5th July 2012, Double Day
288 pages, Paperback
Review copy
Themes:
chaos/excitement/upset of moving house, starting over at school, being
friendless, sisterhood (including going along with crazy plans, getting
coerced into believing something is a good idea when it clearly isn't,
various pranks & squabbles), setting realistic expectations, finding
friends, taking action to make things better, Tudor addict, mysterious
doors, bizarre neighbours, sweet au pair, realities of being a writer,
chapters of mischief and laughter, a few tissues needed
Summary from Random House Children's Publishers
When Pea Llewellyn's dizzy but dazzling single mum becomes Marina Cove, author of the bestselling Mermaid Girls books, everything changes. It's time to leave their tiny flat in Tenby for a proper house in London, and a whole new life.
Pea
likes the red front door, and the attic bedroom all to herself. She
even likes her hideous new school uniform, in a masochistic Malory
Towers sort of way. But there's an empty chair beside her in every
lesson, and no one seems to want to fill it. In the absence of
volunteers, Pea is going to have to acquire herself a best friend . . .
Nayuleska's thoughts
Pea
and her sisters are hilarious. They have heaps of issues to deal with,
some of which are huge even for an adult. Pea's main issue is finding a
new best friend. She has a list which gradually reduces throughout the
book of what a best friend should be like. She learns through her
sisters that those who appear popular are often lonely, it's the quiet
ones who need watching & often problems aren't discussed when they
are small and managable and are left until something drastic happens.
I
always enjoy characters like Clover just because I used to admire girls
like her. I now know being myself is the best person I can be, a lesson
the environment aware Clover learns. Equally I adore girls who play
wicked pranks like Tinkerbell, just because I never dared rebel when I
was little. A lot of the pranks were rather naughty, displaying her
intelligence and thinking outside the nailed shut door. Pea is a happy
medium as she does particiapte in a few tricks, pretends to be Clover to
get friends but it doesn't work - she gets to see the consequences of
what her sisters do, as well as learning that life as an adult is really
like that of a child - only with responsibilities.
You can find out more on Susie's website. Book 2 is out in 2013!
Suggested read
For more siblings coping under unusual circumstances check out The Comic Cafe by Roger Stevens.
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