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Britfield #1
Britfield and the Lost Crown
Britfield & the Lost Crown is the first book in a thrilling seven-part series for middle school and young adult readers. It will inspire children to engage both their creativity and their critical thinking skills as they encounter actual places, authentic characters, and exciting but realistic events in seventeen action-packed chapters.
Based on family, friendship, loyalty, and courage, Britfield & the Lost Crown and its hero, Tom, take readers on an epic adventure across England – from the smoldering crags of Yorkshire to the heart of London and, finally, to the magnificent shores of Dover.
With help from his best friend, Sarah, and a hot air balloon, Tom flees Yorkshire, escaping from Weatherly Orphanage and the clutches of a relentless detective, in pursuit of the truth about himself and his heritage: Are his parents still alive? Is he the true heir to the British throne? As Tom and a memorable cast of both heroic and dastardly characters unravel a royal mystery that could change the course of history, readers are taken on a breathless journey to a surprise ending that will leave them clamoring for more.
Built on more than seven years of extensive research and development, Britfield & the Lost Crown creates a real world that readers can embrace as it weaves accurate geography, literature, architecture, and history into its fast-paced story. With stimulating language and active writing, Britfield engages the reader from the first pages and doesn’t let go until it reaches its exciting conclusion.
Based on family, friendship, loyalty, and courage, Britfield & the Lost Crown and its hero, Tom, take readers on an epic adventure across England – from the smoldering crags of Yorkshire to the heart of London and, finally, to the magnificent shores of Dover.
With help from his best friend, Sarah, and a hot air balloon, Tom flees Yorkshire, escaping from Weatherly Orphanage and the clutches of a relentless detective, in pursuit of the truth about himself and his heritage: Are his parents still alive? Is he the true heir to the British throne? As Tom and a memorable cast of both heroic and dastardly characters unravel a royal mystery that could change the course of history, readers are taken on a breathless journey to a surprise ending that will leave them clamoring for more.
Built on more than seven years of extensive research and development, Britfield & the Lost Crown creates a real world that readers can embrace as it weaves accurate geography, literature, architecture, and history into its fast-paced story. With stimulating language and active writing, Britfield engages the reader from the first pages and doesn’t let go until it reaches its exciting conclusion.
394 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2019
122 people are currently reading
9386 people want to read
About the author
C.R. Stewart
6 books224 followersBorn in Newport Beach, California, C. R. Stewart has twenty years of experience writing fiction, nonfiction, and movie screenplays. His areas of expertise also includes film and media production, global strategy, and international marketing.
“Britfield & The Lost Crown was conceived as an idea over 10 years ago while enduring a boring finance seminar. It started as a sketch of a hot air balloon with a young boy and girl trapped inside. From this simple drawing sprang the entire concept and story for Britfield.”
C.R. Stewart received a Bachelor of Arts in British Literature and European History from Brown University; did post- graduate work at Harvard University; earned an MBA from Boston College; and is pursuing a Master of Science in Advanced Management and a PhD in Strategy.
Now based in San Diego, C.R. Stewart is a strong supporter of education and the arts. He enjoys world travel, reading, riding, swimming, sailing, tennis, and is currently on a National School Book Tour with Britfield & The Lost Crown speaking to students on the importance of creativity!
One of the most awarded and successful books in fiction, the Britfield & the Lost Crown series is transforming literature and education while bringing encouragement to children and families worldwide. With the first of seven Britfield movies in development, the Theatrical Play (January 2023), and the Global Book Tours (2023-25), it is estimated that Britfield will surpass the C. S. Lewis and Tolkien series in worldwide sales and impact. The first live-action Britfield movie is projected to become one of the highest grossing films in cinematic history, rivaling the original Star Wars (1977), ET (1982), and Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005). The 7-book series (England, France, Italy, Russia, Asia, South American, United States) will be followed by 7 extraordinary movies.
“Britfield & The Lost Crown was conceived as an idea over 10 years ago while enduring a boring finance seminar. It started as a sketch of a hot air balloon with a young boy and girl trapped inside. From this simple drawing sprang the entire concept and story for Britfield.”
C.R. Stewart received a Bachelor of Arts in British Literature and European History from Brown University; did post- graduate work at Harvard University; earned an MBA from Boston College; and is pursuing a Master of Science in Advanced Management and a PhD in Strategy.
Now based in San Diego, C.R. Stewart is a strong supporter of education and the arts. He enjoys world travel, reading, riding, swimming, sailing, tennis, and is currently on a National School Book Tour with Britfield & The Lost Crown speaking to students on the importance of creativity!
One of the most awarded and successful books in fiction, the Britfield & the Lost Crown series is transforming literature and education while bringing encouragement to children and families worldwide. With the first of seven Britfield movies in development, the Theatrical Play (January 2023), and the Global Book Tours (2023-25), it is estimated that Britfield will surpass the C. S. Lewis and Tolkien series in worldwide sales and impact. The first live-action Britfield movie is projected to become one of the highest grossing films in cinematic history, rivaling the original Star Wars (1977), ET (1982), and Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005). The 7-book series (England, France, Italy, Russia, Asia, South American, United States) will be followed by 7 extraordinary movies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
November 26, 2020
In the realm of Physical and E-books, Audiobooks is my newly attained love. Listening to Britfield was impeccable, and not once did I crave holding the book in hand or reading between the lines. I guess it all depends on the speech characterization of the raconteur, and the voice did an outstanding job. The escape course of two youths from their orphanage and everything that ensues throughout the adventuresome journey is a complete delight.
This book is ideal for middle-graders, where teens can quickly relate to the adventures. Nonetheless, the oldies will savor this one equally. The writer concluded the novel with an unforeseen twist, and the readers are left astonished. It's the classic novel to read while having your evening cup of tea. I am eagerly waiting for the following book in the series. A fast-paced novel leaving you spell-bound.
Thank you, NetGalley, Author C.R. Stewart, Publisher Devonfield Publishing, for the Audio e-ARC of this book.
This book is ideal for middle-graders, where teens can quickly relate to the adventures. Nonetheless, the oldies will savor this one equally. The writer concluded the novel with an unforeseen twist, and the readers are left astonished. It's the classic novel to read while having your evening cup of tea. I am eagerly waiting for the following book in the series. A fast-paced novel leaving you spell-bound.
Thank you, NetGalley, Author C.R. Stewart, Publisher Devonfield Publishing, for the Audio e-ARC of this book.
