Review: When This Bell Rings

When This Bell Rings proves that books written for kids don’t need to be simplistic - they can be complex and expect the reader to hold on tight for the ride! Allison Rushby has created a world within a world, and a story within a story, where the borders dividing these worlds are blurry.

Tamsin lives next door to the famous author Eddie St Clair, who has written a graphic-book series that has taken the children’s book world by storm. Everyone is waiting for the tenth and final book of her London Bells series, which is long overdue. Tamsin adores the books and spends every waking hour drawing the characters and immersing herself in the fantasy world that St Clair has created. When Eddie takes Tamsin into her confidence, Tamsin discovers that she has a role to play in the creation of “The End”, a very active role in fact!

I wish I was eleven years old, just so I could read this book and lose myself in its magic. Rushby has created another original story with a strong female leading the action. There is the perfect balance of history, fantasy and adventure that I guarantee will appeal equally to confident primary school readers and lower secondary school students. A total delight!

• Review
• Allison Rushby