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The Unstoppable Letty Pegg
'Thoroughly recommended' BOOKS FOR KEEPS
'A superb read' THE READING REALM
Brilliant debut historical adventure from writer and comedian Iszi Lawrence, perfect for fans of Emma Carroll, The Princess and the Suffragette , and Opal Plumstead .
The story of the suffragettes with the Jiu Jitsu and roller skating left in... this impeccably researched debut novel from Iszi Lawrence shows the fight for women's suffrage as it really was.
Lettice Pegg's father is a working-class policeman and her mother is a middle-class suffragette. Stuck between them (and her terrifying grandma) as they argue, Lettice mostly cares about trying to fit in at school and convincing her parents to let her have roller skates and go to the music hall. But, when Lettice sees her mother brutally thrown to the ground by a policeman while on a protest march, her life changes forever. Not all of the women on the march are vulnerable to attack. Some of them have a secret Jiu Jitsu.
As the suffragettes welcome Lettice to the fight back, things at home go from bad to worse. Can Lettice bring her family back together and keep her new friends?
'A superb read' THE READING REALM
Brilliant debut historical adventure from writer and comedian Iszi Lawrence, perfect for fans of Emma Carroll, The Princess and the Suffragette , and Opal Plumstead .
The story of the suffragettes with the Jiu Jitsu and roller skating left in... this impeccably researched debut novel from Iszi Lawrence shows the fight for women's suffrage as it really was.
Lettice Pegg's father is a working-class policeman and her mother is a middle-class suffragette. Stuck between them (and her terrifying grandma) as they argue, Lettice mostly cares about trying to fit in at school and convincing her parents to let her have roller skates and go to the music hall. But, when Lettice sees her mother brutally thrown to the ground by a policeman while on a protest march, her life changes forever. Not all of the women on the march are vulnerable to attack. Some of them have a secret Jiu Jitsu.
As the suffragettes welcome Lettice to the fight back, things at home go from bad to worse. Can Lettice bring her family back together and keep her new friends?
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 8, 2020
It is 1910 and the fight for votes for women is gathering momentum, with weekly protests and meetings.
Letty Pegg lives at home with her middle class mother who is very involved in the suffragette movement, and her working class, hardworking father who is a policeman. She also has to cope with a very fastidious and Edwardian Grandmother.
Letty has problems fitting in at school, and the relief teacher Mr Metcalf is a bit of dragon so she asks her parents for some roller skates so she can go out with some of the girls in her class.
Following a Suffragette protest when her mother gets arrested, Letty makes some interesting new friends who want to teach her a new skill. A martial art called Jiu Jitsu. Then she can protect herself at the protests. So she uses the skates to hid the Jiu Jitsu classes from her parents. But making new friends and learning new skills at the dojo and enjoying her "roller skating " on a Tuesday and Thursday leads to all sorts of problems.
I really enjoyed this well researched book. The only problem I had at the beginning was trying to work out when it was set. We only discover it's 1910 further on in the story. The Jiu-jitsu references are also well described. The author Iszi Lawrence is a purple belt in the martial art. This should be essential reading for Year 4 - 6 at primary school. What the suffragettes did 100 years ago, so we could go to a polling station and vote, should not be forgotten.
I was given this book by the publisher for a frank and honest review.
Letty Pegg lives at home with her middle class mother who is very involved in the suffragette movement, and her working class, hardworking father who is a policeman. She also has to cope with a very fastidious and Edwardian Grandmother.
Letty has problems fitting in at school, and the relief teacher Mr Metcalf is a bit of dragon so she asks her parents for some roller skates so she can go out with some of the girls in her class.
Following a Suffragette protest when her mother gets arrested, Letty makes some interesting new friends who want to teach her a new skill. A martial art called Jiu Jitsu. Then she can protect herself at the protests. So she uses the skates to hid the Jiu Jitsu classes from her parents. But making new friends and learning new skills at the dojo and enjoying her "roller skating " on a Tuesday and Thursday leads to all sorts of problems.
I really enjoyed this well researched book. The only problem I had at the beginning was trying to work out when it was set. We only discover it's 1910 further on in the story. The Jiu-jitsu references are also well described. The author Iszi Lawrence is a purple belt in the martial art. This should be essential reading for Year 4 - 6 at primary school. What the suffragettes did 100 years ago, so we could go to a polling station and vote, should not be forgotten.
I was given this book by the publisher for a frank and honest review.
October 20, 2024
It is 1910 and the fight for votes for women is gathering momentum, with weekly protests and meetings.
Letty Pegg lives at home with her middle class mother who is very involved in the suffragette movement, and her working class, hardworking father who is a policeman. She also has to cope with a very fastidious and Edwardian Grandmother.
Letty has problems fitting in at school, and the relief teacher Mr Metcalf is a bit of dragon so she asks her parents for some roller skates so she can go out with some of the girls in her class.
Following a Suffragette protest when her mother gets arrested, Letty makes some interesting new friends who want to teach her a new skill. A martial art called Jiu Jitsu. Then she can protect herself at the protests. So she uses the skates to hid the Jiu Jitsu classes from her parents. But making new friends and learning new skills at the dojo and enjoying her "roller skating " on a Tuesday and Thursday leads to all sorts of problems.
I really enjoyed this well researched book. The only problem I had at the beginning was trying to work out when it was set. We only discover it's 1910 further on in the story. The Jiu-jitsu references are also well described. The author Iszi Lawrence is a purple belt in the martial art. This should be essential reading for Year 4 - 6 at primary school. What the suffragettes did 100 years ago, so we could go to a polling station and vote, should not be forgotten.
I was given this book by the publisher for a frank and honest review.
Letty Pegg lives at home with her middle class mother who is very involved in the suffragette movement, and her working class, hardworking father who is a policeman. She also has to cope with a very fastidious and Edwardian Grandmother.
Letty has problems fitting in at school, and the relief teacher Mr Metcalf is a bit of dragon so she asks her parents for some roller skates so she can go out with some of the girls in her class.
Following a Suffragette protest when her mother gets arrested, Letty makes some interesting new friends who want to teach her a new skill. A martial art called Jiu Jitsu. Then she can protect herself at the protests. So she uses the skates to hid the Jiu Jitsu classes from her parents. But making new friends and learning new skills at the dojo and enjoying her "roller skating " on a Tuesday and Thursday leads to all sorts of problems.
I really enjoyed this well researched book. The only problem I had at the beginning was trying to work out when it was set. We only discover it's 1910 further on in the story. The Jiu-jitsu references are also well described. The author Iszi Lawrence is a purple belt in the martial art. This should be essential reading for Year 4 - 6 at primary school. What the suffragettes did 100 years ago, so we could go to a polling station and vote, should not be forgotten.
I was given this book by the publisher for a frank and honest review.
December 28, 2025
The Unstoppable Letty Pegg is a brilliantly researched, utterly engaging historical novel that brings the fight for women’s suffrage to vivid, personal life. Lettice Pegg is caught between worlds: her father is a working-class policeman, her mother a middle-class suffragette. All Lettice wants is to fit in at school and get a pair of roller skates, but when she witnesses her mother being violently attacked by a policeman on a protest march, her world is upended. She is drawn into the suffragette movement and discovers their secret weapon, Jiu Jitsu.
Iszi Lawrence masterfully balances a gripping family drama with the thrilling, often dangerous reality of the suffrage fight. Lettice is a relatable, spirited heroine whose journey from bystander to activist is both inspiring and believable. The historical details are impeccable, and the inclusion of the suffragettes' real self-defense training adds a unique and empowering layer to the story.
A superb, fast-paced, and deeply human debut that makes history feel immediate, urgent, and unstoppable. Highly recommended for readers who love stories of family, friendship, and fighting for what’s right.
Iszi Lawrence masterfully balances a gripping family drama with the thrilling, often dangerous reality of the suffrage fight. Lettice is a relatable, spirited heroine whose journey from bystander to activist is both inspiring and believable. The historical details are impeccable, and the inclusion of the suffragettes' real self-defense training adds a unique and empowering layer to the story.
A superb, fast-paced, and deeply human debut that makes history feel immediate, urgent, and unstoppable. Highly recommended for readers who love stories of family, friendship, and fighting for what’s right.
February 9, 2020
When Lettice Pegg comes across her mother being attacked at a Suffragette rally, she feels powerless until Edith Garrud a jitsuka shows her how much power women can have.
The novel explores more than just the existence of the jiu jitsu Suffragettes, it dives into the social context of the time and movement through the coming of age of two young girls who come to understand just how necessary it is to stand up for oneself and all women, oh and possibly the funniest and anarchic Nativity scene I’ve seen in a long time!!
Overall this is an outstanding and immersive piece of Historical fiction that has been deeply and lovingly researched to be as authentic as possible whilst still being accessible and exciting for the young reader. It’s intensely educational but equally passionately entertaining.
The novel explores more than just the existence of the jiu jitsu Suffragettes, it dives into the social context of the time and movement through the coming of age of two young girls who come to understand just how necessary it is to stand up for oneself and all women, oh and possibly the funniest and anarchic Nativity scene I’ve seen in a long time!!
Overall this is an outstanding and immersive piece of Historical fiction that has been deeply and lovingly researched to be as authentic as possible whilst still being accessible and exciting for the young reader. It’s intensely educational but equally passionately entertaining.
May 3, 2020
What an amazing concept for a novel! I was today years old when I learnt about the suffragettes' use of jiu jitsu and it is thanks to this book.
Having read an extract of this book, I am very keen to see where this story takes the reader. It is abundantly clear that Lettice Pegg has a big heart and desperately wants to fit in at school. The writing flows so easily with this book and it is easy to fall into the trap of just one more page.
The story feels reminiscent of Jacqueline Wilson's writing and I can see reader young and old falling in love with this book.
Having read an extract of this book, I am very keen to see where this story takes the reader. It is abundantly clear that Lettice Pegg has a big heart and desperately wants to fit in at school. The writing flows so easily with this book and it is easy to fall into the trap of just one more page.
The story feels reminiscent of Jacqueline Wilson's writing and I can see reader young and old falling in love with this book.
June 24, 2020
Fascinating insight into pre-women’s lib from a child’s perspective, complete with some martial arts. The level of violence levelled at the suffragettes was really shocking - something to think about in our current times.
March 20, 2025
Great book! definitely not a children's book as lots of violence and talk of SA. But it was really eye opening and a well written book about that time. I really did like the ending but I felt like the book worked its way up to nothing? and it was rushed. the family ended happily together though :)
February 18, 2020
Loved this book! My 10 year old daughter read it in a weekend. Now she want to be a Jiu Jujitsu queen. Good on her! Great story for all to learn.
March 5, 2020
This is really cute!! So nice to see Jiu Jitsu, something I love to do, in a book. Combined with suffragettes and women's rights, definitely would recommend to anyone!
April 8, 2020
3.5* A rollicking fun historical adventure about the suffragette movement in England.
May 21, 2020
Well written book about the suffragette movement in a child friendly way. Beautiful descriptions throughout the book, allowing me to easily picture what was happening.
October 25, 2022
i'm sure it's a great intro to suffragettes for kids but it's so clunky and stop-start plot. very bland and some pointed racism thrown in that's never actually addressed as BAD
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews