Trunk No. 3: A Story About a Life-Changing Correspondence

by Allie Millington

From the New York Times-bestselling author of Olivetti, here is the story of a magical—and lifechanging—correspondence.

Trunk No. 3, a worn, wrinkled suitcase with a secret, was perfectly fine with staying closed forever. Until she’s stolen by a despondent boy with plans to run away. When a strange note appears in the trunk, however, an accidental correspondence begins to throw everything off course—and toward something, someone, entirely unexpected.

Eleven-year-old Earl Grey has been raised at the Repertorium—a rare library that holds once-forgotten items, each with a tangible memory tied to their very being. She longs to discover life outside of the library, and to find answers about her Before. Little does Earl Grey know that the mysterious pen pal she starts writing to will lead to a life-changing friendship and the unraveling truth of her past.

New York Times-bestselling author Allie Millington weaves together a poignant, uniquely delivered story about connection, worth, and seeing more in the seemingly ordinary—including ourselves.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Juvenile, Magical Realism, Friendship

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2026

About the author

Allie first wrote her debut novel, OLIVETTI, on her own antique typewriter--who turned out to have an awful lot to say. She lives with her husband, their dog Crumpet, and a collection of clacking machines. You can find her on instagram (@allieinink) or possibly in her pillow fort.

Allie's second Middle Grade novel, ONCE FOR YES, releases with Macmillan Publishers in 2025. She has two picture books that will quickly follow, WHEN YOU FIND A HOPE and WHEN YOU FIND A QUESTION (Hachette Book Group).

Reviews

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trunk No. 3 is an endearing, heartfelt treat of a middle-grade novel. I was charmed the entire time I was reading it, and found so much joy in the quirky, lovable characters. Every aspect of this novel—from the setting to the premise to the writing—delighted me. I would love to visit the Repertorium, a magical library of almost-ordinary objects bearing memories that can be experienced by anyone who touches them.

We follow two children: a hurricane of a girl named Earl Grey whose greatest fear is being forgotten, and a boy named Cleo who wants nothing more than to disappear. Earl Grey is always mixing up idioms and making a mess and is downright desperate for a real friend, one from outside the Repertorium, the only home she has ever known. Cleo feels like a failure of a son, grandson, and brother, and he believes that he could solve so many problems for those he loves if he could work up the nerve to run away. The two couldn’t be more different. Their stories coincide when each stumbles upon a magical trunk. The two trunks do not merely hold things, but pass them back and for between themselves. Thus starts a magical penpal friendship, and gives us the opening we need to be properly introduced to our narrator: Trunk Number 3.

The writing here is absolutely wonderful. Number 3, our narrator, has an understandably unique perspective on life, which she expressing throughout the narrative as footnotes, or truncated thoughts. Number 3 insured that there was a symmetry to the chapters as they shifted between Earl Grey and Cleo, an echoing through each of their perspectives, that was really lovely. Millington has a brilliant way with words, threading in humor and emotion and more profound thoughts in ways that never distract from but only add to the story. I loved the inclusion of a pair of sheep named Wooliam and Ewestace, and a rabbit named Balloon. But even more, I loved the themes Millington wove into her stories, themes of grief and the hunt for identity, belonging, love, and the sticky kind of friendship that lasts.

Trunk No. 3 is an absolute joy of a novel from start to finish. I can’t wait to pass this along to my niece, and to track down a copy of Millington’s previous middle-grade novel, Olivetti.


Below are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Curiosity is a kind of courage that not everyone has...To be curious is to admit you have something to learn."

"Sometimes, what seems make believe can be made more believable, if only you see for yourself."

"...hardly anything that starts off small and ordinary ever really stays that way."

"Sometimes, the words we tell ourselves are the loudest."

"...if you can learn to look up even when it's storming, it makes clear skies seem all the more blue."

"That's what's hard about hopes. The higher they go, the more it hurts when they let you down."

"It's far more dangerous to hide who you are. Especially when who you are is what someone else needs."

"...there was no surer sort of love than someone who gave up all of themselves for you."

"...caring was more courageous than going it alone."

[Margaret Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trunk No. 3 | Allie Millington

⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

✨Ratings✨
Plot 3/5
Setting 3/5
Characters 3/5
Writing 4/5

I had so much fun getting to read this book! The plot is super creative. Basically, a girl lives in a museum-of-sorts that houses a collection of objects. When touched, theses objects can temporarily draw you into the memories they were a part of. The girl, Earl Grey, is quirky and charming. She lives with her adoptive father and longs to know the secrets of her past.

I loved the idea behind the book and the writing was smooth and enjoyable. I also loved getting to see how the characters developed throughout the story.

What I didn't like so much is the narration style/footnotes. The entire thing is supposedly compiled by the trunk itself. It was an interesting idea, but ultimately didn't really add to the story and made things more clunky. I also felt like Earl Grey's antics were sweet, but sometimes toed the line between cute and cringey. She felt too immature to have some of the deep thoughts/feelings that she did.

✨Final Thoughts✨

"𝚂𝚑𝚎'𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎'𝚜 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍."

Despite this book not being a major favorite of mine, I would definitely recommend it to younger children to check out. Fans of magical realism and wordplay might really enjoy this.

I want to give a huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

[hazel rae ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley. All thoughts are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Allie Millington for this opportunity!

mg | contemporary magical realism | character driven | fall | arc ebook

˚｡⋆𑁍˚｡⋆

If this review was just a standard review I would say “A very delightful cozy book with an excellent concept.” But, as this is a review in which I am supposed to say ‘my honest opinion’ I shall do just that.

𓇢𓆸 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐃

✧ the trunks
✧ the footnotes
✧ earl grey < 3
✧ the memory thing
✧ the ending

𓇢𓆸 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈 𝐃𝐈𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄

✧ the writing or the characters or smth about it
✧ I didn’t realize that the memory thing was legit magical at first
✧ some elements of the characters

𓇢𓆸 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

yeah okay so the concept: 5 stars
the execution: 3.5

I wanted so badly to like this books (esp because of the cover like MAJOR POINTS FOR THE COVER OKAY—) but there was smth wrong with it. I can’t rly pin point it but I just didn’t like it.

1 ) I knew the characters emotions — not because I sow it — but because they told me exactly how they felt.

2 ) These kids were much more in-tune to their ‘emotions’ than I feel a regular 11-12 year old would be.

3 ) There were some moments that felt like “let’s work through our CoMpLeX EmOtIoNs” and this very therapist approach. Emotions are not in control of us and we shouldn’t treat them that way. They are gifts to be ruled over, not ‘accepted’.

overall: The characters felt like a mixed bag; there were some good and some that wasn't my fav.

Now, don’t get me wrong this was just the most wonderful concept and it had a lot of good things, but the execution wasn’t the best in some ways.

𝘾𝙒𝙎: none

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

DRC from Edelweiss and Feiwel & Friends / Macmillan
Earl Grey live with her father above their museum, the Repertorium. It contains objects that hold memories of the people who owned them. One object that is kept in their apartment, not the museum, is an old trunk, Trunk #3. Earl Grey takes it to the park and leaves it by accident. Cleo lives with his sister, mother, and grandmother. They recently moved there to save some money. Cleo’s father once told him that they could meet up over the summer. Cleo is trying to make plans to run away and meet his father. He spies the trunk on his way home and takes it. Turns out, the trunk can transfer things from one person to another if Trunk #2 is also used. Earl Gray and Cleo start writing notes and sending things to each other, not realizing that they are only a few miles apart. Both are lonely and this connection helps them. Narrated by Trunk #3, also told from Earl Grey and Cleo’s point of views. Can Cleo accept that he is not the failure he thinks he is? Can Earl Grey find the information about her past that she craves? Will the Repertorium be saved?

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for review.

This brand new release was completely charming and moving.

Trunk No. 3 is told from the unique perspective of a worn leather suitcase that ends up carrying correspondence between two kids that need connection and answers. That magical correspondence reminded me of Divine Rivals for a younger audience, but the story is also completely, uniquely its own.

This story was very profound while also being engaging, heartwarming, and emotional with bits of humor as well. I loved the quirky and endearing main character who wears her heart on her sleeve and has a habit of mixing up expressions/phrases. The story was so tender with some wonderful comments on life and love. Definitely recommend this one for a wide range of ages!

Trigger/content notes: parental separation/abandonment, grief .

[Mikaela Lennberg (lennberglibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming and insightful middle grade book! I read it with my 4th grade daughter and we really loved what a unique story it was. As a parent I loved how many life lessons the characters learned. Even though their world is magical and not exactly like ours, the characters have relatable problems of being hard on one’s self, not understanding and coping with others choices that may hurt us, building up self confidence, etc. The magical trunks that allow the characters to become friends were so fun and such a unique idea. How they found each other and helped each other was so interesting we loved seeing the story progress. We also loved the ending! Overall a lovely middle grade book.