August 1, 2020
Tom and Sarah live at an orphanage, where life is abominable: poor rations and they are forced labor. However, the orphans are united and Tom is forced to flee when threatened with being put in solitary. He rescues Sarah, in a wild escape. The orphanage owners retain a famous detective to find them, and the kids gallivant around England with some miraculous help and the theft of a hot air balloon. As they are leaving the Weatherly orphanage, Tom is slipped a note with the name Britfield, as a clue to his parents, which draws the attention of powerful forces in the monarchy. Narrowly escaping with their lives, the two orphans travel through Windsor Castle, the colleges at Oxford, the city of London, ending in Canterbury. There is a particularly strong need to suspend reality to enjoy this one, with everyone looking for the children, with differing and sometimes unknown agendas.
September 12, 2020
This is a great adventure story and the narrator of the audiobook is excellent. Tom and Sara are living in an orphanage and they decide to escape and from that moment you meet adventure the mystery.
Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.
Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.
February 3, 2020
If there wasn’t already a well-known book and movie by the title of The Great Escape, I would say that this book should be renamed to it because this whole book is one exciting escape after escape.
The Weatherly Orphanage isn’t known by its occupants for being a warm and cozy place to live. Instead, it is a place where the kids get little food and clothing and are forced to work long hours at a nearby factory. It’s also known for doling out harsh punishments for small infractions. When an unexpectedly harsh punishment puts Tom’s best friend Sarah into solitary confinement for a month, Tom knows it is time to leave. Their friends at the orphanage form an elaborate scheme to break them both out, starting an escape adventure that spans across England. If escaping wasn’t enough, the Grievouses hire legendary Detective Gowerstone, who is known for finding missing children and orphans.
This story is one big, long escape. Detective Gowerstone isn’t a legend for nothing and his intuition about where the Tom and Sarah might be constantly keep the kids fleeing using various locations and means to journey toward London. From Canterbury to Oxford to Windsor Castle the kids get to see so many places and get very, very, very lucky by finding nice folks who help them during their escape.
But this is also a mystery-thriller story too. At the orphanage Tom learns something he doesn’t expect regarding his family and the longer Tom and Sarah stay on the run more people become involved in keeping that secret safe – at all costs.
This story really put a smile on my face. Even though this is a giant escape book, the author really knows how to not weigh it down by scary moments. Young readers will get to follow them to many different famous locations along the way and learn a bit of history too. At the end there is also a “Where are they now” type of epilogue on the fate of the orphan children, which I really liked to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Devonfield Publishing LLC for the reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
The Weatherly Orphanage isn’t known by its occupants for being a warm and cozy place to live. Instead, it is a place where the kids get little food and clothing and are forced to work long hours at a nearby factory. It’s also known for doling out harsh punishments for small infractions. When an unexpectedly harsh punishment puts Tom’s best friend Sarah into solitary confinement for a month, Tom knows it is time to leave. Their friends at the orphanage form an elaborate scheme to break them both out, starting an escape adventure that spans across England. If escaping wasn’t enough, the Grievouses hire legendary Detective Gowerstone, who is known for finding missing children and orphans.
This story is one big, long escape. Detective Gowerstone isn’t a legend for nothing and his intuition about where the Tom and Sarah might be constantly keep the kids fleeing using various locations and means to journey toward London. From Canterbury to Oxford to Windsor Castle the kids get to see so many places and get very, very, very lucky by finding nice folks who help them during their escape.
But this is also a mystery-thriller story too. At the orphanage Tom learns something he doesn’t expect regarding his family and the longer Tom and Sarah stay on the run more people become involved in keeping that secret safe – at all costs.
This story really put a smile on my face. Even though this is a giant escape book, the author really knows how to not weigh it down by scary moments. Young readers will get to follow them to many different famous locations along the way and learn a bit of history too. At the end there is also a “Where are they now” type of epilogue on the fate of the orphan children, which I really liked to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Devonfield Publishing LLC for the reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
June 25, 2019
Britfield & The Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart
Britfield & The Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart
A book to get lost in with a good cup of tea...
the British answer to everything!
Britfield & The Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart is billed as a kids' book. Yes and no. Yes, it is an exciting read for kids, but no you don't want to miss it just because you're an older teen or adult!
Britfield sounded thrilling to me. I like juvenile fiction. It's usually clean (this is) and if it's good, has a great storyline that draws you through the book. This is an excellent book for young and old. C.S. Lewis said, "Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." He also said, "No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally—and often far more—worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond."
This is just such a book. Don't let the first few chapters scare you away. Yes, it does begin in a rather cliche way. A couple of children living in an orphanage where the conditions and treatment are deplorable and horrific. Mr. Stewart is setting the stage for a larger than life escape plan. The escape is just the beginning as the brilliant Detective Gowerstone begins the chase. Each character and setting is portrayed with attention to detail which illuminated my imagination with sounds and images.
As the youngsters flee across the country, they find themselves in one precarious and dangerous situation after another. I wonder if they could even take a calm breath through the whole of the journey. They desperately need to avoid police, Detective Gowerstone, and someone else whom they don't even know is an enemy yet.
This book begs to be read, but I was glad to know that it is Book 1 of a series. Britfield & the Lost Crown can be read alone with a satisfying ending. However, like Paul Harvey, I want to know The Rest of the Story! Alas, it won't be released until Fall of 2020. You can bet I'll be watching for it!
Who will enjoy this book? Anyone who enjoys adventure stories and mysteries. If a child is old enough to listen to a chapter book, they're old enough. This is a great book for homeschool families and for any kids interested in geography. It's also a fast paced read for teens and adults who want a few hours of relaxing entertainment.
Can you tell I liked this book?
I received this book for free from the publisher for review.
Britfield & The Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart
A book to get lost in with a good cup of tea...
the British answer to everything!
Britfield & The Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart is billed as a kids' book. Yes and no. Yes, it is an exciting read for kids, but no you don't want to miss it just because you're an older teen or adult!
Britfield sounded thrilling to me. I like juvenile fiction. It's usually clean (this is) and if it's good, has a great storyline that draws you through the book. This is an excellent book for young and old. C.S. Lewis said, "Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." He also said, "No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally—and often far more—worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond."
