With a spunky and endearing main character named Joy, this import from England will certainly be welcome by new readers here in America. The three stories begin with A GIRL CALLED JOY.
Joy Applebloom is a positive thinking ten-year-old. She has a Mom, Dad, and an obnoxious 13-year-old sister. The life Joy has always had is traveling to exotic places around the world with her family. Things are changing though as the family has moved back to the UK to live with grumpy Thomas Blake, Joy’s granddad.
The first 4 chapters are a telling of what the family has been up to before this last move. Lots of backstory. Thankfully the rest of the way moves forward with Joy trying to find the good side of her granddad and enrolling in a real school for the first time. Despite her bright outlook, school does not go well.
Mrs. Hunter, is a no-nonsense terror. of a teacher. Joy can do nothing right and constantly clashes with this person. A new friend in Benny helps make things a little smoother. Together the two of them plan to save a big oak tree on school property that is scheduled to be cut down.
The first person narration sparkles and nicely done black and white images are scattered throughout. Joy is one you will be happy to have spent some time with and luckily this is just the beginning.
In book 2, LOVE FROM JOY, the characters personalities reveal even more details of their inner thoughts in each passing chapter. Joy is trying to figure out what she can do to help Grandad not be lonely. Benny has changed from a happy and bright boy to one who is being bullied by a classmate and neighbor. Joy can’t sit back and do nothing.
The pacing is perfect through 19 chapters. Joy’s relationship with her teacher takes an unexpected positive turn and writing a letter is the start. Joy keeps in touch with all of her friends around the world by writing a letter. Readers will be inspired to write their own letters with the extra chapter in the back pages: Letter Writing Tips from JOY.
Love from Joy could be read on its own, but you’d miss fully experiencing each character’s change in how they act and feel.
The series gets a heartfelt finish with PLANET JOY. Joy has a new teacher and and a new classmate. Mr. Suarez is fun and his teaching style is perfect for Joy. The new student though has a dark personality that confuses Joy. She reaches out to try and make friends with the girl.
The wrap up to the series has a memorable end and one can only hope for more stories with Joy. She certainly has a knack for putting joy in other characters and for readers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jenny Valentine is an award-winning writer for Young Adults. Her first novel Finding Violet Park won the Guardian prize in 2007 and since then she has written six more, including Broken Soup and Fire Colour One, as well as Iggy and Me, a series for younger children. Her work has been published in 19 countries and Hello Now, her latest YA novel, was published in the UK and US in April 2020. In 2017 she was the Hay Festival International Fellow, spending the year meeting and learning from teenagers all over the world. She works to empower and give a voice to young people. She lives all over the place and has two daughters.
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This looks like a really cute series! I love the bright colors on the covers. Thanks for sharing your reviews. 🙂