A fun teenage adventure story but with a strong message about how to cope with loss and grief. Wendington was a strong and adventurous girl, daughter of the great explorer Pennington Jones, and now orphan who takes it upon herself to finish her mother's last adventure. Except there are others who also wish to find what she found, and maybe her accident wasn't so accidental. Using her mother's boat ticket and what she can read of her mother's last manuscript she sets off on what should be an easy trip, if it weren't for the others.
With so much going on, the book was action-packed and kept you hooked easily. There were lots of characters, but all easily distinguishable (the American couple, the French family, the group of sinister-looking men whose accents keep changing) and with a setting of pretty much just the SS Pembroke so everyone was around the whole time and there wasn't too much to keep track of, it was easy to follow along with Wendington. I do think there were some small things that didn't get answered in the end, but then since Wendington didn't find out maybe we weren't meant to find out either (I'd have liked to know though haha).
I think I was imagining this book was for a slightly younger audience than maybe it was, so I thought some of the things seemed a little bit dangerous for a young audience (a 15 year-old being able to drive on their first attempt having only been told how a car works from the valet?) but maybe I'm just underestimating teenagers.
A great debut, a lovely message about coping with grief and a fun adventure.

“An adventure only half lived is not an adventure at all. It is an opportunity missed.”

One of my favourite children’s reads of this year so far - a brilliant and funny adventure with a cast of fascinating characters.

Wendington Jones and the Missing Tree is a brilliant middle grade adventure story with one of the funniest heroines I’ve read in a long time. Set in the 1920s, Wendington’s mother is an explorer and adventurer so when she dies in a car crash and Wendington is made an orphan (her father having died years earlier) she sets out to unravel the mystery behind her mother’s last book - that of the Tree of Life.

The majority of the book is set aboard a passenger ship as Wendington travels from Southampton to Australia. Onboard she meets a huge cast of fascinating characters and she can’t tell who is there to help her or who is out to steal her mother’s final manuscript and find the tree before her.

It was a brilliantly written, pacey adventure story with some fantastic characters. They were all described so well - I particularly liked Maggie and Teddy Jackson, a newly married couple who befriended Wendington early on in the voyage when she found them playing cards on deck with only half a pack.

The focus of the book was on dealing with grief and the ending did bring a satisfying sense of closure. There were some threads left unexplored and questions remaining around some of the characters but I did like that not everything was neatly tied up.

It’s definitely a middle grade adventure for older readers with Wendington being 15 years old but I don’t think this stops it being middle grade - I can think of lots of children who would enjoy her wit, courage and intelligence.

Overall, an excellent read and one I highly recommend.

Due to a series of events occurring after the death of her mother, Wendington is led on to an adventure aboard on the SS Pembroke. Wendington is brave, determined, and quick witted, with there being often times in the book where she has to think on her feet. This was entertaining and enjoyable with quite a few twists and turns along the way, making it an exciting read. In particular, I really liked the way the author handled the topics of grief. The feelings of loss were captured in a way that represented Wendington’s emotions very well. The last 25% of the book is especially fast paced and engaging, however I thought that a good middle chunk of the book felt like there were too many small different incidents happening with the pace being too slow. There were also a few loose threads left at the end of the book, such as open ended questions on what might have happened to certain characters. Despite this, it was an entertaining story and I loved seeing how Wendington handled everything that she faced along on her adventure.

"An adventure only half lived, Wendington, is not an adventure at all. It is an opportunity missed."

Thank you, NetGalley and UCLan Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wendington Jones idolises her mother, an explorer and adventurer. Pennington Jones dies tragically in an accident, leaving her daughter to live with her Grandmother.

One might, a man delivers a package to Wendington which holds a rough draft of her mother's latest book. The book details a mystery about the Tree of Life, and Wendington begins to wonder if this truly could be the way to bring her mother back.

"The Tree of Life was a different tree. A tree that gave essence and vitality to everything and everyone around it."

Others have hoped to find the Tree of Life, and it seems that Wendington's mother had found something that was enough to endanger her life...and now the life of her daughter. Despite the danger, Wendington sets out on her adventure, "and although she held in her hands maps of everywhere in the world, Wendington felt completely lost".

Review:
My first thought reading this is that I think it feels a little more YA than a children's book - the level of threats/violence just felt a bit more grown up than the cover and rating would suggest you would expect as a reader.