This is just such a book. Don't let the first few chapters scare you away. Yes, it does begin in a rather cliche way. A couple of children living in an orphanage where the conditions and treatment are deplorable and horrific. Mr. Stewart is setting the stage for a larger than life escape plan. The escape is just the beginning as the brilliant Detective Gowerstone begins the chase. Each character and setting is portrayed with attention to detail which illuminated my imagination with sounds and images.
As the youngsters flee across the country, they find themselves in one precarious and dangerous situation after another. I wonder if they could even take a calm breath through the whole of the journey. They desperately need to avoid police, Detective Gowerstone, and someone else whom they don't even know is an enemy yet.
This book begs to be read, but I was glad to know that it is Book 1 of a series. Britfield & the Lost Crown can be read alone with a satisfying ending. However, like Paul Harvey, I want to know The Rest of the Story! Alas, it won't be released until Fall of 2020. You can bet I'll be watching for it!
Who will enjoy this book? Anyone who enjoys adventure stories and mysteries. If a child is old enough to listen to a chapter book, they're old enough. This is a great book for homeschool families and for any kids interested in geography. It's also a fast paced read for teens and adults who want a few hours of relaxing entertainment.
Can you tell I liked this book?
I received this book for free from the publisher for review.
April 14, 2023
Well...this was not quite what I was expecting. For starters, from the cover, I expected the setting to be more historical (or alternate history/steampunk-ish), so the fact that it was supposed to be modern really threw me for a while. Particularly because the orphanage where we started out was extremely un-modern in basically everything, it really took until we hit London for me to consistently keep the contemporary setting in my head.
Also, the writing wasn't my style. There were way too many descriptors attached to the verbs. Hardly anyone ever just said something--they said it "joyfully" or "keenly" or "soulfully" or "candidly with a sense of foreboding". It reminded me of the style that gets lampooned in the "Tom Swifty" jokes, but as much as it sometimes made me want to laugh, it also made me frustrated because I couldn't get into the story while being spoonfed the characters' emotions in every sentence. There were a lot of details about various English places and landmarks scattered about, and while they didn't go on for pages a la Jules Verne, it was still disconcerting to have a tense chase scene interrupted for a even a short paragraph on the history and architecture of the building they'd just run into. Also, I couldn't decide if the action scenes would be better in movie form, where we could have a clearer picture of who was where and doing what, or if a movie would just make it more unbelievable when someone had to double back on the pursuer who'd been extremely close to them just a minute ago and still get back without being caught. And there were certain plot points, mostly small but sometimes large, where I couldn't help thinking, "That's not how that works..." It's a middle-grade book; I know that. And it's supposed to be action and adventure and fun and not taken too seriously. But--I had a hard time suspending disbelief at points.
However, even with all that, I was close to giving it three stars because the kids were sweet, and the action (when I could stay focused on it) was engaging, and I did really want to figure out the what and why behind it all. And then we unraveled the conspiracy behind the whole plot, and--that's what really killed it for me.
Content--mentions of murders and kidnappings; fights, including gunplay; children abused, threatened, and shot at; children run away from an abusive orphanage and from the police; dangerous accidents; slight mention of blood; a balloon is stolen
Also, the writing wasn't my style. There were way too many descriptors attached to the verbs. Hardly anyone ever just said something--they said it "joyfully" or "keenly" or "soulfully" or "candidly with a sense of foreboding". It reminded me of the style that gets lampooned in the "Tom Swifty" jokes, but as much as it sometimes made me want to laugh, it also made me frustrated because I couldn't get into the story while being spoonfed the characters' emotions in every sentence. There were a lot of details about various English places and landmarks scattered about, and while they didn't go on for pages a la Jules Verne, it was still disconcerting to have a tense chase scene interrupted for a even a short paragraph on the history and architecture of the building they'd just run into. Also, I couldn't decide if the action scenes would be better in movie form, where we could have a clearer picture of who was where and doing what, or if a movie would just make it more unbelievable when someone had to double back on the pursuer who'd been extremely close to them just a minute ago and still get back without being caught. And there were certain plot points, mostly small but sometimes large, where I couldn't help thinking, "That's not how that works..." It's a middle-grade book; I know that. And it's supposed to be action and adventure and fun and not taken too seriously. But--I had a hard time suspending disbelief at points.
However, even with all that, I was close to giving it three stars because the kids were sweet, and the action (when I could stay focused on it) was engaging, and I did really want to figure out the what and why behind it all. And then we unraveled the conspiracy behind the whole plot, and--that's what really killed it for me.
Content--mentions of murders and kidnappings; fights, including gunplay; children abused, threatened, and shot at; children run away from an abusive orphanage and from the police; dangerous accidents; slight mention of blood; a balloon is stolen
November 18, 2021
I received an ARC of the audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
Britfield and the Lost Crown was a story built on convenience. Tom and Sarah were runaway orphans that seemed to have an endless supply of good luck and favorable outcomes. They relied on the kindness of strangers and people's willingness to help two children they've never seen or heard of before. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is extremely unlikely they would have made it as far as they did. Another thing: the synopsis gives away waaaay too much about the book, so it doesn't leave a lot for readers to discover on their own as the story unfolds. Very little imagination required.
As they were leaving the orphanage (where they were malnourished, overworked, and mistreated) everything just clicked into place for them. Sure, they had to struggle and overcome obstacles, but it did seem incredibly easy for them to evade numerous adults and the authorities. I was overly suspicious of everyone they met, but each encounter proved beneficial for the children regardless of their circumstances. They just seemed like "good kids" and people wanted to help. They were even willing to to help Tom and Sarah evade the authorities, which doesn't seem like something people would do.
They just kept running into good Samaritans and stumbling across things that would help them on their journey. For example, they're running through a field and find themselves next to a hot air balloon (not a spoiler; it's on the cover and in the synopsis). What twelve-year old knows how to fly a hot air balloon on instinct? Yes, they fiddle with knobs and levers until the balloon does what they want it to, but they were more likely to crash and explode than fly across the country. Also, they were in the balloon for like 15 hours, yet neither of them had to pee? They were constantly drinking water they found in the balloon, but potty breaks (or more specifically, the lack thereof) weren't mentioned. It caused the story to lose some of it's credibility, even with how easy their escape had been thus far. (Honestly, they should have died or been captured countless times, but managed to barely evade death and everyone else for the entire book.)
