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The Year of Big Dreams

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BfK No. 201 - July 2013
BfK 201 July 2013

This issue’s cover illustration is from The Knowhow Book of Spycraft by Falcon Travis and Judy Hindley, illustrated by Colin King. Thanks to Usborne Children’s Books for their help with this July cover and to Walker Books for their support of the Authorgraph interview with Petr Horacek.

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The Year of Big Dreams

Karen McCombie
(Scholastic)
320pp, 978-1407131733, RRP £6.99, Paperback
10-14 Middle/Secondary
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Flo lives with her mum in Marigold Parade, a tight-knit urban community in the less glamorous part of town and when Flo’s mum, Queenie, is persuaded to enter the ‘Big Dreams’ national TV talent contest with her amazing style and singing, it seems certain she will win. However, things don’t turn out quite as expected and the year that follows is full of ups and downs. This novel, narrated loosely in diary format, is packed full of genuinely portrayed characters: from Flo’s loyal friends Freddie and Zee to her fearsome but actually deeply loving grandmother they help to draw the reader into Flo’s world. The deep warmth and love of a small community who pull together to support Flo and Queenie as they deal with the ups and downs of a very challenging year is heartening. Readers will sympathise with Flo, who is down to earth, struggling with the mixed emotions of seeing her life with her mum begin to change and having to take more responsibility than she feels ready for. A heart-warming story for girls aged 10+

Reviewer: 
Lucy Russell
3
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