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Will You Catch Me?
From the author of A Room Full of Chocolate comes a heartwarming story about identity and courage, and a tremendous young girl who cares for her alcoholic mother. For fans of Jacqueline Wilson and Sarah Lean.Nell Hobs lives with a tortoise called Bob Marley, guinea pigs Asbo and Chaos, goldfish Beyoncé and Destiny, gerbils Fizz and Tyrone, Aunty Lou the Hamster ... and her mum, who drinks too much. Nell does everything she can to be a good daughter so that her mum will stop. But when things get really hard, Nell stands on her head. Everything looks better upside down, don't you know?Nell wishes she knew who her dad was. When new teacher Mr Samuels makes history come alive and tells the class the story of Nell Gwynn, the Orange Girl who became one of the first actresses on the London stage, Nell is captivated and is determined to dress up as an Orange Girl for the Costume Parade. She hatches a plan with her best friend a way to make her dad step forward and claim her. Will she succeed?A charming middle grade story with a strong, positive message that celebrates community and friendship.
- GenresMiddle Grade
336 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 3, 2020
I enjoyed this and it was a quick read, but the characters were a bit young for me to relate to. I love Jane Elson though.
April 23, 2024
Will You Catch Me? by Jane Elson is a powerful, heart-wrenching children’s novel and just perfect for ages ten years and older. It is a novel that I would recommend for any age as it will help you to get inside and understand the working of a young girl’s mind.
The novel has the heart-breaking theme of alcoholism. This effects not only the sufferer but all those they interact with. We follow Nell, in year eight as she struggles to cope alone with her Mum’s addiction. The reader’s heart just breaks for Nell. She is the self-proclaimed carer for her Mum since she was six years old. She keeps silent as she fears her Mum being taken away.
We really get to know Nell as the novel is written in her voice in the first person. We hear her fears and applaud her bravery and stoicism.
Nell loves her Mum but being the responsible one is exhausting. “I don’t want to go home, I’m scared of what I might find.” The reader longs for Nell to just be able to be a child. There are glimpses of the Mum her Mum could be, and the relationship they could have – but the demon drink keeps on winning.
Caring for others is part of Nell’s DNA. She loves rescuing animals and insects, spending her money on their food.
There is a generous, kind hearted community in the novel. Nell lives in a flat on an estate in London. Here, we will meet some of the residents in other Jane Elson books. The reader feels at home here.
Nell is popular in her community. Little acts of kindness keep her going.
School has its challenges. Nell finds it hard to concentrate until a new history teacher awakens the subject within her. “Sir just makes the history class come alive.” Children need teachers who teach with passion. “Sir has a way of making you care about the people from the past.” The past springs to life in some rather unexpected ways.
Sometimes in life, the veil between the past and the present is thin. There are some beautiful exchanges which may or may not be real – you decide.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and realistic. I absolutely loved Nell and also Aunty Lou with her huge heart and capacity to love.
There was a search for a father, someone to take the pressure off Nell – but sometimes what we search for may be closer than we think.
Jane Elson always writes stories that not only entertain but inform. She challenges us to think differently, to really get to know the minds of young people. They may be fighting battles that we have no clue about. Not everyone thinks the same. We need to be aware and we need to show empathy. Jane Elson shows us inside young people’s heads as she highlights relevant issues. All her stories are powerful and I cannot get enough of her books.
The novel has the heart-breaking theme of alcoholism. This effects not only the sufferer but all those they interact with. We follow Nell, in year eight as she struggles to cope alone with her Mum’s addiction. The reader’s heart just breaks for Nell. She is the self-proclaimed carer for her Mum since she was six years old. She keeps silent as she fears her Mum being taken away.
We really get to know Nell as the novel is written in her voice in the first person. We hear her fears and applaud her bravery and stoicism.
Nell loves her Mum but being the responsible one is exhausting. “I don’t want to go home, I’m scared of what I might find.” The reader longs for Nell to just be able to be a child. There are glimpses of the Mum her Mum could be, and the relationship they could have – but the demon drink keeps on winning.
Caring for others is part of Nell’s DNA. She loves rescuing animals and insects, spending her money on their food.
There is a generous, kind hearted community in the novel. Nell lives in a flat on an estate in London. Here, we will meet some of the residents in other Jane Elson books. The reader feels at home here.
Nell is popular in her community. Little acts of kindness keep her going.
School has its challenges. Nell finds it hard to concentrate until a new history teacher awakens the subject within her. “Sir just makes the history class come alive.” Children need teachers who teach with passion. “Sir has a way of making you care about the people from the past.” The past springs to life in some rather unexpected ways.
Sometimes in life, the veil between the past and the present is thin. There are some beautiful exchanges which may or may not be real – you decide.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and realistic. I absolutely loved Nell and also Aunty Lou with her huge heart and capacity to love.
There was a search for a father, someone to take the pressure off Nell – but sometimes what we search for may be closer than we think.
Jane Elson always writes stories that not only entertain but inform. She challenges us to think differently, to really get to know the minds of young people. They may be fighting battles that we have no clue about. Not everyone thinks the same. We need to be aware and we need to show empathy. Jane Elson shows us inside young people’s heads as she highlights relevant issues. All her stories are powerful and I cannot get enough of her books.
