Happy Wednesday my lovely bookworms. Today I’m bringing you a special review. It’s strange you don’t usually see a review of a middle grade, children’s book as I’m predominantly YA and fantasy on my blog. But this book has changed my mind and here’s why.
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell Published by Bloomsbury Childrens Books on May 28, 2020
Genres: Middle Grade, Historical
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Goodreads
Everyone tells Sophie that she was orphaned in a shipwreck - found floating in a cello case on the English Channel on her first birthday. But Sophie is convinced her mother also survived.
When the Welfare Agency threatens to separate her from her guardian and send her to an orphanage, Sophie takes matters into her own hands, starting with the only clue she has - the address of a cello-maker in Paris. On the run from the authorities, Sophie finds Matteo and his network of rooftoppers - urchins who walk tightropes and live in the sky. In a race across the rooftops of Paris, will they be able to find her mother before it's too late?
Hopeful, inspiring and thrilling in equal measure, this is a classic adventure story about pursuing your dreams and never ignoring a possible.
My Review
This review was featured on my Instagram here as part of the Tandem Collective Rooftoppers Readalong, but I wanted to expand a little on my blog as this book truly appreciated books in a whole new way.
I was so excited, I didn’t know what to expect to be honest from this book! I went in blind and I came out truly captivated by this book and by Katherine Rundell’s writing and storytelling.
The story follows a girl name Sophie, who was taken in by a strange gentleman called Charles. He likes books, he lives for possibilities in life and he was on his own. On the Queen Mary that sunk, Charles found a baby floating in a cello, with no one but him. So her a father in himself and called the baby, Sophie. When Sophie turned 12, the social services were going to take her away from Charles. She’s a lot like Charles, strange, inquisitive, bookish, but that doesn’t comply with social services. Sophie has always felt that her mother is still around, so when she finds a clue in the cello she came in, and with social service about to take her, they decide to run away, to Paris, to find Sophie’s mother. On her adventures, she find herself running rooftops with a boy named Matteo, and children living in trees, known as tree-dwellers. You can see and hear everything on the rooftops, including beautiful music that could lead to finding Sophie’s mum.
‘I do, I’m afraid, understand books far more readily than i understand people. Books are so easy to get along with.’
Charles, the first character your introduced too. He makes me smile, I’m not sure why but he’s so worldly in his studies and literature. The quotes above and below him are him and I just loved them that couldn’t help adding them to the review. His awkwardness, and his approach to bringing up Sophie may not be right, but it’s his heart is in the right place and that’s what matters. Sophie could have been lost because of him. But he cared and loved her like his own. He gave her a home. I was fascinated and captured by his character. I think that’s why I liked him so much.
’It’s the things you read at the age you are which stick. Books crowbar the world open for you.’
Sophie is the spitting image of Charles. I loved her innocence and view of the world. She was brought up to believe in all possibilities no matter how obscure. Nothing is impossible. Sophie loved being herself, even if it didn’t conform to being a proper lady of the time. No ladies wear trouser, but Sophie, bright red ones. I admired her for just being her. I think that’s why I loved this book, it’s so innocent, it reminds of your being a child and not growing up so fast. Although she is very mature and knowledgeable for her ages, courtesy of books. Then she met Matteo, the rooftoppers and tree-dwellers and it astounded me by how they lived, it was like I’m a Celeb but with children on rooftops, with far different trials.
But one thing that I will take away from this is how beautiful, innocent and magical children’s fiction/middle grade is! When I read constantly YA, it’s such a difference at how imaginative books are at such an early age! As a librarian and as a reader, I gravitate for YA! But from this book, Katherine’s world building, and her strange and wonderful characters, I feel I have a deeper appreciation for children’s stories now more than ever.
I would highly recommend this book to those of any age! No book should age range, it’s for everyone!
Thank you @tandemcollectiveuk for my #gifted copy in exchange for a review.
