REVIEWED BY HANNAH, 13, QLD
Maddie in the Middle by Julia Lawrinson,
Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781925815931
Hannah received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
Maddie Lee is in year six, and she feels ordinary and dull. Her best and oldest friend Katy is Head School Counsellor and aiming at an Academic Scholarship. Maddie doesn’t have anything that is hers or anything that is special. Enter a mysterious new girl, Samara.
Maddie in the Middle, the new novel written by Julia Lawrinson, brings together the many aspects and difficulties of life as a young girl, transitioning into high school, to create an enthralling story that will keep you hooked until the very end.
I found that it was so easy to get captivated in the plot, with each chapter ending in a cliff hanger and I was wanting more and more with every word. I just could not put this book down; in fact I ended up reading the whole novel in one night! I found myself feeling the inner emotions of every character and also relating to them, rocking with anticipation as I longed for the conflict to be resolved.
This book moves at quite a fast pace, adding to the suspension and overall feels of the storyline. I think that the author has executed the characters absolutely beautifully. They are relatable and loveable while still being able to construct the main conflicts.
I would recommend this book to ages 12+ as some of the themes are quite emotionally demanding. This would be a great book to read with your children to help them understand some of the main aspects (e.g. divorce, poverty, conflict in friendships).
This would make for a fantastic movie. I would even go as far as to say it is the best psychological thriller I have read this year. I can’t wait to read her next book.
Hannah is a regular book reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read all her reviews here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!
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