Review: The Great Theatre Rescue by Judith Eagle

The Great Theatre Rescue is a dazzlingly exciting historical adventure set in the West End in the 1930s: a real showstopper that held me utterly entranced throughout.

Twelve-year-old Charley is excited to be giving her first performance at The Wren, the smallest theatre in Soho, a place where she has grown up with the performers – her theatre family. But when the unthinkable happens and she is frozen by stage fright, she fears that her dreams of dancing on stage might never be fulfilled.

Life gets even tougher for Charley when her dad leaves to visit his poorly father and she gets sent off to a boarding school on the coast. The school is run by a cruel and unscrupulous pair who steal from and exploit the girls to line their own pockets. Charley has no intention of staying in this terrible place and is determined to make her way back to her beloved theatre …

And so begins the most incredible, action-packed adventure as Charley discovers that her beloved theatre is in danger of closing down, and is determined to make her way home to rescue the theatre before it is too late. I absolutely loved this edge-of-your-seat adventure brimming with danger, discoveries, twists and revelations. Will Charley learn the incredible truth behind the reason the theatre is in financial difficulty? Can she convince a star to help her rescue the theatre? And, can she overcome her own fear to fulfil her dreams?

I really enjoyed the intriguing mystery which runs throughout this story and loved the unravelling of clues to reveal unexpected twists and links to the past that made this a real page turner. A story of deception and betrayal with a dark and cruel villain, but also a story of hope and family pulling together when faced with adversity.

The portrayal of the world of 1930s London theatre life is absolutely wonderful and I felt happily immersed in this world with its American influences through jazz and dance styles, its colourful costumes and exuberant performances. I also really enjoyed the depiction of those who work in the theatre as a family who help and support each other.

Charley is an incredibly likeable young girl who shows great courage and determination when faced with difficult situations and decisions. She faces her fears and opens herself up to friendship even when there are barriers to overcome. I also must mention Max who is the most wonderfully loyal dog and friend to Charley – absolutely adorable!

Curtains up for a dazzling, daring adventure brimming with peril and secrets, with family and friendship, and with the most smashing ending!

Thank you to Bethany Carter and Faber Children’s Books for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: The Beanstalk Murder by P.G. Bell

*Written by P.G. Bell*
*Illustrated by George Ermos*
*Published by Usborne*

The Beanstalk Murder is a terrifically twisty murder mystery that kept me utterly spellbound as I followed Anwen and Cerys to the Sky Kingdom to solve a gigantic whodunnit …

Apprentice meadow-witch Anwen Sedge is attending the weekly market in Old Stump trying to avoid trainee sorceress Cerys Powell who she blames for sabotaging her entrance exam to attend the Academy of High Magic. Cerys is not at all impressed with the way Anwen is exacting revenge which leads to an argument between the two. However, something much worse than pigeon poop falling from the sky is about to change their lives …

A giant falls from the sky, flattening the village of Old Stump. When Anwen and her Grandma Eira examine the body, Anwen makes a discovery: the giant has been murdered and dumped in their village! Despite no contact between giants and humans since the signing of a treaty at the end of the Great Beanstalk War, Eira is determined to seek justice and let the giants know what has happened to one of their own. Luckily, she just so happens to have an illegal magic bean which she plants to grow to the Sky Kingdom so that she can send a message to the giants. Unfortunately, her plan doesn’t quite go as she had intended and Anwen and Cerys find themselves at the top of the beanstalk and facing the giants whose King is missing …

And so begins an incredibly exciting, action-packed mystery as Anwen and Cerys discover that a royal murder has been committed, but who could be the culprit and what possible motive could they have? Anwen is determined to use her witchy-skills and her now-diminutive size to her advantage to solve the colossal case and drags Cerys into her investigations whether she likes it or not. But can these two daring young sleuths keep themselves safe whilst all around them there is giant danger for the tiny duo? I absolutely loved the twists and turns, the secret revelations, following the trail of clues and red herrings … and loved that I didn’t have a clue who the culprit was, but enjoyed guessing – and being proved wrong!

This is an ingenious twist on a fairytale and murder mystery and I can see so much scope both for another adventure in this world and for other fairytale murder mysteries to join this one. The world-building is fantastic! I loved wandering around the Sky Kingdom Palace, meeting some of its wonderfully helpful animal characters and would love to spend some time in Fortune Hall. I loved both the Folk Magic linked to an appreciation of nature that Anwen uses and the High Magic that Cerys excels at from projection to glamour.

I loved seeing how Anwen and Cerys begin to work together as a team and slowly build friendship despite a fractious relationship. Cerys is incredibly driven to attend the Academy of High Magic and is proud of what she has achieved so much so that she can appear boastful and derogatory about Anwen’s Folk Magic skills. Anwen is an astute, keenly observant and curious young girl who gives as good as she gets. I loved that both girls come to accept and respect both their own, and each other’s, magical abilities which leads to a much closer friendship.

A wonderfully warm-hearted, magical whodunnit that reaches giant-sized heights of delight, perfect for readers of 9+.

Author Information

P.G. Bell is a native of South Wales, where he was raised on a diet of Greek mythology, ghost stories and Doctor Who. He’s had all sorts of jobs over the years, from lifeguard to roller-coaster operator, but has always wanted to write stories. He lives in Wales with his wife Anna and their two children.
The Train to Impossible Places, P.G.’s debut series, has enjoyed widespread success, including shortlistings for the Branford Boase Award, the Crimefest Awards and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/pgbellwriter

X: https://twitter.com/petergbell

Thank you so much to Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour, and to Usborne for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on this week’s Blog Tour below:

Review: Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari

*Written by Dev Kothari*
*Cover Illustration by Tara Anand*
*Published by Walker Books*

Set in contemporary India, Bringing Back Kay-Kay is both a superbly gripping mystery and a deeply moving and hopeful testament to the strength of sibling bonds in the most desperate of times. Heart-warming, heart-breaking and utterly brilliant from start to finish.

Lena has been enjoying some welcome attention from her parents whilst her much-favoured older brother, Kay-Kay, has been away at summer camp in Goa; she even wishes that he would stay away for longer. But when her parents arrive back from the train station with the news that her beloved brother is missing, she is devastated. The local police think he’s just another runaway, but Lena is convinced that they are wrong. Unable to bear her parents’ pain and the idea of living without Kay-Kay, Lena sets out to investigate her brother’s disappearance … and to bring him home.

So begins a dual journey of discovery as Lena painstakingly and determinedly pieces together clues leading up to Kay-Kay’s disappearance, as she retraces his steps across India, and as she gains insight from speaking to those who know him. But this is also a journey which reveals a side to her brother which he has kept hidden from his family: secret hopes and dreams and a fear of not living up to the weight of expectations. Can Lena discover the truth behind her brother’s disappearance? Will she be able to bring Kay-Kay back, or will she too late to save the brother she needs?

Without you, Kay-Kay, there’s no sun, no warmth, no light. I will find you – my brother, my friend. I will find you and bring you back.

This story is written from Lena’s viewpoint, with direct address to her brother, which I found incredibly emotive as it gives such a painfully beautiful insight into their relationship, especially as she faces her own truths and discovers her brother’s secrets. The deep, unbreakable bond between the siblings sings from the pages of this story, and makes Lena’s journey to find Kay-Kay absolutely gripping and, at times, almost unbearably tense. Lena’s pain at the loss of her brother is palpable, but she shows such incredible strength in finding the courage to keep going and never give up hope even when those around her do.

I absolutely loved the poetry that is included within the story which I must admit brought tears – so incredibly powerful and heartfelt. I also really liked the setting in contemporary India and enjoyed learning more about this vibrant country from the train journeys to the culture and food and drink.

An evocative, emotional and exhilarating mystery with family and sibling bonds firmly at its heart.

Thank you to Lorraine Keating and Walker Books for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.