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Elfie and Joe #1
The Eleventh Orphan
Mr and Mrs Bigsby of the Pig and Whistle, Stoke Newington already look after ten children. When Constable O'Dowd brings her an eleventh orphan he found on the streets, Ma Bigsby is reluctant to take her. But there's something about Elfie, it's the first day of a new century and Ma loves a mystery...
Paperback
First published August 1, 2008
11 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Joan Lingard
94 books63 followersJoan Lingard was born in Edinburgh, in the Old Town, but grew up in Belfast where she lived until she was 18. She attended Strandtown Primary and then got a scholarship into Bloomfied Collegiate. She has three daughters and five grandchildren, and now lives in Edinburgh with her Canadian husband.
Lingard has written novels for both adults and children. She is probably most famous for the teenage-aimed Kevin and Sadie series, which have sold over one million copies and have been reprinted many times since.
Her first novel Liam's Daughter was an adult-orientated novel published in 1963. Her first children's novel was The Twelfth Day of July (the first of the five Kevin and Sadie books) in 1970.
Lingard received the prestigious West German award the "Buxtehuder Bulle" in 1986 for Across the Barricades. Tug of War has also received great success: shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 1989, The Federation of Children's Book Group Award 1989, runner up in the Lancashire Children's Book Club of the year 1990 and shortlisted for the Sheffield Book Award. In 1998, her book Tom and the Tree House won the Scottish Arts Council Children's Book Award. Her most recent novel, What to Do About Holly was released in August 2009.
Lingard was awarded an MBE in 1998 for services to children's literature.
Lingard has written novels for both adults and children. She is probably most famous for the teenage-aimed Kevin and Sadie series, which have sold over one million copies and have been reprinted many times since.
Her first novel Liam's Daughter was an adult-orientated novel published in 1963. Her first children's novel was The Twelfth Day of July (the first of the five Kevin and Sadie books) in 1970.
Lingard received the prestigious West German award the "Buxtehuder Bulle" in 1986 for Across the Barricades. Tug of War has also received great success: shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 1989, The Federation of Children's Book Group Award 1989, runner up in the Lancashire Children's Book Club of the year 1990 and shortlisted for the Sheffield Book Award. In 1998, her book Tom and the Tree House won the Scottish Arts Council Children's Book Award. Her most recent novel, What to Do About Holly was released in August 2009.
Lingard was awarded an MBE in 1998 for services to children's literature.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 2, 2018
What an exciting read! We couldn't put this one down, the instant we finished we ordered the next book in this trilogy. It's great when a book you enjoyed so much has sequels!
Elfie is an orphan who comes to live with Ma and Pa Bigsby in Stoke Newington, London. Not having children of their own, they take in orphans, usually not more than ten at a time, but a strange coincidence means they take in Elfie who becomes the eleventh. Elfie knows nothing of her parents but has a bag with some pictures, objects and letters.
Ma and Pa Bigsby are wonderful, if I had read this as a child I would have desperately wanted to live with them and their big, mainly happy family. Their orphan school sounds wonderful too. We really enjoyed the friendships, the mystery around Elfie's parents and the children's day to day lives. The story is engaging and fast paced and some parts really had you on the edge of your seat!
Elfie is an orphan who comes to live with Ma and Pa Bigsby in Stoke Newington, London. Not having children of their own, they take in orphans, usually not more than ten at a time, but a strange coincidence means they take in Elfie who becomes the eleventh. Elfie knows nothing of her parents but has a bag with some pictures, objects and letters.
Ma and Pa Bigsby are wonderful, if I had read this as a child I would have desperately wanted to live with them and their big, mainly happy family. Their orphan school sounds wonderful too. We really enjoyed the friendships, the mystery around Elfie's parents and the children's day to day lives. The story is engaging and fast paced and some parts really had you on the edge of your seat!
March 15, 2024
I really wanted something fun a quick to read so I picked this up from my TBR, this was the least read/reviewed book on my Goodreads shelves and unfortunately I can see why.
I found this book to be pretty boring, the writing was decent but the characters were all so flat, dull and just didn't have any personality. The plot line wasn't too bad but it just wasn't entertaining enough for me.
I found this book to be pretty boring, the writing was decent but the characters were all so flat, dull and just didn't have any personality. The plot line wasn't too bad but it just wasn't entertaining enough for me.
