Overall Star Rating: 4.5 stars. 11 year old Amy Harrington knows the lady visiting her family, ‘Great Aunt Scarlet’ is a guest who is anything but usual. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined what the arrival of this distant relative would mean, turning her life upside down! Triumph seems to be around the corner, but each time there is another twist or turn in the plot. Remaining true to herself, and her old self, and her family, despite the highly dangerous mystical forces she is pitted against.  All of the things that happen to Amy keep the story flowing and the readers’ interest. Characters are vividly described by the author, and interact well with each other, there is a discernible difference to each. We feel a connection and empathy toward Amy and her family, and those she encounters who are similarly under a spell. The author’s portrayal of the whole ‘enchanting’ book (in more ways than one) is magical. I’d happily recommend this book for older children who want to read a more ‘adult’ book; a chapter book. (Yvonne Marrs)

Overall Star Rating: 4.5 stars. The characters are well crafted and are fleshed out. They are realistic and when magical events start happening their motivations hold water. We have a strong heroine, side characters and an amazingly evil villain. Their arcs are explored well and resolve satisfactorily. The dialogue can get repetitive at times and can be a little bland with some of the side characters. Some tropes sometimes slip in the secondary characters but for the most part, the main characters are strong. The pacing goes along smoothly, and there are times where I read chapter after chapter because the intrigue was intense. The short chapters were good for this story; the events didn’t feel too rushed or long for the most part. The book’s messages are positive and clear. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

Overall Star Rating: 4.5 stars. Amy Harrington & the curse of Scarlet” is a story about growing up, never knowing what might happen, finding yourself and learning to make decisions for the greater good. All of this wrapped together with magic, history and action. The book follows its protagonist Amy, who in the lead up to her 12^th birthday, has a mysterious Great Aunt Scarlet pay a visit to her and her parents. Scarlet’s arrival causes a whole host of problems for Amy and her family, but her parents are struggling to remember why. The subtle and then obvious and sinister way Scarlet influenced the events of the book felt like being trapped in an uncomfortable fever dream, which I loved. It really added an eerie and unsettling feeling when reading where as a reader you don’t know what’s real and you don’t know why any of it is unfolding the way it is. With the book centering on Amy’s point of view we’re taken on a journey with her whilst we figure out what’s going on. It encouraged me to want to read more and discover Scarlet’s motives. Scarlet’s beginning descriptions make her seem otherworldly, eccentric and strange. As the story goes on she becomes desperate, greedy and even more dangerous. There was no point of the story that lacked drama or thrills, and it was exhilarating finding out the lengths Scarlet was going to go to maintain her lifestyle and the lengths she was still going by including Amy in that. The characters were well fleshed out and had adequate descriptions and dialogue that made me enjoy them all and raised the stakes on what Scarlet was doing. I would have enjoyed more moments of Amy interacting with side characters, especially after her discovery of what was happening, because it was so entertaining to see the change in Amy’s attitude and behaviour. The editing is professional and enhances overall readability. Beyond the surface of the story it really is a lovely read about growing up, being closer to becoming a teenager and finding inner strength and bravery to overcome immense challenges thrown your way. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were a lovely addition to the story. This book is a lovely choice for younger readers of middle-grade age and up, who want a fast-paced, magical themed story with many twists and turns. (Rebecca Wade)

Overall Star Rating: 4.5 stars. In her novel, Amy Harrington and the Curse of Scarlet, Stella Baker uses magic and mystery to illustrate a story of personal growth that is a must read for all young readers. Amy is a timid and shy girl who is looking forward to spending her twelfth birthday with her best friends, Simran and Charlotte. But the unexpected and largely unwanted arrival of her ‘Great Aunt Scarlet’ soon turns her life upside-down. Scarlet’s arrival coincides with a series of unfortunate events for Amy at school, and on her way home, the unseasonal wet weather, even for Cornwall, soon has her drenched, cold and miserable. Everyone turns against her, including her best friends. Just when Amy thought things couldn’t get any worse, the freakish rains cause the river to rise, and her family’s home is devastated. Amy is whisked off to live with Scarlet, with her parent’s approval, a fact that perplexes Amy, considering they had done their best to dissuade Scarlet from visiting in the first place. Now friendless and alone, Amy’s life takes a turn for the worse. She now faces secrets and challenges that will test her courage and resilience. Amy learns who she can trust, who she must not trust, and above all, to trust her own instincts. Ms Baker brings her characters bring to life. From the kind and affable Clarke and Peter, his nephew, to the cruelty and pettiness of the housekeeper, Madge, and her daughters, Delia and Angel, Amy must reach inside herself for the strength to overcome what is essentially a life and death dilemma. Her new friend, Peter, demonstrates the same strength and resilience as he encourages Amy in her heroine’s journey from self-doubt to self-discovery and eventual empowerment. Ms Baker takes these messages of bravery, self-discovery, and standing up for your beliefs, and invisibly weaves them into the story without detracting from the entertainment value. The dialogue is snappy and relevant to the target age group of the book. The plot unfolds quickly and presents the reader with clues and twists to keep them entertained and engaged. Short chapters drive the story forward, ensuring the book is well-paced. I found Amy Harrington and the Curse of Scarlet to be well-crafted and an exciting and engaging read that will appeal to young readers looking for a story with adventure and magic. Along the way, they will accidentally learn some meaningful life lessons. Bonus! (Phoebe Wilby)

Overall Star Rating: 4.5 stars. I like the voice in this one. It’s got a touch of Dahl about it to my ear, firmly grounded in whimsy with a voice perfect for Middle Grade readers. The formatting is nice and a shout out to the lovely illustrations is necessary! (Eryn McConnell)