Additionally, I wasn't all that invested in Tom or Sarah as characters. They weren't relatable, and we also don't really learn very much about them over the course of the book. Sarah frequently mentions that she "wasn't always in an orphanage," but rarely reveals details about her life before Weatherly. Tom doesn't know what his life looked like before, because he can't remember anything except for the half-formed memories that pop up in his dreams. The detective, professor, archbishop - - they were all a means to an end and didn't really add anything to the story (other than helping hands).
There's a reveal towards the end that I didn't see coming, but I also thought it's inclusion was taking things a bit too far. The person's behavior up until that point had been atrocious and unforgivable, so I didn't buy their sudden transformation/revelation. To their credit, Tom and Sarah didn't believe them either. As for Tom's big secret, it didn't take very long for me to figure out his history and what it meant (it's also IN THE SYNOPSIS). The clues were not subtle, although it took everyone else a VERY long time to put the pieces together. A Harvard professor and a renowned detective couldn't see what was going on? Really?
I also went into this book thinking it was a standalone (something I apparently missed from the synopsis), so I was miffed when the book ended on a cliffhanger. The other children at the orphanage don't know what happened to Tom and Sarah, but we do get to see how their lives and living situations have changed by the end of the book. Unfortunately, Tom and Sarah STILL don't have all of the answers, and their story was left unfinished. I feel like everything else was wrapped up, so they should have gotten a conclusion as well. Dragging this story out feels unnecessary, and like the author is trying to squeeze SIX MORE BOOKS out of nothing. It would have taken one or two more chapters to resolve everything, so making them work even more for the same goal they've been trying to achieve since the beginning, seems unfair and overly ambitious. Britfield and the Lost Crown isn't a series I will be continuing in the future.
Audiobook review: The narrator was amazing! Ian Russell had very distinct voices for each of the characters, and I really loved how they were portrayed (especially his accent and cadence for Sarah). At first, I thought it was the same person who narrated The Night Circus, but it's not. (However, if you liked how that book was narrated, you'll probably like this narrator as well!) I look forward to listening to more books read by him in the future. (★★★☆☆)
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Britfield and the Lost Crown was a story built on convenience. Tom and Sarah were runaway orphans that seemed to have an endless supply of good luck and favorable outcomes. They relied on the kindness of strangers and people's willingness to help two children they've never seen or heard of before. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is extremely unlikely they would have made it as far as they did. Another thing: the synopsis gives away waaaay too much about the book, so it doesn't leave a lot for readers to discover on their own as the story unfolds. Very little imagination required.
As they were leaving the orphanage (where they were malnourished, overworked, and mistreated) everything just clicked into place for them. Sure, they had to struggle and overcome obstacles, but it did seem incredibly easy for them to evade numerous adults and the authorities. I was overly suspicious of everyone they met, but each encounter proved beneficial for the children regardless of their circumstances. They just seemed like "good kids" and people wanted to help. They were even willing to to help Tom and Sarah evade the authorities, which doesn't seem like something people would do.
They just kept running into good Samaritans and stumbling across things that would help them on their journey. For example, they're running through a field and find themselves next to a hot air balloon (not a spoiler; it's on the cover and in the synopsis). What twelve-year old knows how to fly a hot air balloon on instinct? Yes, they fiddle with knobs and levers until the balloon does what they want it to, but they were more likely to crash and explode than fly across the country. Also, they were in the balloon for like 15 hours, yet neither of them had to pee? They were constantly drinking water they found in the balloon, but potty breaks (or more specifically, the lack thereof) weren't mentioned. It caused the story to lose some of it's credibility, even with how easy their escape had been thus far. (Honestly, they should have died or been captured countless times, but managed to barely evade death and everyone else for the entire book.)
Additionally, I wasn't all that invested in Tom or Sarah as characters. They weren't relatable, and we also don't really learn very much about them over the course of the book. Sarah frequently mentions that she "wasn't always in an orphanage," but rarely reveals details about her life before Weatherly. Tom doesn't know what his life looked like before, because he can't remember anything except for the half-formed memories that pop up in his dreams. The detective, professor, archbishop - - they were all a means to an end and didn't really add anything to the story (other than helping hands).
There's a reveal towards the end that I didn't see coming, but I also thought it's inclusion was taking things a bit too far. The person's behavior up until that point had been atrocious and unforgivable, so I didn't buy their sudden transformation/revelation. To their credit, Tom and Sarah didn't believe them either. As for Tom's big secret, it didn't take very long for me to figure out his history and what it meant (it's also IN THE SYNOPSIS). The clues were not subtle, although it took everyone else a VERY long time to put the pieces together. A Harvard professor and a renowned detective couldn't see what was going on? Really?
I also went into this book thinking it was a standalone (something I apparently missed from the synopsis), so I was miffed when the book ended on a cliffhanger. The other children at the orphanage don't know what happened to Tom and Sarah, but we do get to see how their lives and living situations have changed by the end of the book. Unfortunately, Tom and Sarah STILL don't have all of the answers, and their story was left unfinished. I feel like everything else was wrapped up, so they should have gotten a conclusion as well. Dragging this story out feels unnecessary, and like the author is trying to squeeze SIX MORE BOOKS out of nothing. It would have taken one or two more chapters to resolve everything, so making them work even more for the same goal they've been trying to achieve since the beginning, seems unfair and overly ambitious. Britfield and the Lost Crown isn't a series I will be continuing in the future.
Audiobook review: The narrator was amazing! Ian Russell had very distinct voices for each of the characters, and I really loved how they were portrayed (especially his accent and cadence for Sarah). At first, I thought it was the same person who narrated The Night Circus, but it's not. (However, if you liked how that book was narrated, you'll probably like this narrator as well!) I look forward to listening to more books read by him in the future. (★★★☆☆)
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August 27, 2020
What a fun read!
I had a great time listening to this audiobook, the story was entertaining and I was rooting for Tom and Sarah the entire time. Even though it takes place in the present, it felt a bit historical and I liked that there wasn't much technology. The escape from the orphanage was harrowing and had me on the (metaphorical) edge of my seat and the hot air balloon was awesome!
Tom and Sarah have a cute friendship, they rely on each other and would sacrifice themselves if it saved the other. Sarah is smart and Tom is a good planner, so between them they do a lot of amazing things. They're young, but I think they'd make a cute couple when they get a bit older.
I highly recommend the audiobook, the narrator does great accents and really brings the story to life. I hope there's a second book, I need more Tom and Sarah adventures!
