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A review by wordsofclover
Dancing the Charleston by Jacqueline Wilson, Amy Enticknap
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Mona lives with her aunt on the grounds of a great house in the village, owned by the Somerset family. When Lady Somerset dies, Mona's aunt fears they will soon be without a home but when the new homeowner takes over, he treats the women like family and soon Mona is introduced to a whole new world of dancing the Charleston, fine dining and family secrets.
This was a sweet book and a good audiobook listen. I definitely think it would be a good one for a middle grade reader to read or listen to on a long car journey as it's lengthy enough (about 12 hours long). Mona was a sweet character to follow, and has ups and downs with friendships, her relationship with herself and her aunt. I enjoyed the little adventures she went on and the build up to her summer with the Somersets.
I actually think this book could have been a tad shorter as by the time we got to the last few chapters, my attention had definitely wavered a bit. I also would have liked the 'reveal' about Mona's family to have come a bit sooner, as it definitely felt like she found out and then the book was over and there wasn't a real chance for her to really take it all in. I also would have liked to have seen a proper make-up between Mona, Maggie and Peter.
I liked reading one of Jacqueline Wilson's newer novels as up until now I've read a lot of her older ones from when I was a child and teen. The writing in this wasn't incredibly childish and could be enjoyed by adults as well which is one of the reasons why I think Jacqueline Wilson's books are so good!
This was a sweet book and a good audiobook listen. I definitely think it would be a good one for a middle grade reader to read or listen to on a long car journey as it's lengthy enough (about 12 hours long). Mona was a sweet character to follow, and has ups and downs with friendships, her relationship with herself and her aunt. I enjoyed the little adventures she went on and the build up to her summer with the Somersets.
I actually think this book could have been a tad shorter as by the time we got to the last few chapters, my attention had definitely wavered a bit. I also would have liked the 'reveal' about Mona's family to have come a bit sooner, as it definitely felt like she found out and then the book was over and there wasn't a real chance for her to really take it all in. I also would have liked to have seen a proper make-up between Mona, Maggie and Peter.
I liked reading one of Jacqueline Wilson's newer novels as up until now I've read a lot of her older ones from when I was a child and teen. The writing in this wasn't incredibly childish and could be enjoyed by adults as well which is one of the reasons why I think Jacqueline Wilson's books are so good!