A fantastic magical adventure with plenty of darker twists and turns that simultaneously excite and intrigue, Amy Harrington & the curse of Scarlet will captivate young readers until the very end.
The entire book is action packed with either something sinister or, some sort of clue unveiled in every chapter; consequently, I found myself constantly wanting to read, ‘just one more chapter’ to find out the next little nugget. Some elements of the story moved a little too quickly for my liking but given that magic is at play, I guess this is understandable and plausible.
With its simple and easily-relatable language, this is a fantastic choice for younger readers who want a longer novel (something which is often seen as a badge of honour in emerging readers), as although the book is pretty lengthy, the plot is easy to follow and recall. Another added bonus were the short, snappy chapters: perfect for a young attention span! At times, the vernacular wasn’t quite believable meaning the story lost its flow, and there were conversation threads that were repeated several times, but for the most part, the book was well-written and hugely enjoyable.
Amy Harrington herself is an extremely likeable protagonist who’s personality, fears and challenges will resonate with many readers. The entire novel explores the theme of bravery, overcoming barriers and standing up for what we believe in – valuable life lessons for children. Alongside her is her loyal companion Peter, who we grow to know and love as the novel progresses, and demonstrates to all that kindness is always the way. I think the wide variety and depth of the characters is definitely a strong point of the novel as there are people to love, people to loath and everything in between. For children looking for role-models and despicable villains, this is a great choice.
I can clearly see this as being the perfect book to share with developing readers: perhaps a teacher wanting a class book to keep their pupils hooked each day, or a great parent-child story to snuggle up with before bed time. The Book Dragon has had the privilege of reviewing this book on behalf of Stella Baker, and believes it deserves its 4 stars.
