Thursday 15 November 2012

Darcy Burdock by Laura Dockrill (Children's, 9 years +, 8/10)


 
(An image from the press release - as this is a proof copy, the actual cover hasn't been released yet)

March 2013, Red Fox
282 pages, Paperback
Review copy (Advance proof)

Themes: imaginative mind, turning hard times in life into stories, having a pet, putting up with horrid friends of the family, lying a little, getting wound up easily, helping cheer otbers up

Summary from Amazon (I don't get anything from mentioning them. It's too early to be on RHCP's website)

Ten-year-old Darcy Burdock is one of life's noticers. Curious, smart-as-a-whip, funny and fiercely loyal, she sees the extraordinary in the everyday and the wonder in the world around her.


In this first book, we are introduced to her family: Mum, who Darcy loves as much as her favourite fried egg and chips, Dad, who is kind and fair if a bit hopeless, and little siblings Hector and Poppy, who Darcy likes dressing up in ridiculous outfits and having dance-offs with, respectively. Plus there's her non-bleating pet lamb, Lamb-Beth and best friend, Will, to have adventures with.


Darcy learns that turning into an angrosaurus-rex and causing chaos just gets her in trouble, trying to run away from home with a reluctant lamb in tow leads to sore kneebows, it's best not to throw a massive strop just before your surprise birthday party, Hallowe'en is all about spider costumes and having a pumpkin with a wonky eye, and if she's ever in a situation at home or at school where she's not sure what to do, she should write a story around it and the truth will be illuminated by her imagination.

Nayuleska's thoughts
 
Darcy is quite a character who rarely understands the concept of letting sleeping dogs lie. It's astonishing to find out how active her mind is, and how she deals with events by turning them into stories in her private book. I was quite shocked, in a good way, how insightful Darcy is at the end. What she says is deep, something that will touch every reader's heart which is so very true. At first I though she was a tearaway, but now I think she has high emotional intelligence and is simply energetic.

 The reason this gets 8/10 is that for me some of the stories - especially the octopus - dragged for me, but I can see how they will be popular with the target age group.

You can find out more on Laura's website

Suggested read
 
Another girl with a big heart and an energetic style is
Bille in Bille Templar's War by Ellie Irving

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