I really enjoyed the premise of this and felt that Wendington's personality was mostly the right fir for this type of story. On that note, Wendington is very grown up for a teenager, which I think works for a younger audience. She definitely comes across as over smart, and feels she would be best to do things rather than someone else.

Maybe this is because I'm an adult, but I wish this story could have shown Wendington asking for help! I do think it is so important to show independent 'I can do this myself' characters in fiction for younger audiences, but I also think there needs to be balance and that there is no shame in asking for help (from grown ups or otherwise).

I also really liked the setting! The 1920s is such an interesting era and it felt fitting for this story.

The representation of grief was really nice. We see Wendington struggle with loneliness and this felt well written. I liked that there was an arc to this and it supported the development of her character.

My only major criticism would be some of the inconsistencies. Some parts of the story didn't feel complete by the end, and I was struggling to picture Wendington at times as her descriptions felt like they changed? The pacing was fast in places and then dragged a little in others but overall it felt fine.

Overall, the premise was really fun and overall the story was enjoyable. I felt like some of the lessons presented in the story were valuable, and it was nice to see Wendington grow throughout.

A fast paced thriller, perfect for teens and tweens who enjoy mystery and adventure. Within a very short space of time Wendington Jones, daughter of famous female adventurer, Pennington Jones, discovers that her mother has been killed, that before her death she sent half of the manuscript for her latest book to her daughter and half to her valet. The valet is also dead and the courier who delivers the manuscript to Wendington soon also meets his end. Then Wendington's manuscript disappears and she suspects the family's new valet, Rohan, is the culprit, and a threat to her life to boot. Bravely she embarks on a sole journey on a steamship across the world to Australia ... where again she is beset by a host of unsavory characters keen to learn her mother's secrets. From beginning to end I thought this was an excellent story, keeping me entertained and wanting to know what the ultimate outcome would be. A recommended read for fans of the Murder Most Ladylike stories

A name you are unlikely to forget and certainly shouldn’t as her adventure is one to be amazed with!

It took a three hour sitting to devour Wendington’s adventure and I wish I could go back and begin again…I will now watch with jealousy as others begin reading this for the first time.

Wendington is plotting revenge when we first meet her but by the end of the evening, she will learn she is an orphan and the revenge becomes unnecessary. Pennington Jones is an intrepid traveler, explorer and writer, well known across the world and it is her death that sets off a mission like no other. Boarding a ship, Wendington is bound for Uluru and Alice Springs, where she believes the tree of life may rest, according to her mother’s unfinished manuscript which has now been stolen!

The 42 day journey from England via cruise gives Wendington time to contemplate her new position in life and the steps she must take to protect her mother’s reputation as well as her own life. Who can she trust. As the reader, you meet so many incredible characters on this voyage that you are constantly swayed back and forth. What is certain is Wendington’s abilities, strengths and courage. She will run for her life more times in this book than anyone should have to and there is a determination within her to see her mother’s life fulfilled through the fabled Tree of Life.

This is a top pick for me for 2023. I could not put it down, willed Wendington on time after time and was brutal in my first impressions of the other passengers, believing them all to have nefarious intentions.
When you learn the truth towards the end, there are blissful moments of dawning where the author has taken you for a ride along with W!
A formidable story!

Wendington Jones comes from a family of independent minded women, and finds it very difficult to toe the line at school. Summoned to the head teacher's office, she is convinced she is about to be expelled, but the news is so much worse...
Now orphaned, and in receipt of half of her mother's last manuscript detailing her quest for a mythical tree in the Australian outback, Wendington uses her mother's ticket to go off in search of this final discovery. Written in a style that befits its early 20th century setting, this is a traditional adventure story with very contemporary sensibilities. Unsure of who to trust and having to rely on her own resourcefulness, Wendington is an engaging central character with a range of unexpected interests and abilities that help her in her quest. This is a hugely enjoyable and entertaining mystery story with a memorable cast and lots of wit. I really enjoyed it.

A wonderful feel good book. Wendington faces adventure, peril and excitement on the high seas and in the Australian outback. It is sad in places but deals with loss in a sympathetic and understanding way. The twists and turns had me wondering who the bad guys really were all the way through. I would like to read more by this author.

In a Nutshell: An adventure story featuring a fifteen year old who can do anything and everything. Mixed feelings from this parent. But might work better for teens as they’ll identify better with the over-smart protagonist.

