The Magical Bookshop

by Katja Frixe, Florentine Prechtel (Illustrator), Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp (Translator)

Overview

Mrs Owl had a knack for finding the perfect book for every customer, before they even realised what it was they were looking for.

What do you do when your best friend moves away? Clara takes comfort in her favourite place: Mrs Owl’s bookshop. Surrounded by books that spring to life, a rhyming cat and mounds of cinnamon buns, Clara never feels alone.

But someone is determined to close the bookshop down. Now it’s up to Clara and her new friends to save it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781786079640
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	06/03/2021
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Katja Frixe was born in 1979 in Wolfenbüttel and studied education in Braunschweig. She spent several years working as a reader for various children’s and YA publishers, before becoming a freelance author and translator in 2013. Today she lives with her husband and twin daughters near Braunschweig. Illustrated by Florentine Prechtel.

Editorial Reviews

‘Serious themes interweave with a lightness of touch; saying goodbye, starting school, family break-up, finding courage for new challenges, not judging, communicating feelings, the importance of kindness, the magic of books... A perfect story for early 7+ readers, skilfully translated from German by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp with gorgeously whimsical illustrations by Florentine Prechtel. Thought-provoking discussion questions and post-reading activities – from creating a friendship book to baking a chocolate cake - are included to extend the enjoyment of the book. Let’s hope there are many more mysteries and adventures in store for Clara and Lottie!’

Armadillo Magazine

'A feel-good mixture of a read that leaves you wanting more.'

Stiftung Lesen

'This is the kind of book that you get really hooked into and can’t put down... I am 11 years old and actually don’t like reading that much, but I really enjoyed this book.'

aged 11 Loretta

‘10 out of 10! It’s funny and has a great plot.’

aged 8 Sylvie

'What’s not to love when there’s a rhyming cat, a talking mirror, and an ageless bookstore owner?'

Catholic Library World

‘The Magical Bookshop is an appealing summer story for readers who are growing in confidence... This is primarily a story about friendship but there is lots of adventure, mystery and fun... Clara is an engaging narrator and reaches out to the reader from the first sentence, drawing them into her world and it certainly is an enticing one. This bookshop is sure to delight.’

School Librarian

‘A delightful tale of friendship with a generous sprinkling of magic.’

The Week Junior

'[A] really fun tale of two young girls trying to preserve their friendship.'

NetGalley reviewer Catherine H.

'A lovely mixture of friends and family and more than a touch of magic.'

Kirkus

‘The Magical Bookshop is a heart-warming, funny and sensitive middle-grade novel that had me both laughing out loud (Ahmedzai Kemp has done a magnificent job of translating Gustav’s rhyming jokes) and rooting for Clara as she faced new challenges at school... As Clara and Leo’s friendship grows, Frixe also gently challenges stereotypes – so this is definitely not just a book for girls!’

European Literature Network

'This is a delightful story of best friends, new friends and a magical book shop... It has all the elements of a perfect story. Well developed characters, funny moments, endearing moments and times when it all looked sad. I love a happy ending though so was pleased the sadness was short-lived.'

Librarian Erin H.

‘Frixe’s world is imaginative and inviting, and, despite Clara’s real struggles, the setting always feels supportive and snug... This sparkling tale is a booklover’s dream, and young readers will long to visit the magical bookshop at its heart.’

Booklist

'Such a cute and magical middle grade story. Loved it.'

NetGalley Reviewer

‘10 out of 10! It’s funny and has a great plot.’

Sylvie (aged 8)

'A delightful story of best friends, new friends and a magical bookshop.'

NetGalley reviewer Erin H.

2020-03-15
The charming proprietor of Mrs. Owl’s Bookshop magically supplies customers with just the book they need.

It is Clara’s favorite place. Books seem to be alive and aware, and only Mrs. Owl and Clara can hear Mr. King, a talking mirror, and Gustaf the rhyming cat, whose pronouncements are surprisingly appropriate and helpful. And there’s always chocolate to make things better. When her best friend, Lottie, moves away due to her parents’ divorce, Clara is forlorn. Now she must deal with bullies on her own, and she must adjust to the new boy who becomes her seatmate at school. But worst of all, her new teacher is the woman for whom Lottie’s father left his family. Clara’s family and her friends at the bookstore are loving and supportive, providing encouragement and practical advice. But there is also trouble at the bookstore, where the villain of the piece tries to damage the business with dirty tricks. Via Kemp’s translation from the original German, Clara tells her own story in a conversational, British-inflected tone that will engage readers’ sympathy. The characters, who seem to be white, are wonderfully eccentric. There is plenty of action, angst, and fun as well as imaginative, sometimes hilarious magic. Friendly, informal black-and-white cartoons that enhance the fun are sprinkled throughout. There’s a happy, satisfying, if not perfect ending that will have readers glad for Clara.

A lovely mixture of friends and family and more than a touch of magic. (discussion questions) (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews