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The Wonderchild
Twelve-year-old Arlo Thorne never quite fitted in. Well, not at school, anyway.
So when he finds out that he is destined to become a student at Brightwell academy, (following a long line of Thornes in the House of Wonder), Arlo begins the feel that he has found his place in the world at last.
But not all is bright and rosy at Brightwell.
Arlo’s compass is behaving strangely, and there are hushed whispers about his grandfather in the halls.
Arlo must use everything he has to uncover the truth about his grandfather, and to figure out why something at Brightwell doesn’t seem quite... right.
Maybe he should have stayed at his old school after all.
So when he finds out that he is destined to become a student at Brightwell academy, (following a long line of Thornes in the House of Wonder), Arlo begins the feel that he has found his place in the world at last.
But not all is bright and rosy at Brightwell.
Arlo’s compass is behaving strangely, and there are hushed whispers about his grandfather in the halls.
Arlo must use everything he has to uncover the truth about his grandfather, and to figure out why something at Brightwell doesn’t seem quite... right.
Maybe he should have stayed at his old school after all.
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Published March 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Big Thinking Publishing and Kate Simkins for our copy.
Henry loved receiving this book with his very own letter about Brightwell Academy, it made him feel famous! This is a great bedtime read and follows Arlo, a boy who has never quite fit the typical mould at school. He discovers a compass under his bed one day, but it's like no other compass he's ever seen as it doesn't point North. It's the start of his discovery about his family and a place called Brightwell Academy. There is magic, friendship, belonging and despite initial reservations Arlo soon feels right at home with people like himself. There is mystery around Dark well, a sister academy in the Fae realm, which can only be visited if you have Fae blood in your heritage. Arlo makes a shocking discovery which leads him through a portal to that realm and he realises there is so much more that he hasn't been told. Rushing to get back to stop a terrifying vision he'd been shown he finds so much has changed and not for the better. It ends leaving you wanting more.
Henry loved receiving this book with his very own letter about Brightwell Academy, it made him feel famous! This is a great bedtime read and follows Arlo, a boy who has never quite fit the typical mould at school. He discovers a compass under his bed one day, but it's like no other compass he's ever seen as it doesn't point North. It's the start of his discovery about his family and a place called Brightwell Academy. There is magic, friendship, belonging and despite initial reservations Arlo soon feels right at home with people like himself. There is mystery around Dark well, a sister academy in the Fae realm, which can only be visited if you have Fae blood in your heritage. Arlo makes a shocking discovery which leads him through a portal to that realm and he realises there is so much more that he hasn't been told. Rushing to get back to stop a terrifying vision he'd been shown he finds so much has changed and not for the better. It ends leaving you wanting more.
April 1, 2026
Thank you so much to Kate and the team at Big Think Publishing for this advance copy to share with my children and review.
This book was such a hit with my children. We read a chapter together each night and they loved seeing what happened to Arlo next. It’s full to the brim with magic, mystery, super well thought out magical history and I really sense this is just the start of an amazing world we are going to love discovering together.
I especially liked the extracts from the various text books, journals and other writings at the start of each chapter, which really enriched the story. We also loved reading the helpful information at the back, imagining what might come next.
Be warned it ends on a cliffhanger and we are just desperate to know what happens next!!!
Alexandra (age 8) review: it was 5 ⭐️ because I really liked it, I would love to read the second book as I’m excited to see what happens to Arlo next. I just liked everything!!
Henry is desperate to know what an Emberling looks like!!
This book was such a hit with my children. We read a chapter together each night and they loved seeing what happened to Arlo next. It’s full to the brim with magic, mystery, super well thought out magical history and I really sense this is just the start of an amazing world we are going to love discovering together.
I especially liked the extracts from the various text books, journals and other writings at the start of each chapter, which really enriched the story. We also loved reading the helpful information at the back, imagining what might come next.
Be warned it ends on a cliffhanger and we are just desperate to know what happens next!!!
Alexandra (age 8) review: it was 5 ⭐️ because I really liked it, I would love to read the second book as I’m excited to see what happens to Arlo next. I just liked everything!!
Henry is desperate to know what an Emberling looks like!!
December 17, 2025
“Magic’s real, parallel worlds are real, the Fae are real… What else? Oh, and dragons, they’re real, although to be honest, they’re tiny, and nowhere near as impressive as everyone thinks.” — Quoted from The Wonderchild (The Brightwell Chronicles) by Kate Simkins
The Wonderchild (The Brightwell Chronicles) by Kate Simkins is a captivating middle grade story about a boy who discovers his life is not what he always believed. After finding a mysterious compass his mother is forced to reveal the secrets she’s kept hidden from him.
Arlo is a wonderful protagonist, embracing the magic and possibilities of his newly revealed world with curiosity and heart. I especially loved the magical boarding school elements. I can’t wait to see where the series goes next!
Fans of middle grade books with magic and magical schools would love this book!
Thank you big thinking publishing for the opportunity to arc read The Wonderchild by Kate Simkins!
The Wonderchild (The Brightwell Chronicles) by Kate Simkins is a captivating middle grade story about a boy who discovers his life is not what he always believed. After finding a mysterious compass his mother is forced to reveal the secrets she’s kept hidden from him.
Arlo is a wonderful protagonist, embracing the magic and possibilities of his newly revealed world with curiosity and heart. I especially loved the magical boarding school elements. I can’t wait to see where the series goes next!
Fans of middle grade books with magic and magical schools would love this book!
Thank you big thinking publishing for the opportunity to arc read The Wonderchild by Kate Simkins!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a fun little book, this is a children’s book, but I still loved it. If you are a fan of Harry Potter or just love a bit of magic and mystery, you will enjoy this. I loved all the additional details at the beginnings of the chapters, the characters are fun and interesting. The environment it’s set in has scope for so much. A quick read but disappointed that it was over. A really really fun book and looking forward to seeing the next book released
I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 1, 2026
Gorgeous little read. Have happily handed this over for my 12 year old to read next. If you want a cute and cozy read with some magic and secrets thrown in i would give this one a read. It’s very relatable as set in the current times with a child that is from a single parent/ lower class background with an obsession with all things electronic-ticks so many boxes for relatability and i thoroughly enjoyed it. Look forward to the next instalment because its definitely finished on a cliffhanger and I’m invested.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews