A charming book for children, beautifully written and well narrated. I sort of wanted a bit more to happen - it felt like something was missing somehow.

This is such a wonderful story. My little one really enjoyed listening to it. Very well narrated and beautifully written.

Brief but congenial tale of a young world traveller finding purpose in one place.

3.5 stars.

Valentine writes well for young adults, this is her first foray into a younger market. Now while all the elements are here, it felt a bit brief and could have made a longer novel with the themes more deeply explored, it felt more like a surface brush with each.

Apple and her family have travelled the world, she's even been inside volcanoes, they've never settled anywhere, but now she and sister Claude are heading to grey Britain, so they and their parents can look after their granddad.

It's a bit of a change for the ten-year-old: not only life with her granddad (whose middle name - beginning with E - Apple amusingly tries to guess), but the constrained life in a British primary school.

Will she fit in? Make friends? This covers good solid ground, and there are points made about the educational system here too. But it feels like a 'best of ' really, with things moving quickly to their conclusions, and plots inside Apple's family, of her school routines, with other children, with the 'issue' itself, all worked through almost before you realise the end is nearing.

The lessons are there to be learned, but it felt as though it could have been more.

I listened to this as an audio version, which will work well for listeners, the narrator gives Apple a bright and strong voice. She talks directly to us, so the format complements it.

For ages 8-12.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.

What a charming, well written story.

This is a gem of a book that I loved listening to. Is there going to be a follow on?

It was narrated perfectly and I really enjoyed all of the characters and the beginning of the friendship between Joy and Benny.

I am interested in environmental issues and I think this raises the subject perfectly and pitches it at the right level for the intended audience.

I would definitely recommend this title.