Beginning of March reading
Actually, here are most of the children's books.
Shadows of the Silver Screen is Christopher Edge's second book about Penelope Tredwell, the owner and writer of the magazine The Penny Dreadful. The magazine is approached by a revolutionary filmmaker, Edward Gold, who wants to film one of Montgomery Flinch's (her nom de plume) stories. Monty, the actor who plays the part of the author to maintain Penelope's anonymity, is enthusiastic about taking the lead in the movie. Penelope accompanies him to the filming on location. As filming proceeds Penny ends up with a part as well, and she starts to feel more and more unsettled. Monty also expresses a desire to be back home in London, but Penelope realises there is a mystery to be solved about the filmmaker and his Veritescope camera. As in the first book, there is more of the supernatural involved, which isn't really to Solveig's taste.
Phyllis Wong and the Forgotten Secrets of Mr Okyto is by Geoffrey McSkimming, another Australian writer. Phyllis' great grandfather was a renowned magician and Phyllis uses her skills with magic to help her friend Chief Inspector Inglis, who lives in the same building as her and her father, to solve a series of baffling thefts. This is the book I gave to one of the cousins for Christmas, which I didn't manage to read. I really enjoyed it - Phyllis is an appealing character, smart and resourceful. The ending was a bit strange, with a weirdly inexplicable disappearance of the thief, the only part of the book I didn't like. Solveig read it too and liked it.
Pea's Book of Birthdays, by Susie Day, is the third book in a series about a family of three sisters and their mother. Pea is the middle sister and as her birthday approaches, she decides her perfect present (for her mother as well, who shares her birthday) would be to find her father, who left before she was born. I really enjoyed this - the interactions between Pea and her 14-year-old and 8-year-old sisters and her mum ring true. Pea is nice but not perfect and realistically smart. I hope Solveig will read this. It'll make a good change from Geronimo Stilton.
Shadows of the Silver Screen is Christopher Edge's second book about Penelope Tredwell, the owner and writer of the magazine The Penny Dreadful. The magazine is approached by a revolutionary filmmaker, Edward Gold, who wants to film one of Montgomery Flinch's (her nom de plume) stories. Monty, the actor who plays the part of the author to maintain Penelope's anonymity, is enthusiastic about taking the lead in the movie. Penelope accompanies him to the filming on location. As filming proceeds Penny ends up with a part as well, and she starts to feel more and more unsettled. Monty also expresses a desire to be back home in London, but Penelope realises there is a mystery to be solved about the filmmaker and his Veritescope camera. As in the first book, there is more of the supernatural involved, which isn't really to Solveig's taste.
Phyllis Wong and the Forgotten Secrets of Mr Okyto is by Geoffrey McSkimming, another Australian writer. Phyllis' great grandfather was a renowned magician and Phyllis uses her skills with magic to help her friend Chief Inspector Inglis, who lives in the same building as her and her father, to solve a series of baffling thefts. This is the book I gave to one of the cousins for Christmas, which I didn't manage to read. I really enjoyed it - Phyllis is an appealing character, smart and resourceful. The ending was a bit strange, with a weirdly inexplicable disappearance of the thief, the only part of the book I didn't like. Solveig read it too and liked it.
Pea's Book of Birthdays, by Susie Day, is the third book in a series about a family of three sisters and their mother. Pea is the middle sister and as her birthday approaches, she decides her perfect present (for her mother as well, who shares her birthday) would be to find her father, who left before she was born. I really enjoyed this - the interactions between Pea and her 14-year-old and 8-year-old sisters and her mum ring true. Pea is nice but not perfect and realistically smart. I hope Solveig will read this. It'll make a good change from Geronimo Stilton.