I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I had a great time listening to this audiobook, the story was entertaining and I was rooting for Tom and Sarah the entire time. Even though it takes place in the present, it felt a bit historical and I liked that there wasn't much technology. The escape from the orphanage was harrowing and had me on the (metaphorical) edge of my seat and the hot air balloon was awesome!
Tom and Sarah have a cute friendship, they rely on each other and would sacrifice themselves if it saved the other. Sarah is smart and Tom is a good planner, so between them they do a lot of amazing things. They're young, but I think they'd make a cute couple when they get a bit older.
I highly recommend the audiobook, the narrator does great accents and really brings the story to life. I hope there's a second book, I need more Tom and Sarah adventures!
I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 20, 2020
It took me an incredibly long time to get into this book. Just to give an idea, I listened to the first 35% in the span of three weeks, and the rest of the book in two days.
Tom and Sarah are quite charming characters and I really enjoyed myself once the pace ramped up a bit.
I don't read a ton of middle-grade books, but I'll need to do that more often because this book reminded me of their charm and their incredibly fantastic stories.
Tom and Sarah are so pure and smart despite their circumstances and it's fun to follow them through their escape as they are always ready to amaze you with their wits and, let's be honest, their luck.
If you power through the first third of the book, you'll be rewarded with an intricate and charming escape throughout Great Britain!
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an audiobook to review. All opinions are my own.
#BritfieldandtheLostCrown #NetGalley
Tom and Sarah are quite charming characters and I really enjoyed myself once the pace ramped up a bit.
I don't read a ton of middle-grade books, but I'll need to do that more often because this book reminded me of their charm and their incredibly fantastic stories.
Tom and Sarah are so pure and smart despite their circumstances and it's fun to follow them through their escape as they are always ready to amaze you with their wits and, let's be honest, their luck.
If you power through the first third of the book, you'll be rewarded with an intricate and charming escape throughout Great Britain!
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an audiobook to review. All opinions are my own.
#BritfieldandtheLostCrown #NetGalley
August 28, 2019
Our Thoughts
We love this book! Obviously, you’ve already guessed that. We probably wouldn’t keep saying it’s a new recommended reading if we didn’t even like the book!
I have had seven children ages 8 through 14 who read this book on their own during our review period. They ALL loved it! That’s saying something given the age range and that these are both boys and girls with lots of varying interests. Now I can’t wait to start it as a read-aloud because I’m excited to read it too.
Some of the things that are being said by my children about this book:
Can you get book two NOW?!
We need to know what happens next!
This is such a good book.
Can’t come outside to play I’m reading.
Can I bring this book with me?
Could we go to England?
Trust me when I say the questions they ask are amazing and I love how much they’re learning from reading the book. They’ve all been spellbound and read this book rather quickly. It is long but they devoured it at a fast pace. This can only be said for the truly good books.
The cover is very nicely done and really draws you in. This would be a book I’d pick up to read the back cover of because it is eye-catching and makes you want to find out what the book is about.
We definitely recommend this book and think you’ll love it! The main character is 12 so that gives you a nice guess to what age it will appeal to. I would say roughly ages 8- adult would be the appropriate age range for the book. That being said my six and three-year-olds will listen to this as a read-aloud and I’m sure they’re going to love it!
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from The Homeschool Review Crew. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
We love this book! Obviously, you’ve already guessed that. We probably wouldn’t keep saying it’s a new recommended reading if we didn’t even like the book!
I have had seven children ages 8 through 14 who read this book on their own during our review period. They ALL loved it! That’s saying something given the age range and that these are both boys and girls with lots of varying interests. Now I can’t wait to start it as a read-aloud because I’m excited to read it too.
Some of the things that are being said by my children about this book:
Can you get book two NOW?!
We need to know what happens next!
This is such a good book.
Can’t come outside to play I’m reading.
Can I bring this book with me?
Could we go to England?
Trust me when I say the questions they ask are amazing and I love how much they’re learning from reading the book. They’ve all been spellbound and read this book rather quickly. It is long but they devoured it at a fast pace. This can only be said for the truly good books.
The cover is very nicely done and really draws you in. This would be a book I’d pick up to read the back cover of because it is eye-catching and makes you want to find out what the book is about.
We definitely recommend this book and think you’ll love it! The main character is 12 so that gives you a nice guess to what age it will appeal to. I would say roughly ages 8- adult would be the appropriate age range for the book. That being said my six and three-year-olds will listen to this as a read-aloud and I’m sure they’re going to love it!
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from The Homeschool Review Crew. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
June 13, 2023
Most this story was a chase between the kids and 'bad guys'. Pretty exciting and I think the targeted audience would appreciate this as well. Nice to see that some of the adults weren't bad, like it seems to be in other juvenile stories involving mainly kids.
Interesting story which will continue to play out in the next book with the same characters apparently, or most of them. I'll pick this one up.
Interesting story which will continue to play out in the next book with the same characters apparently, or most of them. I'll pick this one up.
March 7, 2023
This is the first book in a trilogy that was pitched to me as the next Narnia Chronicles or Lord of the Rings. About three-quarters of the way through, I already had considerable doubts that it would achieve such enduring fame.
On the positive side, the author presents a compelling story. The main characters, Tom, Sarah, and Detective Gowerstone are fairly well presented, although in my opinion, they never really "come to life." The story moves on at a fairly quick pace, and the plot is developed fairly rapidly.
On the negative side, the author threads a fine line between giving the story an "old world" feel, though set in a modern age. In my opinion, this adds to an already considerable weakness in the story, the lack of believability. The story is filled with too many improbable events, not just in things that happen, but things I expected to happen, given its setting.
Finally, the book ends without a conclusion. I get that it's a trilogy, but the end was not very satisfying. I also get that this book is written for young readers, but having read multiple books aloud to my children at a young age, including the Narnia Chronicles and the Lord of the Rings, I believe I am a fair judge of books that will keep a young reader reading. I have my doubts that this first book of the Britfield series will do that.
On the positive side, the author presents a compelling story. The main characters, Tom, Sarah, and Detective Gowerstone are fairly well presented, although in my opinion, they never really "come to life." The story moves on at a fairly quick pace, and the plot is developed fairly rapidly.
On the negative side, the author threads a fine line between giving the story an "old world" feel, though set in a modern age. In my opinion, this adds to an already considerable weakness in the story, the lack of believability. The story is filled with too many improbable events, not just in things that happen, but things I expected to happen, given its setting.
Finally, the book ends without a conclusion. I get that it's a trilogy, but the end was not very satisfying. I also get that this book is written for young readers, but having read multiple books aloud to my children at a young age, including the Narnia Chronicles and the Lord of the Rings, I believe I am a fair judge of books that will keep a young reader reading. I have my doubts that this first book of the Britfield series will do that.
June 11, 2020
What a wild ride through England. Wow!
The story is following Tom and Sarah's escape from an awful life at an orphanage. Trying to outsmart their followers the children steal a hot air balloon and their "road trip" around England begins. Their destination is London, but on the way there they have to land and refuel, they make allies in the most unlikely places, who not only help them avoid getting caught, but also try to find out what Tom's connection to the word/family "Britfield" is.
This story is packed with information about landmarks and towns between Yorkshire and London, and the history of England.
The chase gets a bit unbelievable the nearer we draw to London. Suddenly there is a conspiracy and a secret organisation at work. Still, I'm sure young readers won't mind this at all.
What young readers might also not mind are the Americanisms used in the story. It's a story set in Britain, with British characters, but American English words - I'm just saying that no 12 y/o British girl would compliment her fellow escapee's choice of "pants" when referring to trousers. That made me chuckle.
Of course the mystery of "Britfield" wasn't entirely solved, we'll have to wait for the next instalment to find out more.
The story is following Tom and Sarah's escape from an awful life at an orphanage. Trying to outsmart their followers the children steal a hot air balloon and their "road trip" around England begins. Their destination is London, but on the way there they have to land and refuel, they make allies in the most unlikely places, who not only help them avoid getting caught, but also try to find out what Tom's connection to the word/family "Britfield" is.
This story is packed with information about landmarks and towns between Yorkshire and London, and the history of England.
The chase gets a bit unbelievable the nearer we draw to London. Suddenly there is a conspiracy and a secret organisation at work. Still, I'm sure young readers won't mind this at all.
What young readers might also not mind are the Americanisms used in the story. It's a story set in Britain, with British characters, but American English words - I'm just saying that no 12 y/o British girl would compliment her fellow escapee's choice of "pants" when referring to trousers. That made me chuckle.
Of course the mystery of "Britfield" wasn't entirely solved, we'll have to wait for the next instalment to find out more.
January 23, 2020
Thank you for NetGalley and Devonfield Publishing for the ebook provided.
It’s a WOW book, I know this book is aiming a middle grade readers but I enjoyed it thoroughly!!
My favorite part was whenever they planned for their great escape plan, how all of the orphans teamed up only just wants to buy some time for Tom and Sarah, I honestly clapped and thrilled while reading this chapter. The entire story is heart-stopping surprises, English history part is fascinating (I’ve always wanted to visit England, someday I will), clear dialogues, liked the plot, adventures theme background along the story. The characters showed their brave charisma, clear dialogue, provides fully devotion of Tom and Sarah
Again, I read this together with my 4th grade son and we both enjoyed it together. His favorite part was when Mr. & Mrs. Grievous been captured by the police, “they’re so mean, they’ve deserved it” that was his first opinion when finished reading this book.
Highly recommend for middle grade readers, and we’re excited that the adventures will continue in the next book.
It’s a WOW book, I know this book is aiming a middle grade readers but I enjoyed it thoroughly!!
My favorite part was whenever they planned for their great escape plan, how all of the orphans teamed up only just wants to buy some time for Tom and Sarah, I honestly clapped and thrilled while reading this chapter. The entire story is heart-stopping surprises, English history part is fascinating (I’ve always wanted to visit England, someday I will), clear dialogues, liked the plot, adventures theme background along the story. The characters showed their brave charisma, clear dialogue, provides fully devotion of Tom and Sarah
Again, I read this together with my 4th grade son and we both enjoyed it together. His favorite part was when Mr. & Mrs. Grievous been captured by the police, “they’re so mean, they’ve deserved it” that was his first opinion when finished reading this book.
Highly recommend for middle grade readers, and we’re excited that the adventures will continue in the next book.
September 5, 2019
We enjoyed reading this book aloud together. The adventures and narrow escapes kept us wanting to keep going until we reached the end, although shortly before everything was resolved we figured out the truth of what was happening. My older children who were listening as I read thought the book was a bit over the top, and not realistic. I agree—but as far as an adventure story it was a lot of fun. There was a fair amount of questionable language which I didn't appreciate, and several instances of violence. I would recommend this book for boys who need an exciting story to draw them in and get them reading, especially, although girls will enjoy it, too.
August 21, 2020
Britfield & the lost crown was filled with adventure, great escapes and mystery. I thought the narrator was excellent. It was almost like I was listening to a movie. Very well done. I loved Tom and Sarah. There were castles, hot air balloons.
I highly recommend this book for a younger audience.
Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this ARC audiobook, in exchange for my honest review
I highly recommend this book for a younger audience.
Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this ARC audiobook, in exchange for my honest review
August 30, 2024
Super fun. Learned a lot about England and what an adventure!
July 9, 2020
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What a delightful book! I feel like I was on a whirlwind ride throughout England. What starts out as a very Dickensian story, soon becomes a fast, high speed, adventure ride throughout the United Kingdom.
This is the perfect middle grade adventure to read! The characters are endearing, the plot is engaging, and the pacing is fast and entertaining. Its one of those book that I feel a reader of any age would enjoy. Moreover, there are secrets, conspiracies, high speed chases, and action and adventure. I couldn’t put this book down once I started reading. Usually, there are some favorite moments which stand out in a story, but in this book, I truly loved every scene. Whether it is Sarah and Tom in their balloon adventure, or getting lost in the tube, each moment was exciting.
Also, the author beautifully describes the majestic landscape of famous landmarks like the Windsor Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Christ Church. He blends the adventure plot very well while highlighting these sights. The settings described are so rich and vibrant, that I felt like I was in a tour of the United Kingdom. Moreover, after reading this book, I really feel like taking a detailed tour of all the places mentioned.
I loved the Tom’s friendship with Sarah. They have such a wonderful bond, and it is inspiring to see their support for one another. Hainsworth was also a wonderful guide and parental figure for both of them. After reading this book, I am eagerly awaiting Book 2 with high expectations and cannot wait to see how it turns out.
Overall, Britfield & the Lost Crown surpassed my expectations and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
September 29, 2020
What an exciting adventure! I give Britfield and the Lost Crown a 4.5 stars.
