It’s easy to see why these books are delighting readers
young and old – the writing is fresh, funny and fabulous.
Lottie Brooks is one of those tween characters who is
sometimes all-bluff, sometimes all-heart, and you sort of fall in love with her
either way.
She is a frustratingly endearing creature who creates
crazy and embarrassing moments in every aspect of her life – the word ‘chaotic’
in the title is an understatement.
Lottie’s voice is clear and engaging, even when her
actions are heart-stoppingly ridiculous. She constantly gets herself into
awkward situations, giving readers the joy of watching her squirm out of them.
For example, she accidentally invites a French boy and his family to their teeny-weeny house for Christmas and they accept, then she’s so anxious about it that she doesn’t tell her family… and of course, chaos ensues.
The reader sees a lot of spot fires being put out in
many areas, which is marvellously entertaining.
The book’s
interesting combination of prose, text messages, hand-drawn elements and stick
figure illustrations allows the story to flow seamlessly, while holding the
reader’s attention.
Covering important themes such as friendship, resilience, teen relationships, speaking up and learning who you are, this book will be devoured with relish by those in the 9 – 12 age group.
Like our precious pets, this book is for all the
time, not just for Christmas.
It’s also great fun!
Title: The Completely Chaotic Christmas Of Lottie BrooksAuthor/Illustrator: Katie Kirby
Publisher: Puffin, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 Oct 2024
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241679166
For Ages: 9 - 12
Type: Middle Grade Fiction