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The Brilliant Ideas of Lily Green
A dash of Judy Blume, a spoonful of secrets and a whole lot of fun get mixed up in this big-hearted debut by Ampersand Prize-winning author Lisa Siberry.
Twelve-year-old Lily Green’s life is falling apart. Her best friend, Violet, is more interested in the latest shade of lip gloss than hanging out. Her enemy, Zoe, is determined to beat Lily in the school science competition – and win Violet’s friendship, too. Worst of all, Lily's precious family beauty salon – the last connection she has to her dad – has hit hard times, and her mum has decided to sell it.
When Lily accidentally mixes up a string of wild and wonderful beauty products from the mysterious plants in her neighbour’s garden, she thinks she’s found the perfect way to save the salon – and get her best friend back. But are her inventions as beautiful as she thinks? And when things start turning … ugly … can Lily find the real ‘secret ingredient’ that will save the salon, seal her friendships, and win the school science competition?
Beautifully written and full of warmth, this captivating middle-grade novel explores family, friendship and the true meaning of beauty.
Twelve-year-old Lily Green’s life is falling apart. Her best friend, Violet, is more interested in the latest shade of lip gloss than hanging out. Her enemy, Zoe, is determined to beat Lily in the school science competition – and win Violet’s friendship, too. Worst of all, Lily's precious family beauty salon – the last connection she has to her dad – has hit hard times, and her mum has decided to sell it.
When Lily accidentally mixes up a string of wild and wonderful beauty products from the mysterious plants in her neighbour’s garden, she thinks she’s found the perfect way to save the salon – and get her best friend back. But are her inventions as beautiful as she thinks? And when things start turning … ugly … can Lily find the real ‘secret ingredient’ that will save the salon, seal her friendships, and win the school science competition?
Beautifully written and full of warmth, this captivating middle-grade novel explores family, friendship and the true meaning of beauty.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2019
2 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Siberry
4 books7 followersLisa Siberry is a Sydney-based children’s author who spent many years working at the ABC. Her debut children’s novel, The Brilliant Ideas of Lily Green, won the 2017 Ampersand Prize, the premier award for debut authors in Australia and New Zealand.
www.lisasiberry.com
www.lisasiberry.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 21, 2019
The Brilliant Ideas of Lily Green is a magical, mysterious and hilarious story about a girl finding her place in the world. Lily is an inventor. She creates her own beauty products from things she finds around the house, but these often turn out a bit rubbish. Her mum's business isn't doing so well and when Lily learns that her mum is going to sell the business and her home in a week Lily knows that it is up to her to save it. After destroying the last bottle of an expensive shampoo Lily creates a replacement shampoo with ingredients that she finds, including an orange from the mysterious garden next door. This shampoo is unusual though and can do things that no ordinary shampoo can. It puts their beauty salon on the map and makes Lily want to create new and exciting products to bring customers in and save the business. Lily doesn't know how dangerous these interesting ingredients can be and soon things go from bad to worse. Throw in some changing friendships, a rivalry or two, and a competition prize that everyone wants to get their hands on and you have a recipe for a winning story that kids will love.
I loved the character of Lily who perseveres even when a situation turns bad. Although her dad isn't around any more, his memory lives on and it is her family's memories of him that make them keep going and not give up.
The Brilliant Ideas of Lily Green is a fresh, fun story that I'll be recommending to kids everywhere.
I loved the character of Lily who perseveres even when a situation turns bad. Although her dad isn't around any more, his memory lives on and it is her family's memories of him that make them keep going and not give up.
The Brilliant Ideas of Lily Green is a fresh, fun story that I'll be recommending to kids everywhere.
November 9, 2019
This is a story of a twelve-year-old girl who loves to invent her own beauty products, and now she is desperate to create something that will save her family’s beauty salon from going to ruin. This book has a lot of positives. It's well written with a clever plot. The story has a touch of magic and a mysterious garden. It also has a lot of good friend drama in it, and lots of interesting characters. The way Lily’s relationship develops with her sister is so sweet, and the ending is really satisfying. Though I enjoyed the story as a whole, it took me a while to get through the middle of the book. I just felt like it dragged a bit. The rest of the book moved much faster and was more exciting. Overall, this was a fun and enjoyable read.
August 28, 2019
A fun, sweet story about friendship, loyalty, true beauty, creativity and a touch of magic. Strong female characters.
January 3, 2020
When life gives you troubles - make your own solutions.
For Lily Green, her best friend now sees her life through the screen of a phone. Mum’s hair & beauty business is in trouble, and her big sister Faye plans to be ‘boss’.
Lily learns the importance of trust, trying-again and friendship.
Some excellent design thinking and entrepreneurial skills are a part of this stunningly lovely middle grade novel.
With beautiful cover art, this book is a joy to read and share.
For Lily Green, her best friend now sees her life through the screen of a phone. Mum’s hair & beauty business is in trouble, and her big sister Faye plans to be ‘boss’.
Lily learns the importance of trust, trying-again and friendship.
Some excellent design thinking and entrepreneurial skills are a part of this stunningly lovely middle grade novel.
With beautiful cover art, this book is a joy to read and share.
November 13, 2019
It was AMAZING!!! It was very soft and very funny and wonderful all around. I loved lily and my inner 12-year-old related so hard to her. The pacing was nice and the descriptions of the garden were BRILLIANT. The whole friendship situation hits very close home in the best way possible and I REALLY enjoyed Ivy as well!
October 1, 2019
Fresh, fun with a dollop of fantasy, this big hearted middle grade book was a charming read.
September 24, 2019
This magical and heartfelt book delivered. Inventions, changing friendships, smashed stereotypes, the impacts of bad decisions that you hoped would be great ...
