This was an absolutely, irrevocably charming read that left my heart warm and my brain reeling.

I grew up vivaciously reading Jacqueline Wilson books. I would always get her books for my birthday or Christmas and I would always have devoured them within a couple of days. I absolutely adored her stories and would always get myself lost in them - there was something charming about leaving my bland childhood and heading into a world of adventure, mischief and often brutal honesty about life. Jacqueline Wilson's books were always groundbreaking to me as a child and I honestly worried that I wouldn't feel the same way about them as I did back then now that I'm 10 years senior of what I was when I was in my "Jacqueline Wilson phase". I can say that the misconception I held before delving into my new Jacqueline Wilson adventure (wherein I wish to catch up on her new releases), was incredibly false. Her writing, characters and plots still have an undeniable ease at pulling me in right from when I lift the cover.

This story is thoroughly charming, sweet and enigmatic with its lovely characters, immersive plot and outstanding morals. I imagine that if I were a few years younger, this would've taught me a fair few things about prejudice, classism, individuality and the importance of love. This book, as with most of Wilson's, does contain an element of heartbreak to it (in the form of physical abuse), so mark that as a trigger warning. But I definitely feel as if that content is necessary in a book like this which will be going out to a young demographic. The abusive family element isn't there just for the sake of being there - it's pivotal to the story and the messages that lie within it.

All in all this is a brilliant, well written and excellently plotted story of which teaches a lot both about historical values and modern values and entwines real life with a little bit of fantasy.

Thoroughly captivating read and I would wholly recommend this to you, even if you aren't of the target demographic.