Story Synopsis:
1920. Fifteen-year-old Wendington Jones’s world turns haywire when she hears that her adventurer-explorer mother has died in a car crash. Having already lost her father a few years back, Wendington is now left in the care of her grandmother.
When she receives a parcel in the middle of one night, she is surprised to find that it is from her late mother, and contains half a manuscript about a mythical ‘Tree of Life’ that supposedly has regenerative powers. Wendington, in her intrepid style, seeks the other half of the manuscript, but soon realises that there are more people looking for the same information. Escaping from the dangers, Wendington finds herself alone and almost penniless on a ship to Australia, attempting to locate the elusive tree. Will she be successful before the other parties catch up with her?
The story is written in the limited third person perspective of Wendington.

Bookish Yays:
👌 The target audience will probably like Wendington as she handles things so much better than the adults in her life.
👌 Percival the newt, Wendington’s trusty amphibian sidekick who gets pulled into her adventure at no fault of his, is a fun addition to the cast of characters. The poor fellow does the best he can in every scene.
👌 The ending is somewhat bittersweet and works well for the story. It is actually the only good part of the story.
👌 I mostly liked the presence of the Indian character, though some parts of his track were quite unbelievable. (His sister ran the successful family business? In the UK? In 1920? C’mon!)

Bookish Nays:
💀 There are two kinds of children’s adventure books: one where the child has no choice but to do everything on their own (as in the recent MG adventure book I read: “Lost on Gibbon Island”, which was brilliant), and one where the child simply does everything on their own, disregarding the possible alternative solution that involves taking help from the adults around. This book falls in the second category. I might have gone ga-ga over this book in my teens, but as an adult, I will always point this feature as a negative in children’s fiction as it puts incorrect ideas in kids’ heads. Being brave and being foolhardy aren’t the same thing, and asking for help doesn’t make you weak.
💀 On that note, despite what the cover suggests and what the genre category on NetGalley declares, this should not be classified as children’s or middle-grade fiction for various reasons.
1. The protagonist is in her mid-teens, so this technically comes in the YA age group.
2. There are details of a first kiss. (I can picture my tween going “Ewwww!” at that scene and then bursting into giggles.)
3. There are scenes that might be scary for children. People shooting bullets that end up “shattering the kneecap” of one character and hitting another squarely in the chest? In a kid’s book? No, thank you!
💀 During the course of the story, Wendington passes judgement on quite a few people (including her own mother) for lying, not considering the feelings of others, not thinking about the long-term repercussions of a decision, being selfish, hiding true intentions, too much of secret-keeping, and so on. Guess what Wendington does throughout the book? *Sigh.*
💀 There are inconsistencies about Wendington’s character detailing as well. She is said to have an impressive height, and yet she can’t even reach the brake pedal of a car. Moreover, except for the first chapter where she speaks to her best friend, the rest of the book has her speaking mostly to adults. Yet, none of the adults speak with her as they would to a teen. Their tone of voice and manner of speaking is as if she is an adult herself. Not one of the ship staff, whom Wendington endears herself to by being a pro at engines *eye roll*, bothers to find out why a young girl’s mother never steps out of her cabin.
💀 Speaking of inconsistencies, let me not get started on all the adventures that take place on the ship, specifically in the engine room and the boiler room. As the wife of a shippie, I know the dangers in both these places, and also the noise and temperature involved. You expect me to believe that a privileged girl who knows engines mainly through theory can expertly identify the engine problems of a huge passenger liner at the snap of a finger? Moreover, no shippie (especially a hundred years ago) would have allowed a young girl in the engine room. I won’t venture into the anomalies depicted in the functionality of lifeboats, because that will need a separate full-length rant.
💀 There are several arcs left incomplete at the end. The quest for the mythical tree involved several characters. What in the world happened to them?

I know this wasn’t a book written for my age group, and I tried my best to see some positives in it. But given a choice, this is not a book I would purchase for my kids. In many ways, it is typical YA fiction – having flat characters and a one-note story and farfetched situations. (I must remind you that I have no fondness anymore for the YA-NA genre.) I might have liked this better had it been a genuine middle-grade story with a more believable and endearing protagonist.

In short, it’s a no from me. But do keep in mind that mine is the only 2 star review so far. Others have enjoyed the book far better, so do go through those reviews to take a more informed call.

2 stars.

My thanks to UCLan Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Wendington Jones and the Missing Tree”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.

