The House of Clouds
Author: Lisa Thompson
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
ISBN:1781129061
Pages: 104
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes
Author: Lisa Thompson
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
ISBN:1781129061
Pages: 104
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes
When Tabby's mum takes in grandad, she doesn't realise how much her life will change until it happens. Downstairs is converted into a living room and bed for him so he doesn't have to walk upstairs, and if he has to, there's a grab rail to make life a bit easier.
Tabby hates that she can't go on holiday with her friend, Rebecca and has to walk grandad's dog, Buster, but being so young she doesn't understand that by being there she is helping her mum look after a relative with such needs
And then there's grandad's tall tales; Tabby's heard enough of them to fill a book. One day Tabby walks Buster after school and meets a boy at her school, Alex who seems to know a lot about dogs, but it's the house near the beach that interests her. It seems abandoned. Curiosity gets the better of her and she has a look around, ending up being spooked by what she sees.
When she gets back home she tells grandad where she's been and grandad tells her another story about what it was like when he was younger. Tabby dismisses it as another one of his tall tales, but is it?
The House of Clouds has a lot in it, friendships, kids, family issues, mystery and the problems dealing with having to care for an elderly family member. With all this to cope with, Tabby has to also concentrate on her school work and any tests she might have to do. This all leads her to feel a lot of resentment as her friends are able to go out shopping and go on trips out to the ice rink while she is stuck at home. Then there's Buster, he smells bad, but I got the impression that her friend, Alex would be able to help out with that. Her grandad is the real star of the story with his talk tales and positive outlook on life. Both Tabby and her mum think grandad is making up his stories until Tabby and Alex uncover the truth of the house near the beach.
Lisa Thompson's book Owen and the Soldier was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award back in early 2020, and this novel has the possibility of being shortlisted as well. It shows that out of tragedy some good can come and Tabby can get to know her grandad more as well as understand why she is needed so much, leaving the resentment behind.
And then there's grandad's tall tales; Tabby's heard enough of them to fill a book. One day Tabby walks Buster after school and meets a boy at her school, Alex who seems to know a lot about dogs, but it's the house near the beach that interests her. It seems abandoned. Curiosity gets the better of her and she has a look around, ending up being spooked by what she sees.
When she gets back home she tells grandad where she's been and grandad tells her another story about what it was like when he was younger. Tabby dismisses it as another one of his tall tales, but is it?
The House of Clouds has a lot in it, friendships, kids, family issues, mystery and the problems dealing with having to care for an elderly family member. With all this to cope with, Tabby has to also concentrate on her school work and any tests she might have to do. This all leads her to feel a lot of resentment as her friends are able to go out shopping and go on trips out to the ice rink while she is stuck at home. Then there's Buster, he smells bad, but I got the impression that her friend, Alex would be able to help out with that. Her grandad is the real star of the story with his talk tales and positive outlook on life. Both Tabby and her mum think grandad is making up his stories until Tabby and Alex uncover the truth of the house near the beach.
Lisa Thompson's book Owen and the Soldier was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award back in early 2020, and this novel has the possibility of being shortlisted as well. It shows that out of tragedy some good can come and Tabby can get to know her grandad more as well as understand why she is needed so much, leaving the resentment behind.
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