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Timeslip #6
The Sequin Star
In an exciting timeslip tale, Claire finds an old trunk filled with her grandmother's treasures, including an old star-shaped brooch covered in sequins
Why does Claire's wealthy grandmother own such a cheap piece of jewelry? The mystery deepens when the brooch hurtles Claire back in time to 1932. Australia is in the grip of the Great Depression and people seek distraction from their problems through entertainment. There's the famous horse Phar Lap, cricket hero Don Bradman, and then there are circuses. Claire finds herself stranding in the camp of the Sterling Brothers Circus. Rescued by Princess Rosina, a beautiful trick rider, Claire is given a job in the camp kitchen. Life is hard, but she makes friends with Rosina and Jem, and a boy named Kit who comes to the circus night after night to watch Rosina perform. When Kit is kidnapped by a fanatical political group, it's up to Claire, Rosina, and Jem to save him. But Claire is starting to wonder just who Kit and Rosina really are. One is escaping poverty and the other is escaping wealth—can the two find happiness together?
Why does Claire's wealthy grandmother own such a cheap piece of jewelry? The mystery deepens when the brooch hurtles Claire back in time to 1932. Australia is in the grip of the Great Depression and people seek distraction from their problems through entertainment. There's the famous horse Phar Lap, cricket hero Don Bradman, and then there are circuses. Claire finds herself stranding in the camp of the Sterling Brothers Circus. Rescued by Princess Rosina, a beautiful trick rider, Claire is given a job in the camp kitchen. Life is hard, but she makes friends with Rosina and Jem, and a boy named Kit who comes to the circus night after night to watch Rosina perform. When Kit is kidnapped by a fanatical political group, it's up to Claire, Rosina, and Jem to save him. But Claire is starting to wonder just who Kit and Rosina really are. One is escaping poverty and the other is escaping wealth—can the two find happiness together?
282 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2014
5 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Belinda Murrell
43 books109 followersBelinda Murrell has worked as a travel journalist, technical writer, editor and public relations consultant. Her overseas adventures inspired her work as a travel writer for the West Australian newspaper and Out & About With Kids travel magazine. Her work has also appeared in the Sun Herald, Sunday Telegraph and Sydney Morning Herald. While Belinda studied Children's Literature at Macquarie University, her passion for children's books was reignited when she had her own three children and began telling and writing stories for Nick, Emily and Lachlan. Belinda's books include the Sun Sword fantasy trilogy, Scottish timeslip tale The Locket of Dreams, French Revolution timeslip tale The Ruby Talisman Australian timeslip tale The Ivory Rose and Australian historical tales The Forgotten Pearl and The River Charm.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 7, 2014
Many of you may know that Belinda Murrell is my elder sister, and so I have to admit to a strong partiality to any book I read of hers. The Sequin Star is the latest in her very popular timeslip series for teenage girls. The action follows a modern-day Australian girl named Claire who finds herself thrown back in time to a Great Depression-era circus in 1932. She is rescued by a warm-hearted girl named Rosina who is riding on the back of an elephant. Claire has no way of getting back to her own time, and so begins to work in the circus. As well as Rosina and her pet monkey, Claire makes friends with two boys from very different backgrounds. Jem’s family is dirt-poor and living in a shanty town, while Kit has a chauffeur and lives in a mansion. Kit comes to the circus night after night to watch Rosina ride her beautiful dancing horses, not realising he is putting himself in danger. When Kit is kidnapped, Claire and her friends have to try and work out the mystery in order to save him. The Sequin Star is exactly the sort of book I would have loved to have read in my early teens (in fact, any time!), and is gives a really vivid look at life in Sydney in the early 1930s. Loved it!
August 18, 2017
The first time I read the Sequin Star was very confusing for me. The reason for this was not because the book was not good. It was that I was too young to read it. So when I read it two years later, I completely understood the story. So before this review goes into detail, I recommend this book to 11+.
The start of this story was like a lot of stories I have read before, so it was not too interesting at the beginning, which is why the rating is missing a star. However, that is my only critique.
The shock of the grandmother was such a clever twist, I could never have thought of that way to join the story line together. However the sequin star thing was so unexpected by just finding it in her grandmother's wardrobe.
I actually request for this book to made into a movie, it would be absolutely perfect for a screening.
The start of this story was like a lot of stories I have read before, so it was not too interesting at the beginning, which is why the rating is missing a star. However, that is my only critique.
