THE BED AND BREAKFAST STAR

 

Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt Rating: 08/10 Age: 9+ Genre: Fiction, Friendship, Family, Humour Pages: 224 Published in: Jan 1995 Main Characters: Elsa, Mum, Mack, Pippa, Hank, Naomi, Famous Five

Synopsis:   This story is about a young girl named Elsa, who was 10 years old. She loved to make up jokes and share them with others. But Elsa had a huge problem. She lived with her Mum, her stepdad named Mack (whom she liked to call Mack the Smack), her half-sister Pippa and her half-brother Hank.  She lived in a small flat which was big enough for the family to live in, and Elsa loved living there. One day, Mack got a new job which paid lots of money. Soon, they were all living in a house of their own! But this job didn’t stay for long. They had no other house to live in. Some people suggested they should buy a new flat, but nobody was selling any. All that was left to do was to move into a Bed and Breakfast Hotel. The name of their hotel was the Royal Hotel, but it wasn’t luxurious at all! The beds were shabby. The paint on the walls was peeling off. The bathroom smelt horrible. When they found their room, they figured out that it was the smallest room they had on offer, and they could not afford a bigger one. Mum and Mack were finding it extremely difficult to handle the children as Pippa and Hank kept crying and Elsa would not stop telling jokes! Soon enough, Elsa found a new friend named Naomi, who had 2 little brothers and lived in the Hotel.  Later on in the story, Naomi and Elsa both went to school together as their friendship had grown bigger and stronger. But like all stories, there is never a time when the characters live in harmony! Chaos builds rapidly in the Hotel, and Elsa’s family couldn’t possibly live in a dump area like the Royal Hotel. But when things go dangerously wrong, Elsa suddenly has the chance to become a real star!  What will her knew life have in store for her? Read this humorous tale to find out!

Why I like this book:   I enjoyed reading this book as it was one of the funniest books I have ever read! I would highly recommend this book for someone with a good sense of humour. The hero character, Elsa, shows us that whenever a problem comes in her way, she stays positive and never gives up hope. This book also teaches us that nothing can stop you from following your dreams!