The Marvellous Granny Jinks and Me

By Author / Illustrator

Serena Holly

Genre

Young fiction

Age range(s)

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Ltd

ISBN

9781398503038

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

20-01-2022

Synopsis

Join Jada and Granny Jinks in this charming new series for readers aged 6+! Gorgeously illustrated throughout by Selom Sunu, and brimming with warmth, tricks and magic, this is the perfect read for fans of The Naughtiest Unicorn, Bad Nana and Wigglesbottom Primary!

When Jada Jinks finds a box of magic tricks in her granny's flat, she uncovers her granny's secret dream of becoming a magician. Jada soon decides that she's going to help Granny Jinks fulfil her dreams, but one thing stands in her way - her dad, Jonny Jinks, who hates magic! Will Jada be able to help Granny Jinks pass the auditions for Dalton Green Magic Society, and will she learn some tricks of her own along the way?

Inspired by the true story of Jenny Mayers - the first Black woman to be accepted into the Magic Circle.
*Includes how-to magic tricks for you to try at home!* With themes of finding courage, making friends, managing relationships at home, school and in the community, this is a wonderful new series for readers aged 6 and up!

Q&A with author Serena Holly

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Reviews

I read The Marvellous Granny Jinks and Me to my daughter at bedtime over the course of two weeks and we both loved it. Based on a true story, we get to know and love Jada and her fun, fabulous Granny.

When Jada finds a magical box of tricks, we learn how Granny’s late husband was a magician and she was his assistant. However, Granny now wishes to be centre-stage, in the spotlight again, but this time as the main magician herself. We read about Jada's determination to make her Granny's dream a reality, even though her father detests magic.

This is a whimsical, adventurous book that makes me wish everyone had a local magic society and a grandmother like Granny Jinks! It is a nod towards Jenny Mayers, who was the first black woman to join the Magic Circle and so there is a feeling of importance that runs alongside the light-hearted, humorous spirit of the book. The plot is fairly simple so my five-year-old could follow and the illustrations are bold and wonderfully detailed, and even though they are black and white they sing with colour.

The actual text is fairly large and well-spaced out, making it great for younger readers. I particularly liked the wee treat at the end; instructions about how to do the magic tricks that feature in the story!

This is the first in a series and my daughter has already asked when we can get the next instalment!

144 pages / Reviewed by Jemma Jeffrey, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

I loved the sense of fun and camaraderie in the relationship between Jada and her Granny Jinks, and this relationship lies at the heart of The Marvellous Granny Jinks and Me. As her father focuses on his work, Jada and Granny Jinks are left to enjoy each other's company in fun and imaginative ways. When Jada discovers that her granny was once keen to become a magician, she is determined to help her fulfill that dream via the local magician's club. Indeed the story was inspired by the UK's first female black magician.

As well as enjoying the warmth of their relationship, this story is full of unexpected mishaps and new friends made during the course of Jada's attempts to help her Granny.

With its short chapters, illustrations and clearly spaced text, The Marvellous Granny Jinks and Me is a great story for developing readers who are ready for the challenge of a slightly longer text. It's also a really lovely read!

144 pages / Reviewed by Liz Webb.