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A review by waywardfancy
Eliza Boom: The Explosive Diary by Joëlle Dreidemy, Emily Gale
5.0
Hooray for Emily Gale! Eliza Boom has it all.
Well rounded non-stereotypical female characters? TICK!
Hilarious details and asides? TICK!
Action + adventure + mystery + drama? TICK!
Unconventional family with a step parent (hooray!) who is neither overly nice NOR evil? Tick!
A writing style that is interesting for kids (diary form! Brilliant!) ? TICK!
Un-patronising and authentic kid’s voice? TICK!!!
Finally I have found a terrific series of books for my seven year old twins – and for me. Even my husband read it without the kids on my recommendation and laughed out loud.
Emily Gale has created a wonderfully rounded character in young inventor Eliza Boom. She isn’t too soppy or girly but (relief!) she isn’t a tom boy either. She’s a real girl who is wrapped up in her own ideas and world but who also the trappings of everyday life - an annoying baby sibling, a step mum, a shaggy dog. She isn’t too saccharine nor too mean. She isn’t too naughty nor too good. She isn’t a goth or a witch and doesn’t have super powers. She’s an inventor but not stereotypically nerdy. She’s a girl. She makes mistakes. Things blow up.
The diary form makes for lots of laughs from Eliza’s point of view of events. It has also inspired my kids to start diaries. There are friendship dramas, mean girls, horses, spies but not like we have seen before. Best of all – there are absolutely NO BORING BITS! There is a lot going on (note to kids authors – kids are smart. They can handle multiple plot lines and sub plots!) There is Eliza’s story, her inventions her mistakes. There’s her mysterious father. There’s several dilemmas that build on each other like all good screw ball comedies. There’s a mean girl. There’s school drama. Friendship drama. There’s a twist. This book is so well structured and edited. The story barrels along. All this in 125 pages with added zing from Joelle Dreidemy’s illustrations that evoke Quentin Blake crossed with Dav Pilky. I found these books thanks to my local independent bookseller. I mentioned I had adventurous, rambunctious girls that liked things to get a bit crazy but so far all the books that catered for this (Captain Underpants and the ilk) were about boys.
No matter the gender, if you have kids who want funny, bright, interesting stories - check out Eliza Boom. And if you don’t have kids – read them anyway!
Well rounded non-stereotypical female characters? TICK!
Hilarious details and asides? TICK!
Action + adventure + mystery + drama? TICK!
Unconventional family with a step parent (hooray!) who is neither overly nice NOR evil? Tick!
A writing style that is interesting for kids (diary form! Brilliant!) ? TICK!
Un-patronising and authentic kid’s voice? TICK!!!
Finally I have found a terrific series of books for my seven year old twins – and for me. Even my husband read it without the kids on my recommendation and laughed out loud.
Emily Gale has created a wonderfully rounded character in young inventor Eliza Boom. She isn’t too soppy or girly but (relief!) she isn’t a tom boy either. She’s a real girl who is wrapped up in her own ideas and world but who also the trappings of everyday life - an annoying baby sibling, a step mum, a shaggy dog. She isn’t too saccharine nor too mean. She isn’t too naughty nor too good. She isn’t a goth or a witch and doesn’t have super powers. She’s an inventor but not stereotypically nerdy. She’s a girl. She makes mistakes. Things blow up.
The diary form makes for lots of laughs from Eliza’s point of view of events. It has also inspired my kids to start diaries. There are friendship dramas, mean girls, horses, spies but not like we have seen before. Best of all – there are absolutely NO BORING BITS! There is a lot going on (note to kids authors – kids are smart. They can handle multiple plot lines and sub plots!) There is Eliza’s story, her inventions her mistakes. There’s her mysterious father. There’s several dilemmas that build on each other like all good screw ball comedies. There’s a mean girl. There’s school drama. Friendship drama. There’s a twist. This book is so well structured and edited. The story barrels along. All this in 125 pages with added zing from Joelle Dreidemy’s illustrations that evoke Quentin Blake crossed with Dav Pilky. I found these books thanks to my local independent bookseller. I mentioned I had adventurous, rambunctious girls that liked things to get a bit crazy but so far all the books that catered for this (Captain Underpants and the ilk) were about boys.
No matter the gender, if you have kids who want funny, bright, interesting stories - check out Eliza Boom. And if you don’t have kids – read them anyway!