This is a fab read, you can feel the issues brewing, and Lily can too but she feels she can't stop now she's started. It's a wonderful way to promote discussion of choices, and listening to your heart, and of safety and testing in science. But first and most importantly, it's a great book that is totally enjoyable and had some surprising twists.
This is a fab read, you can feel the issues brewing, and Lily can too but she feels she can't stop now she's started. It's a wonderful way to promote discussion of choices, and listening to your heart, and of safety and testing in science. But first and most importantly, it's a great book that is totally enjoyable and had some surprising twists.
January 3, 2020
One of my all-time favourite books is The Ogre Downstairs, by that absolute genius of an author Diana Wynne-Jones. It’s about two step brothers who each get given a chemistry set with some magical ingredients, and the crazy experiments that result from them. I reread it about once a year, because I consider it an example of a perfect book.
The Brilliant Ideas of Lily Green reminded me so much of The Ogre Downstairs.
The main character, Lily Green, is struggling with a lot of things - her mother’s beauty salon is about to go out of business, she might lose her family home, her best friend has found someone else to hang out with, and no one likes her beauty inventions. But an accident changes everything, and suddenly Lily’s beauty inventions are the talk of the school, and she might just be able to save everything she loves.
I absolutely loved this book. The characters were so well-drawn and there were no textbook happy endings. Every character had their own arc, even the minor ones, and none of them ended up exactly where I expected, but the story was so much better because of that.
I loved the uniqueness of Lily’s character, and how she loved inventing beauty products.
I loved the touch of magic that was added with Rosa’s plants.
I loved the different and complex relationships between all the characters, and a book that teaches you to value creativity and science!
Lily Green is going onto my favourites shelf to be reread, and I’m looking forward to Lisa Siberry’s next book!
The Brilliant Ideas of Lily Green reminded me so much of The Ogre Downstairs.
The main character, Lily Green, is struggling with a lot of things - her mother’s beauty salon is about to go out of business, she might lose her family home, her best friend has found someone else to hang out with, and no one likes her beauty inventions. But an accident changes everything, and suddenly Lily’s beauty inventions are the talk of the school, and she might just be able to save everything she loves.
I absolutely loved this book. The characters were so well-drawn and there were no textbook happy endings. Every character had their own arc, even the minor ones, and none of them ended up exactly where I expected, but the story was so much better because of that.
I loved the uniqueness of Lily’s character, and how she loved inventing beauty products.
I loved the touch of magic that was added with Rosa’s plants.
I loved the different and complex relationships between all the characters, and a book that teaches you to value creativity and science!
Lily Green is going onto my favourites shelf to be reread, and I’m looking forward to Lisa Siberry’s next book!
September 2, 2019
4.5 stars
Lily Green loves to invent beauty products but she has had mixed success. Now she is desperate to create something that will save her family’s beauty salon from ruin. Strange and unlikely ingredients from the garden next door make for an original and magical concoction. Will her invention save her friendship and make her fortune?
Lily Green loves to invent beauty products but she has had mixed success. Now she is desperate to create something that will save her family’s beauty salon from ruin. Strange and unlikely ingredients from the garden next door make for an original and magical concoction. Will her invention save her friendship and make her fortune?
September 22, 2019
I absolutely *loved* this middle grade read, with its magical beauty concoctions, mysterious garden and beauty shop nemesis! Sparkly writing and well paced, with chapter hooks that kept me turning the pages.
September 24, 2020
loved it so creative not your average OMG hes so cute im going to get it all my way
October 17, 2021
Lily Green's brilliant ideas are creative and generally doomed to failure. Mix in a little magic from the plants growing in her neighbour's garden, and the wildly wonderful consequences are bound to morph into something disastrous.
Lisa Siberry has a knack for cliff-hanger chapter and section endings. They keep young readers wanting to know what comes next. Along with a darned good story, Siberry sprinkles in some important life lessons about the consequences of decisions, both good and bad. Every human makes both kinds. Young readers who relate to Lily will come to the end of the book feeling a bit more confident about being their honest best, while understanding their failures are only temporary.
Lisa Siberry has a knack for cliff-hanger chapter and section endings. They keep young readers wanting to know what comes next. Along with a darned good story, Siberry sprinkles in some important life lessons about the consequences of decisions, both good and bad. Every human makes both kinds. Young readers who relate to Lily will come to the end of the book feeling a bit more confident about being their honest best, while understanding their failures are only temporary.
July 17, 2020
This book was funny, nerve touching and very exiting all at the same time. Lily, her sister Faye and mother Kitty have lots of fun and also some tough times in their salon but it always makes you smile. I enjoyed this book because it made you have lots of diffrent emoitions as it was a mixture of happiness, pure joy and somtimes makes you nervous. Lily and her friends and family have amazing ideas, all written down in Lily's green note book. Refering to the Green girls family quote, "Today will be a beautiful day" as you read this book, and is a great book for anybody to read as it puts "The you in bea-you-tiful"!
February 6, 2024
This is an amazing book, full of fantastic, brilliant and crazy, ideas and experiments. It shows the true power of trusting yourself, friendship, and family. I absoluting love and adore this book, and I strongly recommend it!!
March 14, 2020
A book based of ideas and wonders that added up to inventions and reality-that brings people along the journey.
May 16, 2021
I needed that.... Yup.
March 1, 2024
THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ POTENTIALLY
January 12, 2020
oh wow i totally forgot to write a review but this was enjoyable i guess? it was a quick and interesting enough read, just the characters seemed a bit off to me. then again this is meant for much younger audiences so my opinion is obviously not the most important haha, but still a good enough read for when you’re bored.
February 5, 2021
I absolutely loved this book, it is one of my favourites and that says a lot!! It had a crazy twist with lots of unexpected turns. Definitely recommend it:)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews