In a Nutshell: Sibling shenanigans | Family frenzies | Everyday miracles Humorous, generous-hearted fourth and final novel in a heavenly series that just keeps on giving. The winds of change are whooshing through the Gadsby household. The siblings have a new pink-haired, fairy-wing-wearing nanny. Flora is off to theatre school in Scotland. Sensitive Twig has taken up rugby. Poetry-writing Jas is being bullied by the callous Cupcake Crew, and the ponies from the stables under the motorway are being relocated to Devon. Life is pretty much business as usual for documentary-making Bluebell, until enigmatic artistic Marek Valenta arrives from Prague and sprinkles more than a little magic and Central European chic on her world. They're both artists, individuals who “see things differently”, as Marek describes it. When Marek’s money-driven dad decides to banish him to a distant posh school, where the cruelties of cross-country running are de rigueur, Bluebell comes up with a “crazy impossible” plan that might just fix all their problems, and set her on the road to making history.
Bluebell and her siblings are beginning a new school year. Suddenly everyone is freaking out. Twig has taken up violent team sports, poor Jas is being bullied by the ghastly Cupcake Crew and Blue has a big decision to make. There are fights and crying fits. Halloween parades gone wrong and secret graffiti artists. Confusing friendships and life-changing choices. But there is also laughter and above all, there is love - and that's what being a family is all about.
Natasha Farrant says.."Welcome to the mad, dysfunctional and oh so real world of the Gadsby family. I hope you love them as much as I do."
Some of our Lovereading4kids Reader Review Panel were lucky enough to read and review After Iris; The Diaries of Bluebell Gadsby, the first in this series. You can read their full reviews by clicking here.