[Jquick99 · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

The British MC little girl is named “Earl Grey”? Ugh. DNF.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The first thing readers will appreciate is the author’s masterful ability to tell a story. They can feel the desperate emotions of Earl Grey and Cleo as they try to find their places in the world. Earl loves living with Oswald, but she longs to know who she belonged with Before Oswald. Cleo believes he is a failure, so he wants to run away. No one will miss him. The narrator explains, “And sometimes, you started breaking rules when you started breaking inside too.” An old, battered trunk is the center of attention, and it supplies footnotes with explanations from its point of view. It had to say something when Cleo commented that it smelled “… like bad breath that had been held in for too long.”
Oswald and his deceased wife used to mine for memories, and his Repertorium contains objects holding strong, emotional experiences. “It’s like the expression of walking a mile in another person’s shoes.” Guests can touch the items and experience moments that leave them feeling thrilled, curious, or surprised. Oswald’s never shown Earl how to mine, but she discovers that she gets visions and emotions just from touching other people. This ability will have readers wondering more about Earl and where she came from. How can her ability be explained?
It turns out, there’s more than one trunk. Cleo steals Trunk No. 3 from Earl, but he doesn’t realize how his theft will bring them together. Earl finds another trunk, Trunk No. 2, and the two characters discover the trunks are “magically” connected. Earl’s bunny climbs in her trunk, and the lid closes, and it immediately appears in Cleo’s trunk. This begins their “pen pal” correspondence, even though they’re unaware of each other’s identity. Readers will anticipate the moment they figure out their paths have already crossed. Also, readers may wonder if there’s a Trunk No. 1.
What didn’t work as well:
Earl seems to have a better handle on the whole situation than is believable. She’s struggling to learn about her past, but she somehow manages to offer Cleo sage advice about his situation. The eloquence of her messages to him seemed more mature than her character should have been.
The final verdict:
The book shares a tender, budding friendship between two characters who are trying to understand their places in the world. I recommend that middle-grade readers try it for themselves.

[Tom Bernaards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

Trunk No. 3 follows the story of two young teenagers, Earl Grey and Cleo, who become inexplicably connected after Cleo finds the titular trunk. The story is written with a young audience in mind, and I think that 8-10 year olds would probably appreciate it most and that younger kids would find the text more challenging but would still enjoy the whimsical story that the book details. The book has a cute, concise plot that follows a number of memorable characters, with the two main characters being real standouts.

The book is told in two perspectives which follow Earl Grey and Cleo respectively, and what I think the story does well is that it allows these characters to show a range of emotions that many children will be able to relate to. Building on this, Trunk No. 3 is willing to engage with darker themes, such as loss and grief, which many young readers will find themselves empathizing with. Millington's inclusion of these themes tells the reader that it is okay to grapple with these negative feelings, which I think is a valuable lesson for the intended young audience.

There were some plot points that I thought could've been fleshed out more, but overall I think that Trunk No. 3 is a nice addition to the landscape of children's literature.

[Amanda · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Wow, Allie Millington really has a way with words! I adored Olivetti so I was so excited to find out she was releasing a new book. I love her unique writing style, and am impressed by the way she layers and weaves in literary devices and symbolism throughout an already intriguing plot. She crafts a diverse cast of characters, including inanimate objects like an old trunk (and a typewriter in Olivetti) in a way that can bring tears to your eyes, put a smile on your face and warm your heart all while unraveling a beautifully, well developed, magical story that represents so much more than an old trunk. A deeply thought provoking story of hope, friendship, connections, big emotions, and finding worth not only in the old broken things but also in yourself. A valuable lesson for not only middle grade but for all ages.

The audiobook was great and really added to the overall experience. Jennifer M. Dixon and Emily Marso delivered a fantastic performance from start to finish. They did a great job with tone and voice differentiating the multiple eccentric characters and giving each their own voice while putting an emphasis on emotions and empathy which brought the characters and story to life.

Thank you @prhaudio, @mackidsbooks, and @feiwelandfriends for the #gifted ALC and ARC of Trunk No. 3. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sue.the.very.busy.reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

By: Allie Millington Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy 📕 / @mackidsbooks #brandpartner

✨ What if an old trunk could hold more than memories… and a little bit of magic? ✨

I’m a huge fan of Allie Millington! I loved Olivetti and really enjoyed Once for Yes, so I was especially excited to receive her newest book,

Trunk No. 3. And what a special package it was—beautifully wrapped and filled with notecards and fancy wrapping. It felt like opening a little literary gift!