The book centers around two orphans named Tom and Sarah. They begin their adventure at Weatherley; a terrible orphanage where the owners exploit the children for work labor and deprive them of food and comfort. The nasty and mean cast of characters you meet in the beginning of the book is tempered with the charming and clever personalities of the children stuck at the awful orphanage.
The children band together to help rescue Sarah from isolation in the attic and break Tom and Sarah out of Weatherley for good! From there, adventure ensues; involving a famous detective hard on their heels, a sweet and helpful professor, a hot air balloon, and surprising twists and turns. Will Tom and Sarah figure out the secret behind Tom's past and escape to London? Or will they be captured and returned to miserable Weatherley?
Britfield and the Lost Crown was such a wonderful and well-paced adventure story. The main characters were quite charming and very resourceful. The auxiliary characters were also well-written and supported...even if they were sometimes a little unbelievable. However, this was the sort of book where you need to be able to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the ride. For a middle-grade book, I was a little surprised how often murder was talked about and attempted, however this could just be my own naivete and desire to shield children from such ugliness.
One of the elements that I, as a history buff, really enjoyed were the many nods to the history of England. I thought the author did a clever job making the story educational while continuing the break-neck pace of the chase. Also, he set the scenes well enough that you could visualize what the children were seeing with the same level of ah that they were feeling.
As far as listening to the audiobook went, I really enjoyed the narrator when he was speaking the dialogue of the story. When he was narrating the plot of the story, his inflection took on sort of a true-crime vibe, which was a little distracting at first, however I was able to get into it after a while. Also, one other complaint about the editing of the audiobook was that the dialogue, when the narrator was speaking as some of the angrier adults in the book, was extremely loud, whereas the narration of the plot and setting was rather quiet. This just meant that I was constantly turning the volume down and up, down and up. I would have liked to see the audiobook edited a little better so that the volume changes weren't so abrupt.
Ultimately, a fantastic middle-grade book that I would have greatly enjoyed as a child. I look forward to the second in the series!
The book centers around two orphans named Tom and Sarah. They begin their adventure at Weatherley; a terrible orphanage where the owners exploit the children for work labor and deprive them of food and comfort. The nasty and mean cast of characters you meet in the beginning of the book is tempered with the charming and clever personalities of the children stuck at the awful orphanage.
The children band together to help rescue Sarah from isolation in the attic and break Tom and Sarah out of Weatherley for good! From there, adventure ensues; involving a famous detective hard on their heels, a sweet and helpful professor, a hot air balloon, and surprising twists and turns. Will Tom and Sarah figure out the secret behind Tom's past and escape to London? Or will they be captured and returned to miserable Weatherley?
Britfield and the Lost Crown was such a wonderful and well-paced adventure story. The main characters were quite charming and very resourceful. The auxiliary characters were also well-written and supported...even if they were sometimes a little unbelievable. However, this was the sort of book where you need to be able to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the ride. For a middle-grade book, I was a little surprised how often murder was talked about and attempted, however this could just be my own naivete and desire to shield children from such ugliness.
One of the elements that I, as a history buff, really enjoyed were the many nods to the history of England. I thought the author did a clever job making the story educational while continuing the break-neck pace of the chase. Also, he set the scenes well enough that you could visualize what the children were seeing with the same level of ah that they were feeling.
As far as listening to the audiobook went, I really enjoyed the narrator when he was speaking the dialogue of the story. When he was narrating the plot of the story, his inflection took on sort of a true-crime vibe, which was a little distracting at first, however I was able to get into it after a while. Also, one other complaint about the editing of the audiobook was that the dialogue, when the narrator was speaking as some of the angrier adults in the book, was extremely loud, whereas the narration of the plot and setting was rather quiet. This just meant that I was constantly turning the volume down and up, down and up. I would have liked to see the audiobook edited a little better so that the volume changes weren't so abrupt.
Ultimately, a fantastic middle-grade book that I would have greatly enjoyed as a child. I look forward to the second in the series!
October 29, 2024
Ugh—- wanted this to be good but what a slog! It was recommended from another homeschool family and won a parent’s choice award. But ugh. It had great premise. Orphans! Terrible orphanage! Tom’s parents still alive and maybe true heirs to the throne… but oh my goodness it was 9 hours of too much details. However that wasn’t my biggest complaints: believability…. Oh they escape everything and run into just the right people and know how to fly a hot air balloon.. just too much that didn’t seem real! I also didn’t like how it felt like it was set a long time ago with the orphanage stuff and air balloon but then nope it was actually present day.
December 23, 2019
I was thankful to receive a free copy in the Goodreads Giveaway, so the least I can do is write a review!
This novel is a perfect middle grade read for anyone who loves adventure, action, mystery, and suspense. Britfield takes us across Great Britain to the clouds to dark minded anatagonists to all over. It was an easy fast-paced read with more books to come! The characters are quite charming each unique with a mind and motivation of their own. C.R. Stewart has you feeling for them in the beginning when we open to the orphanage. The setting is beautifully and artistically written describing landscapes varying from a nitty-gritty orphanage to a vast country side to a brilliant mansion and to many more places that you must see!
I highly recommend you pick it up and give it a whirl!
This novel is a perfect middle grade read for anyone who loves adventure, action, mystery, and suspense. Britfield takes us across Great Britain to the clouds to dark minded anatagonists to all over. It was an easy fast-paced read with more books to come! The characters are quite charming each unique with a mind and motivation of their own. C.R. Stewart has you feeling for them in the beginning when we open to the orphanage. The setting is beautifully and artistically written describing landscapes varying from a nitty-gritty orphanage to a vast country side to a brilliant mansion and to many more places that you must see!
I highly recommend you pick it up and give it a whirl!
March 22, 2022
This is one of those books where five stars just are not enough. As a Mom, I try to keep my eyes open for good books that I think my kids will enjoy. They (like me) are not into all the wizards and magic stuff that gets pushed on kids these days. This book, gives actual places, some actual history, a good mystery and adventure book that I think my kids will really enjoy.
October 18, 2025
The biggest issue I had was believability. I’m all down for not everything being true, but this was beyond that. The plot was very linear with nothing to deviate the storyline. Will finish the series but mainly because they were a gift and I own them all, not because I enjoyed it
August 15, 2020
Great adventure for Tom and Sara. These two children escaped from a horribly run orphanage in England.
