Whimsy and Woe (Rebecca McRitchie, Angus & Robertson)

Adventurous and outlandish, Whimsy and Woe will hook kids in from the first page. The story follows the eponymous Mordaunt siblings in unravelling the mystery of what has happened to their disappeared parents. Their search will take them from their horrible aunt Apoline’s clutches into the quirky world of the theatre, where dark workings are at hand?. The gothic elements are offset by upbeat humour and fast pacing, making this a suitable read for kids aged nine and up. Rebecca McRitchie knows what young readers want. As an editor at Scholastic she has helped produce many popular children’s books, and also has a good track record in her own right. Her picture book Edward and the Great Discovery, the story of a mysterious egg, quickly became a bestseller. McRitchie delivers a fun, energetic read in her debut children’s fiction title; it is perfect for fans of Judith Rossell’s Withering-by-Sea and Lemony Snicket’s ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’. With non-stop plot twists, Whimsy and Woe has the ability to keep the attention of reluctant readers who will want to know what happens next.

Suzanne Garcia is a bookseller at Mary Martin Bookshop

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