As you might guess from the title, Trunk No. 3 is told from the unique point of view of… a trunk! And this isn’t just any trunk—it has a little magical power of its own.

At the heart of the story is Earl Grey, a young girl with a mysterious past and a name inspired by tea. She lives with her father in a library filled with once-forgotten objects and the memories they hold. But everything changes when a runaway boy steals Trunk No. 3, opens it, and sets the magic in motion.

This is a sweet story about finding someone special in your life. And sometimes, that person can come into your life in the most unexpected way—and you may not recognize just how special they are right away.

I loved the unique characters, the gentle touch of magic, and, of course, the bunny! 🐰 This is the kind of story that makes you want to curl up in a cozy chair with a cup of tea and simply savor the pages.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millington continues her middle grade writing trajectory with stories centering inanimate objects as the central characters that showcase the range of human emotion, understanding, and connection.

In this case, a trunk, a piece of luggage, is the narrator and the two human characters (though there are more) are Cleo, a boy whose family has fallen apart, and Earl Grey, a gift with a unique look at life and of course, a curious story to her name. And this luggage connects them both and has a magical quality to preserve and relive memories. The sentimental discussion around memories, remembering people and things, and what the past/present/future look like are the core feature of this elegant middle grade.

I love her addition of the footnotes when Trunk No 3 has things to share outside of the narrative.

"The beginning of what" "Of belonging with each other," she said. They began that night, swapping their sides of the story. It was the perfect day to find a friend, showed up first. It was the perfect day to run away, was sent back. Number 3 received and delivered each sentence, as The Crafter had created her to do, remembering every single word. And as the scribbled parts and pieces passed through her frame, she put them together in proper order. Someone had to make sense of things, you see. You can tell a lot about a person by what they pass through a trunk. But have you ever considered, perhaps, that some stories are meant for a trunk to tell?"

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Feiwel and Friends, and Macmillan Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What if the wonderous power of Stephen King's Needful Things brought the community together? What if a Vanishing Cabinet had only good vibes?

I'm a horror reader at heart, but I really enjoyed reading Trunk No. 3 by Allie Millington. We jump right into the story of two children feeling out of place, out of control and very outside the considerations of the adults in their lives. Through this, Trunk No. 3 still perfectly balances the action with the world-building. Reading through any given universe's special rules can sometimes feel like stereo instructions, but with the titular trunk acting as our narrator (complete with cheeky footnotes) the story flows so naturally. And it's so easy to read! It really feels like someone casually telling you a fun story in a cozy living room. I think it uses the ever popular POV switches very smartly. It works really well up against the epistolary elements. I will also always cheer for cleverly named animals and pets.

I would absolutely recommend this one as well Allie's other works - Olivetti and Once For Yes.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! This book has everything I look for in a story: brilliant characters, an intriguing magical element, a solid plot, a found family trope, and a great narrative voice. It is perfect for readers of every age, for anyone who wants to disappear into a story and come back to the other side touched, if not changed. I really hope this book gets a TV adaptation, because I could see everything so clearly in my mind as the author guided me through the story. Some passages are stunning, and I loved the footnotes from the Trunk's perspective!

Earl Gray and Cleo were amazing protagonists, and I loved the dual POV narrative that gradually weaves together as we get closer to the end. They are surrounded by a cast of wonderful supporting characters, all of them deep and well fleshed out, each contributing to the story in perfect balance. The themes of connection, self-discovery, finding your worth, and what it means to truly be seen will resonate deeply with younger readers who love a good coming of age story. But there is also the added layer of the magical element of the trunks and memory mining, and the mystery of Earl Gray and Cleo's "before" that keeps you turning pages until the very end.

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ TRUNK NO. 3 by Allie Millington ✨

Thank you so much to the publisher Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan) for the gifted copy! 💛📚

Every time I finish one of Allie Millington’s books I immediately declare it my new favorite… and then I remember I’ve said that about all of them😂✨ Her stories have this incredible magic that makes me feel like I’m reading a beloved classic.

Trunk No. 3 follows Earl Grey a girl growing up in a very unusual library of forgotten objects and a mysterious suitcase that sets an unexpected friendship into motion. What follows is a story about connection…belonging…our pasts and learning to see the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary🧳💌✨

Allie’s signature voice is here in full force…clever sentences…so much charm and those little moments of wisdom that sneak up on you and stay with you. I love how her books feel whimsical and magical while still carrying so much heart.