August 2, 2020
It is a great book and I really enjoyed it!
November 13, 2017
I was never much of a Joan Lingard fan (sorry!), but when this first came out, as usual, I was happy to give it the benefit of the doubt and I am so pleased that I did!
It's refreshing to find a strong female character in Elfie, but with it comes the need of all children, to find themselves and their family (in whatever form that might be). The way that Elfie finds her identity, where she comes from, her family etc is cleverly done, with her arriving at the Bigsby's
pub (already home to 10 children!) with only a bag (of clues), having been brought there by the local Officer.
This was definitely my book of the year two years ago and I still love it (as do the KS2 children) and I am pleased to say, I have gone back and re-read many of Joan Lingard's books and can honestly say, I have enjoyed them. May be I just needed this one book to change my mind . . . and I'm so pleased that it did!
It's refreshing to find a strong female character in Elfie, but with it comes the need of all children, to find themselves and their family (in whatever form that might be). The way that Elfie finds her identity, where she comes from, her family etc is cleverly done, with her arriving at the Bigsby's
pub (already home to 10 children!) with only a bag (of clues), having been brought there by the local Officer.
This was definitely my book of the year two years ago and I still love it (as do the KS2 children) and I am pleased to say, I have gone back and re-read many of Joan Lingard's books and can honestly say, I have enjoyed them. May be I just needed this one book to change my mind . . . and I'm so pleased that it did!
September 6, 2019
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
This would have made a good read-aloud for our family - though some of the issues (parents dying, beating and abandoning of children, kidnapping, intense jealousy between 2 of the adopted girls) would have needed discussion before reading with one of our, then younger and sensitive, children.
This would have made a good read-aloud for our family - though some of the issues (parents dying, beating and abandoning of children, kidnapping, intense jealousy between 2 of the adopted girls) would have needed discussion before reading with one of our, then younger and sensitive, children.
June 5, 2020
A beautifully written book about Elfe, an orphan and her journey. From fighting with Ivy (another orphan) to trying to find her farther, Elfe is an extremely loveable character. I really enjoyed this book and managed to read it in one sitting. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
November 16, 2025
Read this as part of my group novels for my primary 7 class but I genuinely did enjoy it. The book was so easy to read and the story behind it was great too. Although one of the next group novels is a new story completely I think I’ll be reading the next book in the series anyway.
February 27, 2019
Jolly good.
March 13, 2020
Easy heart warming read
April 25, 2020
↠ 5 stars.
August 23, 2021
Loved this book
The character Elfie was so courageous in all of her life
Well written. Thank you
The character Elfie was so courageous in all of her life
Well written. Thank you
December 26, 2021
I loved it so much that the moment I finished reading it, I ordered the sequels!
Couldn't put it down. The characters are so lovely too.
Couldn't put it down. The characters are so lovely too.
October 21, 2023
Actually 239 pages!
January 21, 2024
Took me a while to get into this book every time I would pick it up. Although it did make me cry at the end 🥲🧡
April 30, 2024
Good book quite suspenseful
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August 30, 2024read this book when i was 9-10, loved it, didn’t get to read the sequel because it was in the older kids section, i’m 16 now and still haven’t read idk what’s wrong with me
June 1, 2016
You see what you're looking for. From the cover and description of this book I thought it was going to be a mystery; I was hoping for a middle-grade suspense, maybe even something a bit spooky.
Nope!
But it wasn't bad. Think: Annie meets Little Lord Fauntleroy...kind of. It was just an orphan's story, an orphan that I liked. I enjoyed this -- it was easy enough to listen to, it's just not what I was expecting.
Nope!
But it wasn't bad. Think: Annie meets Little Lord Fauntleroy...kind of. It was just an orphan's story, an orphan that I liked. I enjoyed this -- it was easy enough to listen to, it's just not what I was expecting.
January 22, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was the touching story of an orphan around the year of 1901. Elfie was a great character as were all the supporting characters. If you want to read a thought provoking, moving but entertaining story to your 8 yo + children, I'd highly recommend it.
November 20, 2022
This was my favourite book when I was younger so when I saw it in the shop I had to buy! Rereading this was so heartwarming. I love all the characters, especially how Elfies character develops over the book!
March 12, 2011
grrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaatttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
November 1, 2013
It was a good book but not a lot happened... I could summarise the book in a few sentences but I don't want to spoil it for others.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews