Faber Faber The Great Theatre Rescue A show-stopping middle-grade adventure, perfect for fans of Hilary McKay and Katherine Rundell.

by Judith Eagle, Jui Talukder (illustrator)

Charley doesn't mind that she's had an unconventional childhood. Growing up behind the curtain in London's West End has been full of excitement. Charley has even begun taking a turn on stage. But her dreams of being a performer are shattered when she is sent off to boarding school.


On arrival, Charley discovers that the school is a place where the girls are forced to do unpaid work in order to fill the pockets of the owners.


With the theatre in peril back home, Charley has no choice but to escape, and to make a dangerous journey along the coast in order to get back to all that she loves, and to save her beloved home.

Genres: Middle Grade

384 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2025

Reviews

[Jacaranda21 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A low key middle grade story. Does what it says on the blurb.
I liked the setting. There is a balance of good and bad characters, and the ones who are wrongly judged at some point. Loved Max the faithful dog!

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theatre-set mystery adventure.

Very much enjoyed this. From the start, when a baby is found on the steps by the Thames and raised in a theatre, to his own child ready to make her dancing debut on its stage, this is a lovely red curtain drama of mystery and daring.

Young Charley Wren may have thought she was about to realise her dreams upon the stage, but her father being called away to look after his sick foster parent, her aunt coming to stay, and finding out the theatre is running out of money... well, it couldn't get much worse. Until she's sent away to a boarding school amidst the threat of her theatre being shut down.

The school is not what her aunt had told her to expect, more a workhouse to make money. But Charley meets another girl there Jewel, who may be able to help her escape back to London to try and put things right.

It's a fast-moving story, with some likeable female roles and a great hidden secret at its heart. There's also an adorable dog, lots of performers and even some famous names.

Can Charley escape her school prison, find her way back to London and work out how to save her beloved theatre home? You'll be turning the pages compulsively to find out.

For ages 9-13.

With thanks to the publisher for providing a sample reading copy.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

1930s London. Charley is an excellent tap dancer. Her Father runs a West End theatre and Charley loves helping out behind the scenes. She is overjoyed to be given the opportunity to dance on stage, but at the last minute nerves get the better of her. When her Father is called away, Charley’s aunt comes to look after her and sort out the theatre’s finances. To Charley’s horror this means sending Charley away to boarding school and closing down the theatre. How can Charley save the theatre?

I really enjoyed this and was totally absorbed from the start. Children’s books really are the best for sending you off on an adventure and letting the imagination run riot! Charley is a fabulous character, with lots of courage and determination and a lovely human wobble courtesy of some stage fright. It is a great story with a bad guy, some wicked teachers, an epic journey and a fabulous dog! There are lots of twists along the way. Set in the 1930s this was very evocative and even featured a performance by Duke Ellington. I loved meeting all the acts performing on stage.

This reminded me of the great theatrical tradition in middle grade fiction upheld by writers such as Noel Streatfeild and I think fans of her writing will really enjoy this. This will also appeal to those who love an adventure. A very enjoyable and immersive read and I loved reconnecting with my inner child!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

FYI, 367 pages.

very dramatic and gripping, storyline keeps you hooked until the final curveball which completely throws you off balance