The Girl with Wings by Jaco Jacobs illustrated by Tori Stowe translated by Kobus Geldenhuys

Wilson Taylor lives with her mum and step dad in a caravan. They never stay in one place for very long. In each small town her mum sets up a tennis camp for local kids because she is a former tennis champion. Gabriel, her step dad, is a freelance photographer. He takes photos of things around each town and then sells them as digital images for people to download. All of this means Wilson spends a lot of time on her own. Right now it is the summer holidays but in term time she is homeschooled. 

In this town Wilson meets a local boy named Errol. He tells her likes to go bird watching but we discover this is not entirely true. There are rumours of a girl who has been seen in Leseeba - a girl who has wings. Perhaps the title and cover of the book have alerted you to this plot point.

So who is this girl? We discover her name is Ava. How can it be that she has wings? Can she fly? Where does she live? And who is this man who is hunting for her? And how is all of this connected with the circus?

Now that Wilson and Errol have met Ava what will happen if her secret is revealed. Oh and you need to remember I mentioned Gabriel is a photographer. Surely a photograph of Ava will be especially dangerous.

Having now read it, I can tell you that it is quirky, fun and one of those books that while suitable for sharing in lower KS2, will also have enormous appeal in Years 5 and 6. Highly original, often surreal and, at less than 200 pages, quite a short read, this is book that is gentle and sweet and one that is filled with mystery and friendship as we meet the titular girl with wings and uncover her story. Mrs Sydney

Companion books:

Yesterday Crumb and the storm in a teacup

The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen

The Girl who walked on Air

The Girl who could Fly (US Cover)

Long Road to the Circus

I saw The Girl with Wings in a local bookstore last week and I immediately recognised the South African author Jaco Jacobs. I previously really enjoyed these two books:

A Good day for Climbing Trees

A Good Night for Shooting Zombies

Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens by Allison Rushby illustrated by Bronte Rose Marando

The year is 1872 and young Penelope Pickering lives in a boarding school. One day, very unexpectedly, her aunt - Miss Harriet Marchmont arrives.  Aunt Harriet is an author. She is the author of sensational stories printed on cheap paper called 'penny dreadfuls'. And yes they only cost one penny. Each contains only part of a gripping story about things like highwaymen, vampires and werewolves. These publications are extremely popular. Aunt Harriet is a rich woman. 

Aunt Harriet has had news that Penny's parents are missing or perhaps just away and so Aunt Harriet is now Penny's guardian. Aunt Penny dislikes her former boarding school and so she whisks Penny off on an adventure. Along with her publisher Uriel Crowley and Aunt Harriet's pet monkey, Jones, the group set off for Hampshire to visit Mr Toddington's Museum of the Curious and Absurb. Aunt Harriet, as advised by Mr Crowley, has heard there is a mystery there and Aunt Harriet is sure she will uncover delicious plot ideas for her new set of Penny Dreadfuls.

The museum is rumoured to have a display of taxidermy kittens that come to life at midnight. Could this really be true or is it all an elaborate hoax and what of Mr Crowley - there is something stranger, perhaps even sinister about him - Penny needs to uncover the truth.

This book is filled with drama and mystery but sensitive readers who love cats may find some parts a little distressing which is why I am going to say this is a book of readers aged 9+. 

Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens will be published in August, 2022 by Walker Books Australia. Thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance copy. Bronte Rose Marando has created a very appealing cover too. 

This book is the first in a planned series and Allison Rushby does provide a hint that more will follow about this early in the first book when Penny reads a letter purportedly sent by her parents which mentions flowers such as Monkshood, Rhododendrons and Oleander. Two of these are poisonous and they don't flower in October and why would her parents be in Switzerland? I will need to continue to series to solve this mystery. 

About Penny Dreadfuls: The term typically referred to a story published in weekly parts of 8 to 16 pages, each costing one penny.  The subject matter was typically sensational, focusing on the exploits of detectives, criminals, or supernatural entities.

You can see some examples here on the British Library web site.  Read about their popularity with children.