'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Monday, 13 May 2013

Review: Finding Serendipity (Tuesday McGillycuddy Adventure #1)

Serendipity Smith is the most famous writer in the world, the author of the popular Vivienne Small adventure stories. When Serendipity goes missing, her daughter Tuesday McGillycuddy knows that something terrible has happened.

Quite by accident, Tuesday discovers where her mother has gone – into the world of her stories. Convinced that her mother needs her help to be able to return, Tuesday and her dog Baxterr follow Serendipity, rushing to her rescue. In the world of stories she is delighted to find Vivienne Small, but she must also confront and overcome Vivienne’s sworn enemy, the pirate and arch-villan Carsten Mothwood.

Cleverly blurring the line between writers and the worlds they create, Finding Serendipity is both an entertaining adventure and a charming portrayal of the wonderful connection people feel to the stories they read and write. Through Tuesday, we are reminded just how ‘real’ the characters we love can become to us and how much they can influence and teach us.

Finding Serendipity was a joy to read. I know my 12-year-old daughter will love it and it is the perfect story for advanced younger readers looking for a more involved story with content that they can still enjoy and appreciate. The story is an entertaining adventure combined with clever wordplay and appealing characters.

Tuesday McGillycuddy is a wonderful heroine – brave, clever, quirky and full of energy – and I’m looking forward to seeing what the author Angelica Banks (actually two authors from Tasmania, Heather Rose and Danielle Wood) has in store for Tuesday in the future.


There are teachers' notes available for Finding Serendipity.

Title: Finding Serendipity (Tuesday McGillycuddy Adventure #1)
Author: Angelica Banks
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $15.99 RRP
Publication Date: 24 April 2013
Format: Paperback 
ISBN: 9781743310311
For ages: 9 - 14
Type: Junior fiction, Middle fiction