I genuinely think her books are for everyone…no matter your age. They’re the kind of stories you finish and immediately want to hand to someone else💛📖

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trunk No. 3 is a magical trunk, connected to Trunk No. 1 and Trunk No. 2. Trunk No. 3’s excitement starts when Earl Grey takes her outside for a tea party and accidentally leaves her outside. Earl Grey is a homeschooled middle schooler who is excited when a field trip from a local school comes to the shop her father owns called the Repertorium. Oswald was a Memory Miner and collected lots of objects that can transport people back into the memories for a few minutes. The Repertorium is organized by the type of feeling you want to experience in the memory. Cleo is a new student on the field trip who decides to skip it and go home, but not before he sees the abandoned Trunk No. 3 and decides to take it. Earl Grey meets Cleo’s older sister Miruna at the market that week and they become friends, not knowing that Earl Grey and Cleo had been conversing through letters in Trunk No. 3 and Trunk No. 2. Where did the trunks come from? Will Cleo and Earl Grey ever get to meet in person. Will the Repertorium be able to stay open? All these questions and more are answered in this thoughtful middle grade novel.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

This is a beautiful story of two children, Earl Gray (love that name) and Cleo, who each feel alone, but are brought together by a magical trunk. As they begin passing letters back and forth through the trunk, their connection and friendship deepens.

What worked really well for me in this book were the deep emotions of both children. You could really feel it coming through from the author. We’ve all felt like we were the only one before, and out of place. This was an easily identifiable emotion that was beautifully written. As well some of the different turns of phrases “Til Soon” being atop that list.

What didn’t work so well for me were the footnotes told by the trunk. I think it would have worked much better to have the thoughts of the trunk be told only through a change of POV, which sometimes happens, but not all the time.

Overall a very touching read that I’m sure most middle grade readers would enjoy and identify with.

[Middle Grade Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story. Beautiful people and beautifully crafted-writing. One of those books that you're a little sad when it ends because you totally get pulled into it.

Which is really interesting because at the beginning of the book I was so confused. If I had not already read Olivetti and Once for Yes, I may have given up on this one. So I'm here to tell you to keep going. It's so worth it.

Readers are going to love meeting the girl named Earl Gray and the boy named Cleo. Their unique personalities and growth throughout the book are just so great.

Throw together a little bit of Rooftoppers and a little bit of Right Back at You and you have a wonderful story of two kids who have not met in person, but are able to help each other with assistance from the magic of Trunk No.3.

Thank you to publisher for offering an advanced copy of this book on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Taylor K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an early copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to the author and Fierce Books for sending me the copy. I”m a little mixed on how to review this book. It was a little hard to follow along with the story with the footnotes as I felt a little less engaged with the story. Some of the story was a bit slow and it took a while to get into but I did like it. I enjoyed seeing the characters thoughts and feelings when exploring different objects especially how we find out that Trunk No.3 plays a big role in connecting two different characters being Earl Grey and Cleon together. We learn from the synopsis that each object has a memory attached to it and it reminded me a little of Narnia where the characters are transported to new places. The animals,sheep and a rabbit were fun additions to the story. Middle grade readers and adults who like fantasy with some aspects of historical fiction and going back in time would enjoy this book more than I would.

[Mihiret · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the narrators for this book is the trunk named in the title. (Actually, several narrators are trunks, and they like to communicate in footnotes.) From that detail, you might be expecting something cute and whimsical, especially in a book where there's a museum where objects can be mined for their memories and the memories shared by others who touch them. But this book, while gentle, is not only sweet--the characters (human and otherwise) are dealing with serious issues, like grief, abandonment, and the need to make their homes secure again, and even the magical museum is facing eviction due to unpaid rent. It's a quiet read that takes you to unexpected places, and while I suspect the middle grade readers it's intended for will enjoy it, it's also a wistful read for adults as we move into the darker parts of the year.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Alina Borger]

This is sentimental and sweet, with a clever magical system. The two protagonists are great mirrors for one another, and the way Millington leans into that with phrases and repetition at POV changes helps to make that mirroring more emphatic.

And Earl Grey is a charming heroine, though she reads younger than intended.

