By Susie Bower
Published by Pushkin Press
Pushkin Children's Books
A Sarah Odedina Book
Cover Art & design by Thy Bui
Once again we have a triumph from Pushkin Press.
After the fantastic School for Nobodies, the book world is blessed with another adventure from the superb imagination of Susie Bower.
Mim (Jemima) is 11 years old but you might be surprised about the things she's never done. She lives in a huge castle with her father (the actual King) but hardly ever gets to spend time with him.
Their town, Galena, has cobbled streets & the castle itself is surrounded by a wall.
Mim has never been to the Outside. She can hear the ocean but has never seen it.
Mim cannot swim.
Some things are secret - but Mim isn't sure why. Why is there even a wall? It had been built on the orders of the King, to protect them from the Outside. But WHY? Mim was born 11 years ago & her mum died the same day. That's when everything changed & now Mim has to live with SO many questions but almost no chance to ask them & nobody to ask. What is this Curse day people are so mysterious about? Her only friend is Smith who works in the forge & makes things. Mim loves his skills & wishes she could spend more time learning from him. Her one treasured birthday gift is from Smith & it becomes her courage. Naturally, the daughter of a King is a princess, but Mim's personality, interests & tastes are so far removed from anything typically princess-like. She has tatty, threadbare towels & breaks ice on her water basin with her toothbrush just to have a morning wash. This isn't princess level! Life as she knows it changes drastically overnight when, without warning, all her tomboyish clothes vanish. Foggy, her governess/teacher, supplies a flowy dress, girly shoes & a heavy but dull crown. With these items comes an announcement that a new teacher is coming to train Mim in the ways of a Princess. It's also the end of her days sneaking into the castle library & reading. She's barely covered titles in the V, W, X,Y & Z sections - on the only shelves within her limited reach.
Strong, bold & above all, curious, Mim needs answers but is shocked at new developments when imperious Madame Marionette arrives & turns everything upside-down. Groucho, a HUGE dog with yellow eyes doesn't soften the mood at all! This new teacher doesn't care about Mim's actual passions, books or learning. Learning how to walk like a princess doesn't rate highly with *Jemima*!
There's one extra special book Mim manages to rescue & hide from everyone. Just one snag: it won't even open! It's such a bizarre mystery. Who can Mim trust to help solve it? Will anyone help her?
So many twists & turn weave through this story to keep you guessing.
We're taken on such a clever adventure & really care about Mim from the moment we meet her. Is Foggy part of the secrets? Will Mim ever discover anything Outside or make any friends?
Susie Bower's words & characters draw you in & you just have to keep turning pages to make the next exciting discovery.
Bravo!
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