I am honoured today to be hosting a review for The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams by Victoria Williamson in association with The Write Reads. Thank you to Victoria Williamson and Tiny Tree Books for a copy of this book as part of the tour.
Synopsis
In a strange little village called Witchetty Hollow, eleven-year-old Florizel is the first to run into the curious visitors who’ve come to open a brand new Daydream Delicatessen and sack-baby factory.
At first, it seems the daydream confection and cheap sack children are the best things that could have happened to the poor folk of the Hollow – after all, who has the money to rent their child from Storkhouse Services these days? But after a few weeks, Florizel starts to notice something odd happening to the adults of the town. First, they seem dreamy, then they lose all interest in their jobs and families. Soon they’re trading all their worldly goods in the newly-opened Pawnshop for money to buy daydreams. With no money for rent payments, the children of Witchetty Hollow are being reclaimed by Storkhouse Services at an alarming rate. Florizel needs to act.
A magical tale of intrigue and adventure from award-winning children’s author Victoria Williamson
My Thoughts
Victoria Williamson has created a unique fantasy world that is way beyond imagination and is simply a delight to read about. It really stretches the imagination (in such a good way) and provides a perfect backdrop for a dark and thought provoking middle grade novel. I was hooked from the opening chapter and I cannot wait to share this in school and with my daughter.
Florizel lives in a world where children are no longer born. They are rented and that is how she ends up in Witchetty Hollow. On a wonder, she comes across a sack baby called Burble who has escaped from the notorious Gobbelino family.
The friendship between Florizel and Burble is just wonderful to read about and really teaches about acceptance, differences and looking out for each other. (The teacher in me is always looking out for ways to teach these things). I enjoyed how their friendship developed as they set out to figure out what the Gobbelino’s were up to.
The whole story was very fairy tale esq. and as all good fairy tales – it comes with baddies. The Gobbelino family are awful (I love to hate characters) and their treatment of people and classism is such a parallel with today’s society and current situations.
It’s a short read with a darker fairy tale vibe but it’s jam packed full of all things good and evil and it’s such an entertaining and refreshing read. I had an absolute blast reading this book and I highly recommend it – whatever your age!!
Author Bio – Victoria Williamson
Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a teacher trainer in Malawi.
As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.
She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.
Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: http://www.strangelymagical.com
Herding Cats 