An exciting, intrepid and bold character who bravely follows her mother's footsteps across the world alone! This story took me on an exhilarating ride from the beginning with twists and turns, a wealth of characters you don't know if you can trust, and dangers round every corner. I loved it and would highly recommend to older KS2 readers and above!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

In Wendington Jones and the Missing Tree, Dockery has conceived a magical book fizzing with whirlwind adventure. Wendington is a spunky teen whose world is turned upside down with the sudden demise of her adventure loving mother. She was her entire world and meant so much to her. The bottom has fallen out of her world. Until she receives one half of a manuscript from a book her mother was writing. It describes the mythical Tree of Life. Could there be a chance that her beloved mother could be brought back to life?

This is where Wendingtons adventures begin accompanied by a newt she befriends or is it the other way round. Her determination to find the tree against all odds is nothing short of inspirational. Along the way she meets the good and the very many bad and ugly. Undaunted she continues to race headlong into danger paying little heed to herself. Unable to trust anyone she has to resort to trickery and subterfuge to get out of sticky situations. Her courage and determination are all the more admirable as it is 1920 and women and young gals did not have many freedoms.

Dockerys imagination floods every page, terrifying and interspersed with folkloric magic, that is both clever and gripping. I jumped into it full throttle, impressed with Wendingtons boldness and intellectual brilliance. True she had been encouraged in this by her parents. She is what we call a geek aka nerd depending on which side of the pond one lives today. However, an unusually intrepid one who would readily get entangled in an adventure full of high stakes, unexpected twists and baddies galore. I loved Wendingtons character. Naturally she had her highs and lows when she almost gave up. Yet she could do no wrong in my eyes. The lass was unfazed that she would have to travel alone halfway across the world to find this elusive missing tree. Throughout I was biting my nails hardly able to contain my excitement whilst rooting for our heroine.

I loved how Dockery laid out this plucky intrepid teens character. He braids her character and emotions with those of the other characters which was pivotal in keeping me glued to the story. Dockerys perceptiveness is enthralling, All the jigsaw puzzles in this mystery fit together perfectly and in the right order. The only thing missing was why Peni chose to find this tree. True, as an explorer her curiosity was likely piqued by its sheer mystery. And yet….. um something was missing. I discovered the real reason toward the end of the tale and suddenly it made sense. Ah I’m not engaging in a spoiler reveal. If your curiosity is also piqued, I suggest reading the novel. One things for sure, you won’t regret it. The very definition of a page-turner: riveting, punchy, with surprises around every bend it is an exciting read.

Ending with an HEA my only sticking point is if a young lass could survive the numerous falls and serious injuries Wendington suffers to her head. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful story of grief in the midst of a chaotic ocean journey across the world. Wendington defied so many of the norms for girls her age at the time and the contrast between England and Australia was crafted perfectly. Yup definitely an Indiana Jonesque style tale. This book is definitely a keeper.

Wendington Jones and the Missing Tree is an absolutely brilliant adventure, with an intriguing mystery at its centre, that completely captured me.

Wendington Jone’s world is changed forever when she is given the news that her anthropologist and explorer mother, who she idolises, has been killed in a car accident following her latest adventure in Australia. Returning to her family home, she has a midnight visitor who gives her a parcel from her mother: half of the manuscript for her latest book, describing her search for the mythical Tree of Life, purported to be able to bring people back from the dead. Could her mother have found the mythical tree, and could this have put her in great danger?

Struggling to cope with her grief, Wendington is determined to solve the mystery of what her mother really discovered, and maybe even bring her mother back. This proves a perilous venture, and she soon finds herself running from those who seem intent on getting their hands on her mother’s work, regardless of who they might hurt.

Having found a ticket in her mother’s name to travel to Australia, she boards the SS Pembroke to escape from danger and to follow in her mother’s footsteps to attempt to discover the truth behind the existence of the Tree of Life.

And so begins THE most incredible voyage as Wendington discovers that she may not have escaped danger, but rather that it has followed her. I was completely gripped by this mystery which is brimming with tension, peril and brilliantly unexpected twists and revelations. Who can Wendington trust aboard the ship? Are there those who are prepared to betray her for their own goals? The danger really ramps up as the voyage continues, and I was on the edge-of-my-seat as I was desperate to find out who was friend and who foe. Will Wendington reach her destination, and locate the Tree of Life in its last-known location? Will she find the answers she so desperately seeks?

As well as being an intriguing mystery which gave me Enola Holmes vibes, it is also the story of a girl who is grieving the loss of her beloved mother. Hers is a journey not only to solve the mystery of her mother’s final discovery, but also a journey through the depths of grief to some sort of acceptance and resurrection of hope where she is able to say goodbye and appreciate the strength to be gained from memories. Wendington has just become one of my favourite characters! She is astute, curious and quick-witted; a booklover; and, has a keen interest in engineering, a skill she makes good use of. She has a real inner strength and shows great courage and tenacity when facing grave danger all whilst grieving the loss of her mother. She is an unconventional young lady, not living by the expectations of the time, and I adored her!

This is an unmissable adventure for readers of 10+ who will be swept into an exhilarating and enthralling mystery.

I felt a bit lost when I started this. I don't know why, but at the beginning some difficult words were used and I had to read the sentence a few times to understand the meaning.
However, this changed as the story went on. I don't know if it was done on purpose or not, but thankfully the language used was less sophisticated and more relevant to the type of book I was reading.

Said so, the story was so immersive I couldn't put the book down. I was craving it when I had to stop reading for one reason or the other.
It was packed of adventures, mystery and a little magic, I would call it magic realism.
I feel like the story was much more important than the characters as I didn't feel much connection to them, except for Wendington (and Rohan maybe).

I would love to read a prequel of this and about Waddington's mother's adventures!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and UCLan Publishing for giving me the chance to read this e-ARC.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Adventurous indeed; danger and action galore

1920
Wendington Jones finds her world torn apart when her mother dies in a car accident. An adventurer all her life, Pennington Jones has been an inspiration for her daughter. Now, Wendington is left in her Grandmamma’s care with Rohan, a new valet, to handle the details.
When Wendington receives a half manuscript of her mother’s latest book, she realizes that her mother might have succeeded in finding the Tree of Life somewhere in Australia. One thing leads to another, and Wendington realizes that many people want the manuscript and will do anything to take it from her.
Determined to complete the mystery, Wendington gets the ship to Australia. She realizes that the danger is greater than she expected, and no one is who they claim to be. Can she solve the mystery and find the Tree of Life? Will the magical tree bring back her mother?
The story comes in Wendington Jones’ limited-third person POV.

My Thoughts:
This is a book I wanted to love. It has everything I like in MG fiction. However, I ended the book with mixed feelings.
The blurb calls it Enola Holmes meets Indiana Jones, and I agree with the comparison. The number of times Wendington gets into dangerous situations is exhausting. Kids who read the book should be aware that they aren’t supposed to try any of this to have an ‘adventure’.
Here’s a fifteen-year-old girl- adamant, determined, sharp, brave, but also reckless and careless. Moreover, she is mourning the loss of her parents and is emotionally vulnerable. The book is one danger after another, which means Wendington also has numerous injuries and still keeps going, just like Indiana Jones.
I love that Wendington is more than capable of taking care of herself. She can get things done and isn’t afraid to bend the rules when necessary. Thankfully, she also knows enough to stay away from dangerous people, if only she could easily identify who they are.
The first chapter establishes Wendington’s character and does it with enough laughs and bittersweet moments. The first 35% of the book is fast-paced as it establishes the core plot and leads us to it. The last 25% picks up pace again, and things start to come together. However, the chunk in the middle (with Wendington on the ship) gets a little too long with endless incidents.
One issue I have with MG and YA fiction is how the main characters think they need to take on the world on their own. Ask for help! Without giving spoilers, I can say that Wendington would have had it easier if she went to that one person who controlled the ship. Of course, she probably could have worked it out without running away from home, but then that’s no adventure.
Grief, loss, and loneliness are presented very well. Wendingtoon goes through different emotions and learns to deal with them over time. Her emotions are real and a part of her. She does grow at the end of the book, so that’s a good thing.
Percival is Wendington’s adopted pet newt, and he accompanies her on the adventure. The poor guy hardly has any say in the matter, though he is 100% loyal and sticks close to his new human friend. The scenes with the newt are quite funny and will appeal to the target audience.
The writing is descriptive without being overly done. It’s easy to picturize the setting and the characters. The style is easy- informal and casual enough to keep the reader’s hooked. However, the book doesn’t have a single illustration. I hoped it would have at least a few, especially of the tree. Maybe the final copy will include artwork, but the ARC doesn’t. (The cover is perfect with those little details).
The ending brings a hopeful and bittersweet closure for the lead character. However, I’m left with a few questions about what happened to certain people who played a major role in the book. It would have been nice to know they got their due. Since the book is very much standalone, a couple of paragraphs to tie the loose ends would have helped.
I appreciate the Indian rep in the book, though I have to point out that India was still fighting to be rid of colonial rule during that period (and for another 27 years!). Rohan's family has been in England for years by then, and as always, this kind of thing leaves me with mixed feelings.

To summarize, Wendington Jones and The Missing Tree is an action and danger-filled adventure story with a capable and clever lead character. The target audience will love it. However, as an adult, I couldn’t help but want to knock sense into her head and tell her to be sensible. There’s only so much danger a human body can handle!
Thank you, NetGalley and UCLan Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

***
Rounded up to 4 stars on Amazon.

“Dinner first, and then I aim to misbehave.”

Wendington Jones and the Missing Tree is for those who love the Enola Holmes series/films or a bit of Agatha Christie.
With a huge cast of characters, kind of in a locked room (it’s a ship in the middle of the ocean on the way to Australia), you can’t trust anyone, and you second guess every interaction.
Wendington is experiencing a huge grief (loss of her mother) and all she really needs is a friend, and she struggles to find this. The only one she can truly trust is her newt sidekick. I did feel very sorry for her, but she’s also a very brave, very clever (she knows all about engines etc.) character, so she seems to handle the situation remarkably well, even if she could have benefited from taking just a minute to see what she could do without running all the way to Australia alone.
I enjoyed the sense of mystery, with myths and legends at the heart of the story. I enjoyed the sense of closure Wendington finally got by the end.

I requested this book as it looked like a book some of my pupils might enjoy and I wanted to read it first before deciding whether or not to recommend it. It was a thrilling read with action from the outset right to the end. Often my pupils will get a bit bored if it takes 'too long' (in their view!) to get to the action so this book will grab their attention immediately and is likely to be received well. I'm also loving the fact that so many books in this genre now have a female as the main character. This would be a good choice for teachers to read with their class as it has many themes for you to potentially explore. For example: exploring (wonders of the world, famous explorers), science (forces), engineering (ship engines), myths and legends and emotions (including grief).

This was billed as a cross between Ebola Homes and Indiana Jones and that is exactly what you get. It’s heartbreaking, fast paced, and my heart was in my mouth on many many occasions.

Honestly, I need more of Wendington, she’s just utterly brilliant. I need a prequel, ie her childhood, and I need the next steps, I need a Netflix series!

Utterly brilliant!

What a fantastic read! Wendington Jones is an extraordinary young woman who absolutely breaks the model of the typical 1920s expectations. With her beloved Perceval by her side, she sets off on a mystery that will take her to the other side of the world. From the start, the story is filled with tension as Wendington has to determine which people are trustworthy and which mean to do her harm. I changed my mind constantly as the story unfolded and I raced to finish the book as I had to know how it ended.
I do hope Wendington will have further adventures as ' an adventure only half done, is not an adventure at all'.

This is a ‘rip roaring’ adventure for the younger reader. In the 1920s Wedington Jones, a feisty young women, finds herself orphaned and on her way to Australia following her mother’s unpublished manuscript about the tree of life, and the thought she might be able to bring back her parents. As things get a bit scary who can she trust? Well definitely a newt she befriends. (It doesn’t matter if the newt she nameds Percival understands or is actually a help, Wedington likes talking to him and he likes being fed). Has Wedington got what it takes to complete her quest? Well she is certainly going to give it a go! Thank to UClan Publishing and NetGalley. for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

When her mother's dies, Wendington Jones loses not only a parent but also her idol and her dreams of being one day an explorer, going to the most remote places on Earth with the great Pennington Jones.
However, out of the depths of Wendington's grief, comes a ray of hope, delivered at midnight to the door of her family home. The last, incomplete manuscript of her mother, revealing the discovery of the mysterious Tree of Life, associated with stories and legends where the dead are brought back to life. The idea of bringing back her mother is irresistible but others are also looking for the tree - Wendington's quest will be fraught with obstacles and danger.

Wendington Jones and The Missing Tree is an enchanting and very exciting read. The main character captures the hearts of the reader straight away as we share her pain at losing her mother so young and even more so when it becomes clear that Wendington is far from being a helpless damsel in distress. She's sharp-witted, daring, brave, thinks of others and has a keen interest in travelling and engineering. In short, she's an amazing role model and inspiration for young people everywhere. The story is absolutely bursting with action and twists, making it appealing for any reader, really. Highly recommended read!