The other supporting characters, though, were very one-note. Like okay, we get it, your grandma makes stew, your sister has OCD, and your mom is a nurse who works night shift. Oswald is the worst. His behavior to Earl Grey is controlling at best, bordering on abuse at worst. Then are just supposed be sympathetic? Like “oh, he was wOrRiEd!”

Nope. Sorry. That’s not a good enough reason to lock up a child.

Overall, it feels like the book takes its own whimsy a little too seriously; it has a too much of that MG preciousness —and runs saccharine as a result.

[Laura Mullins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parental Warning: A kid has a secret conversation with someone they can't identify and feels like that person is the only one who understands them.

I wanted so much to love this book. It's whimsical, clever, and speaks to deep truths of life.

I just couldn't get past the premise that felt like a magical equivalent of a grooming conversation.

To be fair, the secret conversation is between two innocent children and the lessons they learn are real and good. The book is written from both perspectives, so the reader never questions who the other conversation partner is.

If your kid reads this book, be sure to teach them that spilling secrets to someone you've never met and don't know who they are is not safe.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a clever book! That title, book cover and premise drew me in immediately - what couch potato doesn't dream about travelling trunks that can transport messages (and things!) across time and space? Earl Grey and her father Oswald's museum of Memories, and the whole concept of Memory mining was fascinating, This is a sepia-tinged, emotional mystery, at the heart of which is the growing friendship between sheltered Earl Grey and miserable Cleo, guided by the wry, charming and unique voice of Trunk No.3, Young readers and adults alike will be intrigued to discover the hidden secret of Trunk No.3, and the quiet but magical world of Earl Grey and the Repertorium. Keep tissues handy for the ending though!

[Sonya Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent read. I highly recommend it for middle grade readers, teachers, and adults alike.

It follows a girl, named Earl Gray (like the tea) and the adventures she sets out on with her family and new friends. The metaphors throughout likening the girl to the tea are perfect. Earl Gray constantly mixes up common idioms, which is both hilarious and a teaching opportunity for those using this book in the classroom.

This book tackles themes that can be heavy (absent parents, belonging, etc.) with grace that makes it appropriate and relatable for a middle grade audience. Bits of humor, mystery, and cozy adventure throughout make this book a five star for me.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for allowing me to read the book prior to publication. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The story centers around a mysterious trunk, Number 3, and the secrets tied to her. I really enjoyed how the mystery slowly unfolded– each clue added another layer and kept me curious about what would happen next. The characters are memorable, and their dynamics add a lot of heart to the story. If you enjoyed The Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle Dabos, give this book a try ✨🕯️ 5/5 ⭐️

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two young teens, both searching for answers to their past, meet through a pair of magical trunks. One, Earl Grey, lives in a museum of memories and has an adorably eccentric way of viewing the world. The other, Cleo, is suffering through the fracture of his family and blames himself for his father leaving. Together, they find answers, heal each other, and reinvigorate the adults around them. All of this, within a world where memories can be saved and relived over and over again.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review copied from NetGalley:

Charming! I am betting middle graders would enjoy this more than I did. I liked the twist of having the trunk as a narrator at first, but the footnotes quickly became tiresome. I feel the opposite about the other characters. I was off-put by Early Grey in the beginning, but grew to appreciate her quirkiness. Cleo's self reflection would have been relatable to me as a child (though it is still relatable to me as an adult!). I liked the light magic within the novel and the cover is beautiful!

[Maddie T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received on behalf of Goodreads giveaways. A delightful, charming, and heartfelt read. I loved how this book handled themes of mental health, OCD, depression, and the slow journey towards healing. The messy and lonely parts of depression are written in a way where young readers will understand and be able to help those going through the same. The characters were charming and Trunk No. 3 was quite humorous and made me chuckle a few times in the footnotes. A heartwarming read that had just enough magic.

[Lorraine Lai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trunk No. 3 by Allie Millington is a sweet, and quietly magical middle-grade story. The idea of a place that stores forgotten immediately pulled me in.

The story explored belonging, identity, and what it means to feel seen. It is a heartfelt look at friendship.

If you enjoy middle-grade books with a touch of magic and a lot of heart, this one is definitely worth picking up. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus.

Somewhat similar to Olivetti and Once for Yes, but has characters and a setting that seem more fairy tale like than the previous two books. The trunk seems to communicate less than the typewriter or apartment building.

I'm not sure how middle school readers will respond to the whimsical names (like Earl Grey for the female main character) and the magic of the Repertorium.

Millington has a singular style, and the covers are great.