The shock of the grandmother was such a clever twist, I could never have thought of that way to join the story line together. However the sequin star thing was so unexpected by just finding it in her grandmother's wardrobe.
I actually request for this book to made into a movie, it would be absolutely perfect for a screening.
April 27, 2014
I'm a fan of Belinda Murrell. I love her time-slip novels for younger readers. They always have strong female leads, interesting historical back-stories and a nice juicy mystery. And The Sequin Star doesn't disappoint.
Claire is struggling with being a tween. Her best friend is all cool and I don't care, and is going to give up ballet lessons because she sick of the teacher telling her what to do. Claire decides that she is going to give up ballet as well. It's all too hard, and she can never seem to please the teacher either.
Claire's granny is her biggest supporter, but Claire realises that, lately, she hasn't been seeing her gran as often as she used to, and well, she misses her.
Whilst at a ballet performance, Claire's gran falls down the stairs and has to go to hospital. While tidying gran's flat, Claire discovers a sequinned star which she knows was a special keepsake of her grandfather. Claire slips the star into her pocket, and whilst on the way home she steps out from behind a bus and into the path of a cyclist. When she wakes, Claire has slipped into the 1930s and into a circus.
The Sequin Star is fun and interesting. The characters are varied, the historical research excellent, and the plotting of the mystery clever. Recommended.
Claire is struggling with being a tween. Her best friend is all cool and I don't care, and is going to give up ballet lessons because she sick of the teacher telling her what to do. Claire decides that she is going to give up ballet as well. It's all too hard, and she can never seem to please the teacher either.
Claire's granny is her biggest supporter, but Claire realises that, lately, she hasn't been seeing her gran as often as she used to, and well, she misses her.
Whilst at a ballet performance, Claire's gran falls down the stairs and has to go to hospital. While tidying gran's flat, Claire discovers a sequinned star which she knows was a special keepsake of her grandfather. Claire slips the star into her pocket, and whilst on the way home she steps out from behind a bus and into the path of a cyclist. When she wakes, Claire has slipped into the 1930s and into a circus.
The Sequin Star is fun and interesting. The characters are varied, the historical research excellent, and the plotting of the mystery clever. Recommended.
April 26, 2014
A great story blending teen thoughts, history and issues we should all consider, blended in a fun circus-based adventure in the years of the Great Depression - for more detail http://crewsreviews.edublogs.org/?p=1769
April 29, 2014
An enjoyable timeslip novel. Well researched and engaging, loved the use of the Sydney locations. Could be used to teach about The Depression.
February 6, 2025
Claire loved her ballet classes until her friend said she was quitting, that it was a waste of time and she had better things to do.
Her mother had arranged to go to the Ballet with her grandmother. Claire was excited to go, and when they talked about her lessons, her grandmother was sad to hear Claire say she might give up. They had enjoyed the first half of the performance until intermission. That's when the Claires' grandmother had a fall and became disorientated. They went with her to the hospital.
Her mother took Claire to her grandmother's house to collect necessities for the hospital. They found some Jewells in a box, having been a famous filmstar, they were valuable, so they decided to take them back to their house. Claire found a little sequin star that was costume Jewellery in her grandfather's box of treasures. Why would he keep that?
The next day at school, she couldn't concentrate on her work. When Claire stepped off the bus to go home she didn't notice a bike coming right at her. She fell and bumped her head. When she woke up in a field, not near her house. Claire was confused when a girl called Rosina, helps her walk towards a circus, tents, animals, acrobats, and clowns. She wasn't in her own time and now and she wasn't sure how she would get home.
Belinda has written a wonderful Time Slip series, now I've read them all. I've loved them all too.
Her mother had arranged to go to the Ballet with her grandmother. Claire was excited to go, and when they talked about her lessons, her grandmother was sad to hear Claire say she might give up. They had enjoyed the first half of the performance until intermission. That's when the Claires' grandmother had a fall and became disorientated. They went with her to the hospital.
Her mother took Claire to her grandmother's house to collect necessities for the hospital. They found some Jewells in a box, having been a famous filmstar, they were valuable, so they decided to take them back to their house. Claire found a little sequin star that was costume Jewellery in her grandfather's box of treasures. Why would he keep that?
The next day at school, she couldn't concentrate on her work. When Claire stepped off the bus to go home she didn't notice a bike coming right at her. She fell and bumped her head. When she woke up in a field, not near her house. Claire was confused when a girl called Rosina, helps her walk towards a circus, tents, animals, acrobats, and clowns. She wasn't in her own time and now and she wasn't sure how she would get home.
