The setup and subsequent adventure in this book is well written with a balance of character and action and you really root for the characters and it's very page turning.

As an adopter and someone who sits on the panel, the title leaves a bad taste in my mouth, about relinquished children and the word Unadoptable could be quite triggering for one of the kids in care I deal with. The actual book deals with the whole concept better, but the title itself doesn't work for me.

An absolutely delightful historical adventure story for middle grade readers which, with its combination of PG-rated peril and sinister characters, reminded me very much of Lemony Snicket. Following five orphans, all abandoned at the Little Tulip Orphanage in Amsterdam, as they attempt to secure their freedom from the evil orphanage matron, Mevrouw Gasbeek, and their menacing would-be adoptive parent Meneer Rotman. As someone for whom the Netherlands is a very much loved second home, I especially adored the Dutch setting. From the sprinkling of Dutch throughout the text, to the evocative descriptions of mist lying across the polder and tall, thin gabled houses leaning over the canals, it will give children a wonderfully atmospheric introduction to one of our nearest neighbours. With a wonderful central message about the value of found family, The Unadoptables is sure to delight young readers and will, I hope, be the huge success it deserves.

I was hooked immediately from the lovely cover, to the opening of The Unadoptables where we are tantalising introduced to these unique and special children as they are found on the orphanage steps. Unfortunately, their adverse start in life is not reversed, instead they are subjected to a life of austerity and suffering under the helm of a sadistic matron.

“But there was no disguising what they really were scruffy, hungry, desperate orphans”

Egbert, Lotta, Sem, Fenna, and Milou are labelled The Unadoptables as Matron likes to ensure that orphans do not remain at Little Tulip orphanage for long and are adopted as soon as possible. However, this group of friends are the oldest due to their quirks, differences and attitude making them less appealing and therefore adoptable to prospective parents.

“Why would a man who so obviously disliked children want to adopt one?”

Matron dislike of opposition and children who advocate for themselves, leads to the decision to seek servitude rather than a home for our brave band of friends.

What follows is a journey of almost epic proportions as this group are tested in their efforts to find safety, a home, and family. They flee from sinister and deadly foes, seek independence in the face of suspicion and opposition, all whilst being proactive and inventive in their search for answers to their origins and future.

“Spies are stealthy and brave. They do the jobs no one else dares do, to protect others.”

I laughed, shed a tear or two and at turns was astounded by their efforts and determination to remain free. I loved the writing, in particular the visual descriptions of characters which was skilfully complemented by the illustrations at the beginning of chapters.

“...a parody of a smile, Milou realized much like the matron’s: all teeth and no soul.”

This is a magical tale about dreamers who keep hold of that spark of joy in the face of desperate times, nurture it and encourage others. It emphases the importance of how imagination, the power of belief and the support of others can sustain you. Of how friendship is nourished not because of proximity but due to mutual affection and admiration. Above all we see the importance of loving others, just as they are including their strength and weaknesses. Culminating in the conclusion, that family is the definition you make.

A wonderful whimsical tale that I adored. A delight to read. I hope to read more about this group of resilient and resourceful children.


4 Stars - I Loved It
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s for a digital advance review copy in return for a candid review.

Wow! As a teacher this was a thrilling book to read on so many levels. Firstly, as an adult who enjoys quality children’s literature this was a real treat. But my enthusiasm for the book reached a whole new level when I thought of its potential in the classroom and in the hands on my higher level upper primary aged readers.
The quality, rich variety and complexity of the language used in this novel is right on point to extend and challenge this age group, coupled with the complexity yet relatability of the characters will aid children with the skills of inference, deduction and the showing of empathy.
Finally and most importantly, if I walked into my class as I often do with the book I have just read and put it in the reading corner, I know it will fly into the hands of a child before it’s touched the shelf because it is such a cracking story!

What an amazing debut novel. This wonderful book tells the story of five children in an orphanage in Amsterdam in the 1800’s. The author creates real characters who matter to the reader. The story has twists, and turns, magic, adventure and just enough perfectly pitched horror to not scare but to keep readers on the edge of their seat, wanting to turn the pages. The author has created a story of friendship, family and love which readers young and old will be able to relate to. The children are all so different and all slightly misfits in their own way but this story shows that we can find a sense of belonging and family in the most unusual of places. I hope we discover more about these children in future novels, there is so much more we could find out about them and they are a pleasure to spend time with. I thoroughly recommend this book.

This book was excellent. It’s all about 5 orphans who are just a little different to everyone else, and how they find their place in the world. It mostly centres on Milou trying to find her parents, but there’s so much more to this story! It’s a fun adventure, it’s just a little bit creepy, and the ending is so satisfying. I love the relationships between the five children. I adore the illustrations, which are so perfect for the story, and a delight to look at. I really hope that there will be sequels to this book, detailing how the other children came to be at the orphanage. I would be particularly interested in reading Egg’s story.

If you love tales of found family, exciting adventure, and finding your own place in the world, with just a little gothic creepiness, this is the book for you.

I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

This was a thrilling read and an interesting story. 5 unusual orphans in 19th century Holland are looking for family - they manage to escape the clutches of the evil orphanage mistress and a strange man who wants them to slave on his ship, and end up living together in an old mill, trying to find out more about the main character's family. There are lots of gorgeous details, and I really enjoyed the setting - there are a number of these types of books set in London of this era, but this had some really nice Dutch touches. It is fairly spooky and deals with some heavy themes, of loss and bereavement, so I would only recommend it to mature 10 year olds and up. I was rooting for the orphans and really enjoyed the story!

What a fantastic first novel by this author. The setting is unusual, but we get a real sense of 19th century Holland. The five central characters are beautifully constructed and have us cheering them on. The villains are very dark and you hope they get their just desserts. There is plenty of mystery and adventure and each of the children has to use their individual talents to help save them all. A brilliant read.