Smashbomb

Today's special guest on my blog is Marlene M Bell, Author who shares her top 5 duties when feeding sheep. There's also a spotlight on her children's picture book MIA AND NATTIE: ONE GREAT TEAM! Be sure to enter the GIVEAWAY to win a Nattie plush, Nattie mousepad, a Nattie pendant, and/or a signed copy of the book - three winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2020/11/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-mia-and.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Nattie’s mouth was a little crooked. Her legs were a bit shorter than usual, and one horn was too straight, like a unicorn’s horn.
But Mia thought Nattie was perfect.

On a visit to her grandma’s farm, eight-year-old Mia discovers a newborn, orphaned lamb outside in the cold and takes her to the laundry room, naming her Nattie. As she tries to nurse the lamb back to health, Mia discovers that Nattie is different from the other lambs and struggles to fit in with them like Mia does with other kids her age.

When her grandmother says she will sell Nattie to a neighbor, Mia must come up with a plan to keep her friend around — one that will show the family just how special Nattie truly is.

Kudos Comment

ClareR (5784 KP) rated Gingerbread in Books

Apr 17, 2021

Gingerbread

Helen Oyeyemi | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

My initial thought on finishing Gingerbread was “what have I just read?”
This is a meandering, imaginative tale with gingerbread at it’s heart. There are a lot of nods to fairytales, from the use of gingerbread, to the name of Harriet’s best friend: Gretel. The rags and riches stories: characters leaving their farm homes to move to the city and make their fortunes.
Magical realism is used throughout, from the way that Harriet and her mother leave their homeland of Druhastrana to move to London, to Perdita’s talking dolls, who are in fact part doll, part plant.
Moving houses, haunted houses, boys who run away just like the Gingerbread Man. This is not a linear, beginning, middle and end kind of story.
At points I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but decided I didn’t care. It’s a joy to read, and I quite like a book that makes me work for the story, from time to time!
There was a nod to real life: a country cut off from any others (Brexit, anyone?), girls working for pretend/ little money and exploited, and illegal immigration.
There’s a lot to unpick in this, but to be honest, I just enjoyed the ride!