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A review by katykelly
Finding Hope by Nicola Baker
4.0
Farm and animal lovers will adore this new series.
A debut, from a farm dweller whose love for the countryside, farms and most of all farm animals shines through.
City girl Ava needs to stay with her uncle, aunt and cousin on their farm while her parents work overseas for a fortnight. She's stayed before but never felt at home or joined in there. She's no good at anything at home, so why should here be any different? And it doesn't help that cousin Tom clearly doesn't want her there and thinks she's useless. But it isn't long before Ava's 'mucking in' (almost literally) brings a lost newborn lamb to her attention, and Ava's heart is most certainly won over.
But how about Tom's? And will Ava find something she's good at, while missing her parents, looking after the lamb and noticing some strange goings-on that seem to mean something nefarious may be about to happen?
This was lovely. Some realistic fears and behaviours from Ava and Tom, though I didn't find their conversations completely realistic for ten-year-olds at times, a little mature. But the animal scenes are wonderful, the portrayal of farm life shows the hard work but also lighter side of it. And it shows a strong start to a longer series about the cousins and the adventures that can happen on a farm.
For ages 7-12.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a sample reading copy.
A debut, from a farm dweller whose love for the countryside, farms and most of all farm animals shines through.
City girl Ava needs to stay with her uncle, aunt and cousin on their farm while her parents work overseas for a fortnight. She's stayed before but never felt at home or joined in there. She's no good at anything at home, so why should here be any different? And it doesn't help that cousin Tom clearly doesn't want her there and thinks she's useless. But it isn't long before Ava's 'mucking in' (almost literally) brings a lost newborn lamb to her attention, and Ava's heart is most certainly won over.
But how about Tom's? And will Ava find something she's good at, while missing her parents, looking after the lamb and noticing some strange goings-on that seem to mean something nefarious may be about to happen?
This was lovely. Some realistic fears and behaviours from Ava and Tom, though I didn't find their conversations completely realistic for ten-year-olds at times, a little mature. But the animal scenes are wonderful, the portrayal of farm life shows the hard work but also lighter side of it. And it shows a strong start to a longer series about the cousins and the adventures that can happen on a farm.
For ages 7-12.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a sample reading copy.