The Secret Hen House Theatre

The Secret Hen House Theatre #1

by Helen Peters

Since the death of her mother, Hannah's family life has been somewhat chaotic. Her father is absorbed by running their dilapidated farm, and the four children are increasingly left to their own devices. These include "farming" each room of the house, looking after an enormous pet sheep called Jasper, and writing and directing plays in a disused hen house. But when the farm is threatened with demolition, Hannah determines to save it and realize her dreams at the same time...

Genres: Middle Grade, Contemporary, Childrens

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Helen Peters is the author of The Secret Hen House Theatre. She grew up on an old-fashioned farm in Sussex, surrounded by family, animals and mud. She spent most of her childhood reading stories and putting on plays in a tumbledown shed that she and her friends turned into a theatre. After university, she realised that she needed to find a job where someone would pay her to read stories and put on plays (though maybe not in a tumbledown shed) and so she became an English and Drama teacher. Several years later, finding herself as a stay-at-home mother of two, she decided to have a go at writing the sort of book she’d so enjoyed as a child. Helen lives with her husband and children in London, and she can still hardly believe that she now gets to call herself a writer.

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, so...I liked this book. It was cute and quite well written.
[warning: this review contains spoilers]
Things I liked:
I loved Hannah's character, how she was trying to become better, how she was taking care of "the beans", how she belived in herself, how she was trying to help the farm and her father. I liked it when she punched Jack even if he didn't vandalize her theatre. That's exactly what I'd do (or what I think I'd do) if someone told me bad things about my father. I also liked Lottie (she was such a good friend for Hannah) and her mum (the way she comforted Hannah makes me think that she somehow replaced Hannah's own mother). I liked Hannah's dad too, even if he didn't want Hannah to have a theatre in the first place. I'm glad he changed his mind. The Beans were super funny and cute. I was very happy when I found out that Emily is not as mean as Miranda and she actually helped Hannah. But...I think that I liked Jasper the most. I don't know why, don't judge me. It seems pretty cool to me. Danny was so horrible and the things he said to Hannah were just...so mean, I hate him. Martha is a selfish ten-year-old who thinks that the world is spinning around her. I hated her too. About Jack I don't know what to think anymore. I think that...he's a good person inside but he spent too much time with Carr.
Some things were a bit predictable.
What I also liked was that The Secret Hen House Theatre didn't win the competition, as they shoud've in any other book. It would have been very unrealistic if Hannah and her friends would've win against Miranda's theatre because Miranda had ages of experience behind. (Again, don't judge me)




"The Secret Hen House Theatre" was pretty enjoyable :))

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasons why I love this book:
->As the title says, there is a secret Theatre is a hen house!
->The protagonist is called Hannah (hey I’m biased)
->Helen Peter’s writes with warmth and humour
->There is a great friendship in this book, plus plenty of family drama
->Have I mentioned the humour yet?
->The Secret Hen House Theatre has a sequel!

[Carlo Hublet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helen Peters: des bouquins pour ados. J'avais lu ce générique je ne sais où et j'ai voulu découvrir cette auteure qui a passé toute son enfance dans une ferme et est devenue professeure de littérature.
Une jolie histoire dans la campagne anglaise, bien racontée, ça sent le fumier, les vaches et on patauge dans la boue. De façon fort plaisante avec ces petits personnages pleins de fougue ou de méchanceté, déjà... Je redoutais une histoire mièvre, mais pas du tout, tout ne plane pas pour le mieux pour les deux mouflettes héroïnes de cette histoire agréable à lire.

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah loves acting and drama, just as her mother did before she passed away. Now, Hannah’s Dad is left with four children and a failing farm. Hannah has a plan to help through her play writing, but her father mustn’t find out. Even though her plan doesn’t work as well as first thought, the answer to all their problems has been right next to her all along – in her home–made run-down hen house theatre.

A wonderful story girls will love. There’s jealousies, friendships, sibling squabbles and lovely confusion over a boy.