June 4, 2020
Almost made me cry at the end, which is a sure sign that a book has effectively crafted a story and characters that tug at your heart. Nell is a little girl who loves animals of all kinds. All the kindness she displays is directed towards her animal friends. But her mother is an alcoholic who spends more time neglecting than taking care of her.
Nell is a likeable character who made me empathise with her right from the start. At times it's pointed out that she has neglected to understand the situation of her friend Michael. Purely because she's so overwhelmed in her situation. Dealing with the need to look after her mother, worry about her mother, worry about where her next meal will come from, worry if she'll be placed into the foster system and taken away from all she loves and cares about, it's no wonder that she has little time to worry about others. Anyone in this situation would be overwhelmed let alone a child and I felt like the inner monologues and way she acted were good representations of how someone in her situation would realistically act.
Throughout the story she is searching for a dad who would help take her away from the situation, help her and her mother cope and live normal lives. Although the ending was predictable, that didn't detract from it or it's emotional impact. I thought it was a wonderful conclusion to the story.
I'd like to read more from this author.
Nell is a likeable character who made me empathise with her right from the start. At times it's pointed out that she has neglected to understand the situation of her friend Michael. Purely because she's so overwhelmed in her situation. Dealing with the need to look after her mother, worry about her mother, worry about where her next meal will come from, worry if she'll be placed into the foster system and taken away from all she loves and cares about, it's no wonder that she has little time to worry about others. Anyone in this situation would be overwhelmed let alone a child and I felt like the inner monologues and way she acted were good representations of how someone in her situation would realistically act.
Throughout the story she is searching for a dad who would help take her away from the situation, help her and her mother cope and live normal lives. Although the ending was predictable, that didn't detract from it or it's emotional impact. I thought it was a wonderful conclusion to the story.
I'd like to read more from this author.
January 27, 2019
Poor Nell has an alcoholic mother and doesn’t know who her father is. Mum frequently abandons her to pursue her partying ways, leaving her alone in their commission flat. Nell is a naturist and has a collection of animals that she lovingly tends. Thank goodness for the kindness of her neighbours- Aunty Lou, Michael and TJ who look after Nell and care for her when her mother can’t.
Nell tries to find her father through her school play portrayal of historical figure Nell Gwynn (one of London’s first stage actresses in the 1600s).
This is lovely but incredibly heart-breaking at times as Nell is let down time and time again by her mother. Narrated by Emma Noakes this is a great middle school story but may have some triggers for children with alcoholic relatives.
Nell tries to find her father through her school play portrayal of historical figure Nell Gwynn (one of London’s first stage actresses in the 1600s).
This is lovely but incredibly heart-breaking at times as Nell is let down time and time again by her mother. Narrated by Emma Noakes this is a great middle school story but may have some triggers for children with alcoholic relatives.
February 13, 2019
What a wonderful book!
Wow! I could not put this book down. In fact I was gutted when I got to the end! Fantastic. What made it even better to read was I could relate to the character as my Mum was an alcoholic,she passed away 9 years ago. I wish there had been a book like this around at the time I was in school in the 80's!. I think this book should be read in School English lessons and in every school library. As not only is it full of interesting history about Nell Glyn,facts about animals,it also touches on the taboo subject of being a Child of an Alcoholic. It is not depressing it is written in a light hearted way that managed to get over to the reader that there is hope within this sad situation.
Well Done Jane!
Wow! I could not put this book down. In fact I was gutted when I got to the end! Fantastic. What made it even better to read was I could relate to the character as my Mum was an alcoholic,she passed away 9 years ago. I wish there had been a book like this around at the time I was in school in the 80's!. I think this book should be read in School English lessons and in every school library. As not only is it full of interesting history about Nell Glyn,facts about animals,it also touches on the taboo subject of being a Child of an Alcoholic. It is not depressing it is written in a light hearted way that managed to get over to the reader that there is hope within this sad situation.
Well Done Jane!
August 13, 2020
This made me realise how long it has been since I read children’s book. Thinking back about what I used to read as a child - Enid Blyton’s famous five, Mallory Towers, or Heidi and classics like The Secret Garden, then reading this. How time has changed. It is heartbreaking to know the kind of life many children have to live through but also how important it is for children ro find representation of themselves in books, and to find hope where there is little or none. Will definitely recommend this book.
March 12, 2019
Poignant and well written tale. Nell's mum is an alcoholic and life is very difficult as Nell attempts to hide the problems for fear of being put into care. There are also lighter moments and lots of great characters.
August 19, 2019
Read this book together with our 9 year old boys. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of lessons to be learnt from this book, and discussions to be had. Alcoholism is an awful disease. A beautifully written book.
September 30, 2018
A heart warming story
August 16, 2018
The heartwarming tale of a girl trying to keep her mother's alcoholism a secret and solve the mystery of who her father really is. The scenes where Nell has to deal with her mother when she's drunk are just heartbreaking and intertwining her story with Nell Gwynne's was a brilliant touch. I loved Michael and his family too, not to mention hearing about all the unusual inventions he'd come up with.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2024
No i wont
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews