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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A childhood favourite of mine that fills my theatre loving heart. The story has great characters, good morals and a writing style that is enjoyable for readers of all ages, 4/5 stars
This put me in mind of Ballet Shoes, the theatrical element and the children taking responsibility for a family's poor finances, grown-up and capable children. And it could well be just as well-regarded as Streatfeild's classic.
A farming family, Hannah and her siblings are managing without their mother well enough, their father struggling to pay the bills but just about scraping by. Hannah dreams of writing a famous play, which her father sees as a waste of time.
But a rise in rent and a local theatrical competition coincide - can Hannah putnon a play to win the prize money and help stop her dad from losing his farm?
At heart, it's a simple plot, but there's actually a lot more depth to the story than that, with a wonderfully realised young love story that I found very realistic, rivalry with a richer student, descriptions of farm life, some amazing detail of Hannah's play and preparation.
For of course what is a play without a theatre in which to perform it? Hannah and her friends must find a venue. Is there somewhere on the farm? Hannah proves herself a more at hand capable director, and I adored the siblings and their relationships (though Martha I didn't warm to).
Hannah and Lottie (her best friend) are a very likeable pair of heroines and their scheme is one I really invested myself in. Even the side plot where they try to sell some 'valuable' candlesticks goes in interesting directions.
I thought this was very intelligent and honest writing for the age group. Easy to read with emotional depth and some great characters that are smart, capable and warm.
I look forward to the sequel.
A farming family, Hannah and her siblings are managing without their mother well enough, their father struggling to pay the bills but just about scraping by. Hannah dreams of writing a famous play, which her father sees as a waste of time.
But a rise in rent and a local theatrical competition coincide - can Hannah putnon a play to win the prize money and help stop her dad from losing his farm?
At heart, it's a simple plot, but there's actually a lot more depth to the story than that, with a wonderfully realised young love story that I found very realistic, rivalry with a richer student, descriptions of farm life, some amazing detail of Hannah's play and preparation.
For of course what is a play without a theatre in which to perform it? Hannah and her friends must find a venue. Is there somewhere on the farm? Hannah proves herself a more at hand capable director, and I adored the siblings and their relationships (though Martha I didn't warm to).
Hannah and Lottie (her best friend) are a very likeable pair of heroines and their scheme is one I really invested myself in. Even the side plot where they try to sell some 'valuable' candlesticks goes in interesting directions.
I thought this was very intelligent and honest writing for the age group. Easy to read with emotional depth and some great characters that are smart, capable and warm.
I look forward to the sequel.
An enjoyable story that I'm sure young ladies will like. Will be happy to tell my customers about this book!
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
OK, so...I liked this book. It was cute and quite well written.
[warning: this review contains spoilers]
Things I liked:
I loved Hannah's character, how she was trying to become better, how she was taking care of "the beans", how she belived in herself, how she was trying to help the farm and her father. I liked it when she punched Jack even if he didn't vandalize her theatre. That's exactly what I'd do (or what I think I'd do) if someone told me bad things about my father. I also liked Lottie (she was such a good friend for Hannah) and her mum (the way she comforted Hannah makes me think that she somehow replaced Hannah's own mother). I liked Hannah's dad too, even if he didn't want Hannah to have a theatre in the first place. I'm glad he changed his mind. The Beans were super funny and cute. I was very happy when I found out that Emily is not as mean as Miranda and she actually helped Hannah. But...I think that I liked Jasper the most. I don't know why, don't judge me. It seems pretty cool to me. Danny was so horrible and the things he said to Hannah were just...so mean, I hate him. Martha is a selfish ten-year-old who thinks that the world is spinning around her. I hated her too. About Jack I don't know what to think anymore. I think that...he's a good person inside but he spent too much time with Carr.
Some things were a bit predictable.
What I also liked was that The Secret Hen House Theatre didn't win the competition, as they shoud've in any other book. It would have been very unrealistic if Hannah and her friends would've win against Miranda's theatre because Miranda had ages of experience behind. (Again, don't judge me)
"The Secret Hen House Theatre" was pretty enjoyable :))
[warning: this review contains spoilers]
Things I liked:
I loved Hannah's character, how she was trying to become better, how she was taking care of "the beans", how she belived in herself, how she was trying to help the farm and her father. I liked it when she punched Jack even if he didn't vandalize her theatre. That's exactly what I'd do (or what I think I'd do) if someone told me bad things about my father. I also liked Lottie (she was such a good friend for Hannah) and her mum (the way she comforted Hannah makes me think that she somehow replaced Hannah's own mother). I liked Hannah's dad too, even if he didn't want Hannah to have a theatre in the first place. I'm glad he changed his mind. The Beans were super funny and cute. I was very happy when I found out that Emily is not as mean as Miranda and she actually helped Hannah. But...I think that I liked Jasper the most. I don't know why, don't judge me. It seems pretty cool to me. Danny was so horrible and the things he said to Hannah were just...so mean, I hate him. Martha is a selfish ten-year-old who thinks that the world is spinning around her. I hated her too. About Jack I don't know what to think anymore. I think that...he's a good person inside but he spent too much time with Carr.
Some things were a bit predictable.
What I also liked was that The Secret Hen House Theatre didn't win the competition, as they shoud've in any other book. It would have been very unrealistic if Hannah and her friends would've win against Miranda's theatre because Miranda had ages of experience behind. (Again, don't judge me)
"The Secret Hen House Theatre" was pretty enjoyable :))
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I read this book for the frist time iin my early teens and loved it! Re-read it when I found it at the back of my book shelf, and i still really like it, (maybe more for nostalgia) and I will probably read it again in the future when I want a quick easy heartfelt read.
After having this recommended to me, I decided to pick it up and give it a go. I found it initially quite hard to get into and connect with narrator Hannah, but I soon did and was swept up in this contemporary middle grade tale of a girl trying to save her family`s farm from being sold when the landlord bumps up the rent, while also putting on a play. It has the same whimsical, modern classic feel that Natasha Farrant captured in the Bluebell Gadsby series, and it features a large group of siblings. I loved that things weren`t perfect between the family in the slightest but they were still always there for each other and the gentle humour sprinkled throughout the book. I worried desperately about the characters till the end as there were so many twists when I thought they were nearing a happy ending, though I did love the one they eventually got. 4.5/5