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having this recommended to me, I decided to pick it up and give it a go. I found it initially quite hard to get into and connect with narrator Hannah, but I soon did and was swept up in this contemporary middle grade tale of a girl trying to save her family`s farm from being sold when the landlord bumps up the rent, while also putting on a play. It has the same whimsical, modern classic feel that Natasha Farrant captured in the Bluebell Gadsby series, and it features a large group of siblings. I loved that things weren`t perfect between the family in the slightest but they were still always there for each other and the gentle humour sprinkled throughout the book. I worried desperately about the characters till the end as there were so many twists when I thought they were nearing a happy ending, though I did love the one they eventually got. 4.5/5

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I read it in French first I know the story better French than English, but I’m sure of one thing that you should definitely read it! It’s a great, exciting, funny and a bit of a sad a book, so if you should really read it!!! I hope my comment helped you! ❤️

[Maria Gulczynska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute is the word- it’s a bit surprising how mature the main character has to be and can be. The very idea of a theatre in a poultry house and a budding playwright in the sometimes muddy sometimes blooming English countryside made me want to go for a walk and notice nature and think of a new play.

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Such a lovely story! The delightful, yet hard and muddy farm life, realizing one's passion and also never giving up. This book had some twists and turns that I couldn't predict. Great read.

[Goldberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another young modern classic; touches the imagination and the heart.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This put me in mind of Ballet Shoes, the theatrical element and the children taking responsibility for a family's poor finances, grown-up and capable children. And it could well be just as well-regarded as Streatfeild's classic.

A farming family, Hannah and her siblings are managing without their mother well enough, their father struggling to pay the bills but just about scraping by. Hannah dreams of writing a famous play, which her father sees as a waste of time.

But a rise in rent and a local theatrical competition coincide - can Hannah putnon a play to win the prize money and help stop her dad from losing his farm?

At heart, it's a simple plot, but there's actually a lot more depth to the story than that, with a wonderfully realised young love story that I found very realistic, rivalry with a richer student, descriptions of farm life, some amazing detail of Hannah's play and preparation.

For of course what is a play without a theatre in which to perform it? Hannah and her friends must find a venue. Is there somewhere on the farm? Hannah proves herself a more at hand capable director, and I adored the siblings and their relationships (though Martha I didn't warm to).

Hannah and Lottie (her best friend) are a very likeable pair of heroines and their scheme is one I really invested myself in. Even the side plot where they try to sell some 'valuable' candlesticks goes in interesting directions.

I thought this was very intelligent and honest writing for the age group. Easy to read with emotional depth and some great characters that are smart, capable and warm.

I look forward to the sequel.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Hen House Theatre by Helen Peters – Realistic Fiction – This book is an absolute treasure. When you notice that Michael Morpurgo recommended it and stated he didn’t want it to end, must read… I found the characters endearing, the story to be timeless- although there were elements of technology involved at times. Reminded me of the fantastic Penderwicks series with a few snipier negative characters thrown in. I felt like I was drawn into the story immediately, concerned for the family, hopeful for the main character, torn by the dramatic portions, and vindicated when that time came… brilliant story.
I love that there’s a character that is so determined to put on a production of her play that she sneakily builds a theater in a hen house without her dad noticing. It was lovely how there was a loss of a mother in this book but it didn’t dominate the story, she was certainly missed and mentioned in throughout but the family was learning to move on. Landlords raising rent… well living here in Hong Kong, that’s ever so apparent and I’ve seen so many wonderful restaurants and businesses close due to some wild rent raises here… Such a touching book that so many readers will connect with and love. UK published- hope it is availabe in the US, well worth the read. Connection to PYP: integrity, caring, courageous, and so many more… a perfect, perfect read aloud. Most excellent for class discussions. I just loved this book.

