Tuesday, 2 August 2022

Book Review: A Little Spark by Barry Jonsberg

A Little Spark
by
Barry Jonsberg 
 
From the bestselling multi-award-winning author of My Life as an Alphabet and A Song Only I Can Hear  
 
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
 
Publication date: 2nd August 2022 
 
Genre: Middle Grade

Pages: 256
 
 RRP: $ 16.99AUD

Format read: paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

My thoughts

A Little Spark is a wondrous story of love, imagination, friendship and heartbreak.

Thirteen-year-old Caitlyn Carson's parents have been divorced for 7 years. She spends every second weekend with her father and they have adventures to spark the imagination and believe in the impossible.

Barry Jonsberg has written an inspiring book about building on a child's imagination past the early childhood years. Don't let that little spark go out!

Many opportunities arise throughout the book for classroom discussion with themes of divorce, a child's rights, how divorce affects the children in a relationship and parent responsibilities.
 
The story is narrated by Cate and she is extremely likeable and comes across as a very mature and open 13 year old, wise beyond her years. I was relieved when there was a scene of screaming and door slamming because I feel the character needs to be relatable.

A Little Spark highlights strong parent/child relationships and a fun and supportive friendship with Cate and best friend Elise. It is filled with magical encounters featuring UFOs, a unicorn, a beach serenade and a flash mob orchestra, just to name a few.

A Little Spark is a book that will ignite your imagination, make you laugh and break your heart.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher recommended age 10 - 14
I feel even those 15 -16 would enjoy this engaging story.


About the author

Barry Jonsberg has won numerous awards for his books, both nationally and internationally. He has been published in eighteen countries and translated into many languages. His bestselling novel, My Life As An Alphabet, was recently made into an award-winning film, H is For Happiness, released throughout the world to great critical acclaim. The same production company is now working on television and film adaptations of his last two novels, A Song Only I Can Hear and Catch Me If I Fall.

Barry lives in Darwin, in the Top End of Australia, with his wife Anita and his crazy dog, Zorro.
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Book Review: The Boab Tree by Helen Milroy

The Boab Tree is a delightful story about friendship and belonging.     Publisher: Fremantle Press Publication date: 29th October 2024 Genr...