Can you have too many characters?!

Title: Indigo Wilde and the Unknown Wilderness – Book 2

Author: Pippa Curnick @PippaCurnick http://www.pippacurnick.com

Published by: Hodder Children’s Books @HodderFiction

Published on: 2nd February 2023

ISBN: 978 1 4449 48844 Price: £5.99

First line: Indigo dropped the postcard she had been reading in surprise and spilled her mug of milkshake into her lap.

Genre: Adventure, Mystery

Age: 6+

What’s it all about? This is the story of Indigo and her brother Quigley (who is deaf and communicates through sign language – the first character I have ever met that does this) and the search for their missing parents. Their house, 47 Jellybean Crescent, has a whole menagerie of various magical creatures already. I have to say, I found this part a little confusing, and struggled to follow all the characters. However, I’ve found out that this is book 2, so I think reading the first book would make this easier! Then a Moonbear turns up to deliver them a message and their journey takes them to the unknown wilderness in another world where they meet a whole host of other unusual and imaginative lifeforms.

Why should I read it? Vibrant, visionary and very, very good is the only way to describe this book. If you like illustrations that jump off the page, then this is the book for you! I really like the various different forms of writing throughout the story, such as a newspaper or letter, which would be brilliant models to use in a Year 3 class. The story runs at a nice pace, and the children will like spotting the clues to who is the ‘baddy’! I can’t wait to see children creating their own ice cream creations inspired by the story.