[Lari Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up with a bit of trepidation, fairly sure from my daughter’s description of it that it was going to be a mix between Swish Of The Curtain, which was one of my favourite books as a (drama-queen) child, and all those ‘family about to lose the farm’ rural soap opera stories. And it is indeed the story of a girl who dreams of being an actress putting a show on against her father’s wishes, and the story of a family threatened with the loss of their home and livelihood because it’s hard to make money from the land. But I realised there was a lot more to the Secret Hen House Theatre when Hannah lost a writing competition in the first few pages because she had submitted a poem with a description of a dead lamb in it. I was hooked after that. Helen Peters’ writing is great, there is a lot more action and crime than I expected in a “let’s put the show on right here” theatre book, there is plenty of comedy (my daughter loved the pet sheep, and the unintentional awfulness of the play the girls put on made me laugh) and there is just enough genuine emotion (I was in tears by the end.) There is a love interest too, a subplot which ended surprisingly and very realistically. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and hope the debut author writes more!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and charming tale about hardship, bravery, overcoming the odds, love, rivalry and friendship. This story made me smile, cry and laugh with its pure simplicity of a girl coming of age and dealing with life's struggles as she is the eldest child of the family and feels she has to take the place of her mother after she has died. She has the drive and courage to follow her dreams and create her own theatre on the farm with her best friend and siblings. I love the fact that the story does not always follow the cliche of the underdog always winning and it keeps you guessing all the way through. Can't wait for the sequel!!

[Nils Visser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually missed my tram stop in Amsterdam today simply because I didn't want to stop reading. A captivating story for many reasons and I greatly enjoyed it. I think some of the other passengers were kind of worried about me as I started responding to the story, laughing, saying 'oh no!' and trying to wipe my eyes without that being too obvious. That sort of thing. I can definitely recommend this and look forwards to reading Farm Beneath the Water.

A much more comprehensive review can be found here: http://nissevisser.hubpages.com/hub/A...

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful story set on a farm about a young girl who is very determined to follow in her dead mothers footsteps and be an actress by setting up a theatre in a disused hen house. There is so much happening in this book, the farm is threatened, the fathers grief, friendship problems and early interest in boys. All the characters have depth, it feels completely realistic and believable. Plot lines where I feared that an easy solution was at hand twisted, keeping the tension up and it was all concluded in a satisfying way.

Loved it :-)

[Sidonie Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute easy read. A lovely little book that I thoroughly reccomend, took me a few hours in total. There are bits that confused me as details are lacking in terms of the characters ages but eventually you figure it out. I didn't like that the last chapter kind of jumped into the future without really warning you of it. I think it could have ended on the chapter before without loosing anything.

[Lisa Heathfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I took it in turns to read this book to our nine and twelve year old boys - and all four of us loved it! They were hooked right from the beginning and would eagerly fill me in on the bits that I missed. Helen Peters has a real talent for writing real characters that we care about. We're all looking forward to reading more!

[Jules Marriner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great, easy book to read. The dialogue kept the pace going, the plot (although simple) was intriguing and the characters believable. Girls of a certain age would LOVE this, as would I at around 10/11 years. Even though I am slightly past it now (sic) I still found it a great read. Recommended. Oh, and the cover is atmospheric.

[fah · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.8* It was a fun read for younger teens because the main charator, Hannah is eleven years old so I think if I was younger then I would really much enjoy the book to the max but with that said I still think it was a really good read.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it! Made me cry, fume with anger and laugh over and over. Such a heartwarming story, you cant help but warm to all the characters even the bad tempered sister and sullen father.

[Bungle Boo Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable story that I'm sure young ladies will like. Will be happy to tell my customers about this book!

[Aisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the story and the characters.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heart-warming book with quirky characters. I felt so much emotion throughout this book with very realistic characters.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book of 2013 and what a cracker. This story is brilliant and I can't wait to share it with my students!

[Rosa Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy understandable quick read

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it it was one of my favourite books!

[Asmita Saha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is full of suspense with a happy ending.

[Sameera Yaseen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but not quite my type. It doesn't grip you or control you completely.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and charming. Only flaw was a lack of clarity at the start as to the ages of the children in the family, which confused me.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy read, with a tale that happily moves on, is engaging and doesn't stall. 11yr old daughter is an avid reader and loves this book.