Belinda has written a wonderful Time Slip series, now I've read them all. I've loved them all too.
July 30, 2022
3.5*
A very sweet children's time travel story set in a circus in Australia during the Depression in the 1930s. Claire Hunter slips back in time to find her 15-year-old grandmother is one of the star attractions at Sterling Brothers Circus where she has a number of adventures, including watching the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
There is a wealth of fascinating historical detail included as part of the story, & Clair is shocked by the poverty abounding. In these days of entitlement & self-absorption one can only hope that young readers may digest the fact that comfort & prosperity isn't a given.
Claire is a delightful heroine & I enjoyed the tale very much.
A very sweet children's time travel story set in a circus in Australia during the Depression in the 1930s. Claire Hunter slips back in time to find her 15-year-old grandmother is one of the star attractions at Sterling Brothers Circus where she has a number of adventures, including watching the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
There is a wealth of fascinating historical detail included as part of the story, & Clair is shocked by the poverty abounding. In these days of entitlement & self-absorption one can only hope that young readers may digest the fact that comfort & prosperity isn't a given.
Claire is a delightful heroine & I enjoyed the tale very much.
July 31, 2023
Don't ask me why I'm leaving a five-star here with the exact vague guilt but certainty of desert I read and reread this book with in my youth.
For an acute bibliophile, I've been fussy about what I read: no cheap fantasy... cheap romance...cheap teenage paperbacks.
Yet this book enchanted me time after time, and so it's right up on my "beyond childhood" classics list (probably making L M Montgomery & Arthur Ransome disappear in absolute horror)
For an acute bibliophile, I've been fussy about what I read: no cheap fantasy... cheap romance...cheap teenage paperbacks.
Yet this book enchanted me time after time, and so it's right up on my "beyond childhood" classics list (probably making L M Montgomery & Arthur Ransome disappear in absolute horror)
August 5, 2014
Another fabulous time-slip story from the very talented pen of Belinda Murell. She just ticks all the boxes for me: strong female lead character with whom to identify; adventure, history and a touch of (age appropriate) romance. In some ways, I suppose you could say her stories are a bit old fashioned, as they don't deal with any of the more contemporary issues that are the theme of so many books written for the young adult audience. But I think she does still introduce her readers to worlds that they probably know nothing about; in this novel, the Depression and Circus life. I'm sure I would have loved these books when I was 12ish, and I know they are very popular with the girls at my school, in years 7&8. Highly recommended.
August 14, 2017
The Sequin Star will sweep you away to Sydney, Australia, 1932.
Having located her Nannas Sequin Star broach, Claire is transported back in time.
During her adventures Claire gets to join a circus, make new friends, (one of which turns out to be her grandmother), perform in the ring and uncover a crime. A cast of engaging characters, both human and animal will keep you entertained, while fascinating historical facts inform and intrigue. My curiosity remained peaked throughout: reading about life in a circus; the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge; what life was like in Australia during the depression and learning about Campbell and Sir Francis de Groot, all the while I was left wondering if Claire would ever get to return home to modern day Sydney and if so, how?
Having located her Nannas Sequin Star broach, Claire is transported back in time.
During her adventures Claire gets to join a circus, make new friends, (one of which turns out to be her grandmother), perform in the ring and uncover a crime. A cast of engaging characters, both human and animal will keep you entertained, while fascinating historical facts inform and intrigue. My curiosity remained peaked throughout: reading about life in a circus; the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge; what life was like in Australia during the depression and learning about Campbell and Sir Francis de Groot, all the while I was left wondering if Claire would ever get to return home to modern day Sydney and if so, how?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2014
A fascinating book full of wonderful surprises
March 15, 2015
Always an enjoyable read. Lots of little bits of Australian history that make the story rich. Maybe we will read more about Phar Lap or Lennie Gwyther in up coming books. I hope so.
January 26, 2023
Another charming Timeslip story, I thought the circus setting was good fun.
April 27, 2017
Although I love Belinda Murrell's books, I feel like they just don't work for me anymore. I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't the target audience so of course the plot was simple. Overall, the book wasn't as good as The Locket of Dreams, it was still quite good. I also really liked the circus addition to the story line.
April 9, 2016
I liked this book the most. what is it about circuses that sucks me in
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews