44 Tiny Secrets

By Author / Illustrator

Sylvia Bishop, Ashley King

Genre

Family & Home

Age range(s)

Publisher

Little Tiger Press Group

ISBN

9781788952040

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

23-07-2020

Synopsis

The first book in a heartwarming and timeless new series with a brave and spirited heroine, from the acclaimed duo behind THE BOOKSHOP GIRL.
Betsy Bow-Linnet is determined to become a world famous concert pianist like her parents. There's just one problem: no matter how hard she practises she doesn't share their musical talents. So when a mysterious letter arrives from a woman claiming to know of an unusual Method that will make Betsy's playing 'stupendous', Betsy jumps at the chance. There's just one condition: she must keep the Method a secret.
But it isn't just one secret - it's 44 tiny secrets in the shape of a boxful of pygmy mice! Betsy is mystified - how are they going to help her play the piano and - more importantly - how on earth can she keep them all a secret?
Gorgeously illustrated in two-colour, this is a warm, funny and pitch-perfect story about the true nature of family love and finding your real talents in the most unexpected of places. Perfect for fans of ISADORA MOON, AMELIA FANG, OTTOLINE and HARPER.

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Reviews

Betsy Bow-Linnet is the daughter of famous concert pianists Bella and Bertrum Bow-Linnet. Her grandfather, too, is a concert pianist, however Betsy is not. No matter how hard she tries she just can't get the hang of it. After hearing her mother call her 'a disappointment', Betsy is determined to show her parents what she can do on the piano and prove she can play well, like them.

Her grandfather helps her and within a few days she is determined to play at her parents dinner party, a party in which all the guests are musicians! She plays her piece well and receives some interesting comments from the guests, but when a reporter writes about her performance in a gossip column, Betsy realises she didn't play with love and enthusiasm, like a musician, she just played the correct notes.

It is not until a mysterious letter comes through the letter box to Betsy from a Gloria Sprightly, do things start to change for her! From this letter on, things really start to take a turn and the 44 Tiny Secrets are revealed - but who is Gloria Sprightly? And how will she change Betsy's life?

I found that the story took a while to get in to and things didn't really start happening till half way through. However, the story then twists and turns and really grabbed my interest and will do with children, when the story unfolds and the identity of Gloria Sprightly is revealed.

The story has a lot of themes running throughout it and touches upon family and telling the truth. This would be a great story for a confident reader who is just getting into chapter books for the first time. The illustrations are lovely and really bring the story alive - especially the 44 secrets!

192 pages / Ages 7+ / Reviewed by Lauren Maidman, teacher