We Won an Island

By Author / Illustrator

Charlotte Lo

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Nosy Crow Ltd

ISBN

9781788000413

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

02-05-2019

Synopsis

One of The Telegraph's Top 50 Books of 2019! When Luna's family win an island, Luna thinks it will solve everything AND she can finally get a donkey! But things don't go entirely to plan - no one expects Luna's younger brother to win a Sheep Pageant, for example - and the secret festival they hold soon spirals out of control. But the island is beautiful, and the family are happy, and maybe Luna will get her donkey after all...\"...this book is definitely a bask in the sun\" - Emily Bearn, Telegraph\"Watching the family band together and find a new community makes for a funny, heart-warming read.\" - Scotsman

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Reviews

This is a jolly romp of a story with underlying seriousness and poignant moments. It has resonances of Enid Blyton and hints of The Durrells and is bound to be a hit with readers of adventure.

Luna is the central character. Her boundless enthusiasm and never-ending optimism will earn a place in the heart of every reader. When life for Luna and her family is at its lowest ebb, Luna discovers that she has won an island! The family set off to one of the remotest spots on the globe and discover the power of determination, reslilience and most of all, love for one another.

There are madcap adventures of slapstick quality - Mum's valiant attempts to run a yoga sanctuary, thwarted by runaway goats and camouflaged ice-cream vans for example, intertwined with heart tugging moments of the harsh reality of coping with grief and the impact of depression.

Luna and her siblings are crazy, quirky and totally endearing. The reader will love and empathise with them whilst laughing out loud at their antics. You can't help but root for Luna in her attempts to make everything right and, when events seem to spiral completely out of control, you just want to roll up your sleeves, climb in a rowing boat and get out there to help them.

I really wanted the secret festival to be a success, I desperately wanted the donkey sanctuary to become a reality. I had my fingers crossed that Margot would eventually fly a plane and above all, I really, really wanted Dad to emerge from the darkness of his depression to see how amazing his children are.

This is a quick and jolly read. Children will relate to issues of sibling interactions, moving home and making new friends. They will be swept along by Luna's love of life and her positive spin on the world.

This is a book that has a real feel-good factor and will delight readers of eight years and above. It will put a spring in your step and a smile on your face for a long time after you've finished reading it.

208 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Jo Clarke, teacher