Joanna And The Piano

by Gavin Thomson

Overview

Joanna is a typical ten-year-old girl who reluctantly moves from London to a country manor house - Fortuna House.
She discovers a grand piano in a top floor storage room, and strangely, an eccentric gentleman knocks on the door at the same time - offering piano lessons....
The piano is unique. Joanna soon falls under its spell and together with her first piano book: Tunes to Take You Back, Joanna beings a magical journey that takes her places she never expected...
...to the Second World War, the First World War, early Victorian and mid-Georgian times!
Interspersed with creative ideas and light-hearted observations on modern family life, this story feeds imaginations and gives realistic, albeit brief, insights into bygone eras...
Perfect for 8-12-year olds...boys and girls alike, with black and white pages to add to the reading experience...despite everything being far from black and white!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538085653
Publisher:	Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date:	05/13/2018
Series:	shaggydoggs
Pages:	194
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Gavin is an award-winning industrial product designer.
His work covers product, packaging, transport and retail for various notable international clients alongside his own inventions and creations...and now...creative writing! This is his debut children's book. His second book is Isaac And Newton's Apples. www.shaggydoggs.com
He is also the author of TWINNING TALES - a short story picture book series produced with his father, roSS - an internationally renowned cartoonist and illustrator.
Gavin is married with three teenage daughters and lives in London, UK.

Editorial Reviews

I bought this for my daughter who enjoys history, but was intrigued and so read it! I loved the premise and the historical references woven into the episodes. The style is natural and it's easy to relate to the characters. It's also easy to visualise without being overtly descriptive. In fact, I feel there's a TV series in this somewhere! An unusual tale, well told, and refreshingly escapist. And fun!

Online review - Antonia Farrell

I enjoyed it. The language has a dexterity and sassy appeal and there are nice absrtact descriptions. It also has a cinematic feel - moving at a good pace and with telescopic detail...GREAT FUN!

Teacher - John Head

I liked it very much indeed - I loved the characters and the captivating idea of a time travelling piano. I felt the relationships between the characters were natural and believable and the pace of the story worked well - nothing too fast or too slow. It feels very original and also combines an entertaining story with historical information - but in an interesting and affecting way...I also loved the combination of realism against the magical elements...with an element of almost Enid Blyton...

Independent Proof Editor - Emma Phoenix-Kelly