilson.co.uk and you will find many fun and entertaining games as well as hidden facts and posters!

You can find out more about that time period of the 1920’s and 1930′s .

I would definitely recommend this story to 9+ and as it faces many problems only dealt by girls, I would say it would be more enjoyed by females but both genders would be entertained. I would rate this story 8/10!

Eve

Malory Towers by Enid Blyton

 

Enid Blyton is one of the world’s most famous authors. She wrote over a 100 novels, ranging from mystery to adventure. One of her most popular series are; her boarding school books, Malory Towers, St Clare’s and The Naughtiest Girl at School. These books were based on her own childhood.

Although boarding schools today are very different, it is interesting to see what they were like when Enid Blyton was a girl.

In the entire series of Malory Towers, there are six books, focussing on one class of girls as they go from first form to sixth form. Throughout the series Blyton focusses on an independent, hard working girl named Darrel Rivers. Darrell is at the start of all the stories and starts her new school at the age of twelve.

In the first stories, you see the majestic school for the first time, hilarious pranks and difficult situations develop. I particularly enjoyed the fifth form stories because the girls are putting on a fabulous pantomime with the story of Cinderella.

There is much hustle and bustle with Moira and Alicia, but somehow the girls made it all work with the audience rocking with laughter.

Overall, I would rate this series a perfect 5 star rating because I loved every bit of the stories and didn’t want them to end.

Eve

Eve’s rating: *****

Rose Rivers by Jacqueline Wilson

Rose Rivers by Jacqueline Wilson - cover image
Rose Rivers by Jacqueline Wilson

 

 

Rose Rivers is an unusual story about unlikely friendships, love and heartbreaking events.

Set in industrial Victorian times, the book overlaps with other of Wilson’s characters including Clover Moon and the lively Hetty Feather.

The three girls form a friendship that isn’t highly approved of by Rose’s family. Also Rose’s heart  is lifted as she discovers who she really loves deep in her heart.

Jacqueline Wilson did a fantastic job of letting the reader see the story visually inside their head.

I would recommend the book for girls 10+ because the book deals with quite a lot of difficult, mature problems.

The reason I don’t think many boys would enjoy this book is because it gets a bit girly and romantic toward the end.

I would rate this book five full stars because I absolutely loved it and it was very enjoyable.

Eve’s rating: *****