Title: Alice-Miranda on Holiday
Author: Jacqueline Harvey
Publisher: Random House, $15.95 RRP
Publication Date: September 2010
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781864719840
For ages: 7+
Type: Novel
About: Alice-Miranda is home for the holidays, and there’s a lot happening at Highton Hall!
In this second instalment of the series, Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones faces mystery, intrigue and adventure at her home, making the holidays much more exciting than they first appeared.
Alice-Miranda’s new friend, Jacinta, has joined her for the break and together they must work to solve the puzzle.
First, there is the strange boy who throws stones and acts nastily towards them. Then, there’s the handsome movie star who has come to stay and, with all the sneaking around at night-time, the girls are certain he is hiding something. Add to that the mysterious black car that keeps appearing, and the extra-strange behaviour of Granny Bert, and things are definitely out of control.
Alice-Miranda gets a strange feeling about it all and, of course, cannot resist becoming involved and trying to solve everyone’s problems. And, as shown during her school term (in Alice-Miranda at School), her feelings are usually spot-on.
You know the feeling when you loved the first book in a series and the second one is released? The worry that it won’t live up to your expectations? It’s no secret that I adored the first Alice-Miranda book, so when Alice-Miranda on Holiday arrived, I stared at it for a few days. I really, really hoped it was going to be as good as the first.
The benchmark was going to be this: in my review of the first, I wrote that I wanted to ignore my own daughter to read it. So, once I began reading this one, would I want to do the same?
Cue nerves…
Read the book’s prologue…
And the first few lines…
YES!
I’m so happy to say that I still love Alice-Miranda. Her feistiness, positive attitude, outgoing personality and meddling ways had me, yes, wanting to rush my toddler to bed so I could keep reading.
Beginning where the last instalment finished off, this story was written in the same lovely vintage-esque prose, with the characters filling readers’ imaginations once again. These are people who, despite their rich and extravagant lifestyle, feel like a real part of our lives. Alice-Miranda herself is like the friend we all wish we’d had at school.
Alice-Miranda on Holiday is a gorgeous tale of friendship and mystery, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
Watch out for a very special guest post from author Jacqueline Harvey on Kids Book Review this afternoon. She's going to give us a special peek into the creation of the gorgeous Alice-Miranda!
This book is available online
Visit the Alice-Miranda website
Also in this series:
Alice-Miranda at School
Next instalment coming in 2011!
Read our review of Alice-Miranda at School
Read our interview with author Jacqueline Harvey
