Reviews are a bit of work to come by, but they are an important part of promoting your books. Here is my review as a result of contacting Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
file:///C:/Users/Linda%20Frank/Downloads/Making…%20REVIEW%20(1).pdf
TITLE: Making a Mystery with Annie Tillery, The Madonna Ghost
AUTHOR: LINDA MARIA FRANK
Star Rating: 4 stars
Stats: Editing 8/10, Story 9/10, Writing Style 8/10 Cover 7/10
CATCHY QUOTE
‘A truly gripping story with a strong cast of characters. Kids will love it!’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’
Book Review
REVIEW
I do enjoy a good children’s novel; and when there’s a heft dollop of mystery too, I’m in my
element. In this sweetly written story of secrets, nasty crooks and a very spooky island, I
discovered a well-plotted story with plenty of twists and turns to keep any adventure fan
happy. The author seems to be very comfortable with her characters, even the secondary,
and happily throws all manner of twists into the mix.
In terms of the story, there is also much to commend. With a fun opening chapter, and a
cleverly structured plot – all the way to the exciting finale – the author seems determined to
keep her readers thoroughly engaged. She also works well with the romance with Ty,
providing the readers with plenty of chemistry between the two central characters.
If I was to be a tiny bit critical, the author has a tendency to ‘tell’ and to ‘show’. For example,
I stumbled after my confident, determined aunt. As it happens, the author showed this in
how the character acted; I wonder, was it necessary to ‘tell’ the reader too. I know the book
is for children, and it is tempting to ‘dumb it down’, but trust me, this author is so good at
showing, it’s not necessary.
All in all, a fun adventure for 9 – 13 year olds, particularly if they enjoy Enid Blyton’s Famous
Five or, of course, Nancy Drew. I would recommend it to anybody who enjoys a good
adventure where the characters are not secondary to the plot, but equally important; the
sort of characters a reader can root for, can cheer on till the very end.
Also, of note, the author has included a number of helpful lesson plans at the end of the
chapters and at the back of the book including topics for discussion, info on the author, help
on improving writing style, developing characters and plotting a story. A wonderful resource
for teachers!
To sum up: A modern day Nancy Drew!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
