Review: Hetty and the Battle of the Books by Anna James and Jez Tuya (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10E)

 July 2022, Barrington Stoke, 80 pages Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Barrington Stoke

The library is Hetty’s very favourite place in school, and since falling out with her best friends Ali, Mei and Rocket she’s been spending even more time there. So she’s absolutely horrified when she learns that her head teacher is planning to close it down, claiming there aren’t enough funds to keep the library going.

There’s no way Hetty’s going to sit back and let this happen. But can she repair her broken friendships and build support for her library campaign?

Let the Battle of the Books commence!

Nayu's thoughts

A tale about a girl who loves books? I'm in! Hetty is a sweet girl, but one who knows that the school library absolutely cannot close and be done away for a reason that is just so very grrrrr inducing. The way both the students and teachers react to the news is I feel realistic. Usually I'd say petitions don't work, but Hetty and her friends do some delving, and then figure an inventive way on how to get the news out to the right people. Not all their methods were above board but they absolutely worked. 

I was a bit disappointed there wasn't a followup chapter on what happened next once the battle concluded, which is why it didn't get a perfect grade from me. However, there is a lot to love about this read, from the grogeous cover and illustrations by Jez Tuya, to the spunk Hetty has within her. I liked how there was a major falling out between her friends but they still (eventually) pitched in, as the topic was bigger than their friendship and did reunite them too. Book lovers will all love this tale of saving a school library!

Suggested read  

 For more literal school themed drama check out Hopewell High #1 & #2: Stage Fright and All Too Much by Jo Cotterill (Children's, 9 years +, Dyslexia friendly, 10E/10E)