They find a hot air balloon to take a ride into London and the journey begins for their lives on the run.
The story moves right along nicely, keeping ones interest to cheer these characters onward.
This was a Goodreads giveaway winner.
They find a hot air balloon to take a ride into London and the journey begins for their lives on the run.
The story moves right along nicely, keeping ones interest to cheer these characters onward.
This was a Goodreads giveaway winner.
June 3, 2020
I absolutely loved this book!! The horrible orphanage, the escape, the BALLOON, the allies, all added up to an amazing adventure.
I think what made the story even better was the author giving us a historical background of the places that the orphans saw or visited on their journey. I'm a lover of history and loved learning about these places as I read the story.
I am very much looking forward to the next leg of this adventure.
I think what made the story even better was the author giving us a historical background of the places that the orphans saw or visited on their journey. I'm a lover of history and loved learning about these places as I read the story.
I am very much looking forward to the next leg of this adventure.
August 25, 2020
Verdict: A thrilling adventure across England of all places!
Our story begins in Weatherly Orphanage, Yorkshire, a dingy place with strict rule and cruel staff. It quickly turns into an adventure to Oxford, London, Southampton - all across England in a hot air balloon as orphan Tom tries to discover the dangerous truth behind his real name.
The story doesn't waste time getting started, with Tom and his friend Sarah getting into all sort of trouble, discovering secrets and initiating plans within the first couple of chapters. It has a old classic feel without that old classic pace, and I think I would have enjoyed this story a lot as a child.
It often reminded me of books read aloud by teachers on a Friday afternoon, so I wasn't surprised to find that's exactly what it is. It's has a good paced too, sneaking in snippets of history, literature, and architecture in a ways that's engaging. It's full of famous landmarks and classic descriptions from across the country, which makes it the perfect story to recommend to teachers.
I need to critique a couple of small things. The use of awkward phrases like 'whispered loudly' probably should have been edited out. I could also tell it was written by an American from the use of 'sophomore', 'soda', 'pants', and the descriptions of culture e.g. the whimsy of tea drinking! How quaint, indeed. It's a strange editorial choice for a book set in Britain with British characters who essentially talk and think like Americans, and it took me out of the story. Perhaps what gave it away the most was beautiful and striking descriptions of each location. It's tempting to say a Brit would never describe England with the same passion, given our humour.
Joking aside, I think the book starts strong but has a predictable resolution, so by the end I was waiting for it to round off, which is why I've knocked a star off.
All in all, this is a great novel that I would recommend for children. It offers a fun adventure and the opportunity to fall in love with Britain. Who wouldn't want that?
Source: With thanks to the publisher via Netgalley. I received the audio version of this one, and I can say the reading was excellent!
Blog: Scookie Reviews
Our story begins in Weatherly Orphanage, Yorkshire, a dingy place with strict rule and cruel staff. It quickly turns into an adventure to Oxford, London, Southampton - all across England in a hot air balloon as orphan Tom tries to discover the dangerous truth behind his real name.
The story doesn't waste time getting started, with Tom and his friend Sarah getting into all sort of trouble, discovering secrets and initiating plans within the first couple of chapters. It has a old classic feel without that old classic pace, and I think I would have enjoyed this story a lot as a child.
It often reminded me of books read aloud by teachers on a Friday afternoon, so I wasn't surprised to find that's exactly what it is. It's has a good paced too, sneaking in snippets of history, literature, and architecture in a ways that's engaging. It's full of famous landmarks and classic descriptions from across the country, which makes it the perfect story to recommend to teachers.
I need to critique a couple of small things. The use of awkward phrases like 'whispered loudly' probably should have been edited out. I could also tell it was written by an American from the use of 'sophomore', 'soda', 'pants', and the descriptions of culture e.g. the whimsy of tea drinking! How quaint, indeed. It's a strange editorial choice for a book set in Britain with British characters who essentially talk and think like Americans, and it took me out of the story. Perhaps what gave it away the most was beautiful and striking descriptions of each location. It's tempting to say a Brit would never describe England with the same passion, given our humour.
Joking aside, I think the book starts strong but has a predictable resolution, so by the end I was waiting for it to round off, which is why I've knocked a star off.
All in all, this is a great novel that I would recommend for children. It offers a fun adventure and the opportunity to fall in love with Britain. Who wouldn't want that?
Source: With thanks to the publisher via Netgalley. I received the audio version of this one, and I can say the reading was excellent!
Blog: Scookie Reviews
June 20, 2023
My 10-year-old self would give this a solid four-star rating. As a child-at-heart adult, three stars must suffice for a fun adventure with some flaws.
Strengths:
—Character names match the personalities and engage the reader with a Dickensian vibe: Speckle, the Grievouses, Brewster, Sludge, Gowerstone, Beagleswick, etc.
—Plot pacing: from Yorkshire to Oxford to London to Canterbury to Dover, the action facilitates the sense of a great escape.
—Settings with historical landmarks provide teachable moments.
—Likable main characters Tom and Sarah support one another, maintain a sense of humor, and grow as they discover and appreciate each other’s strengths. They are relatable and positive role models for middle-grade readers.
—Inclusion of maps: always a plus when linked to the storyline, allowing readers to follow the characters’ treks.
Weaknesses:
—Editing: the deluge of dialogue tags and adverbs tell the reader what to think and unnecessarily add to the length of the book, resulting in 80,000-plus words instead of 60,000. Word choice is surprisingly American for British characters: pants instead of trousers, sweater instead of jumper, vacation instead of holiday.
—Fake tension: so many cliffhangers that the reader begins to realize that there will be a convenient explanation dismissing any conflict in the next paragraph, from balloon troubles with planes to no tickets for the train.
—Suspension of belief is required. Though the author deserves praise for his attention to detail regarding the street routes in each setting, problems exist. Encountering one or two adults willing to help the children with little question might be acceptable, but their journey’s success requires many more. After they manage to leave the orphanage, Tom and Sarah’s ability to transport themselves stretches the limits of literary license. One simply does not walk into Oxford college grounds and buildings without being stopped by porters and other barriers. Identification is required. I enjoyed their wanderings through Magdalen College, University College, and Christ Church, but was amused they could simply roam as needed to avoid capture. This fortuitous talent extends to King’s College and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and to Canterbury Cathedral, the latter two requiring entry fees unless attending services. The speedy car travel and parking of the other characters while in London far exceeds my experiences with the congestion charge.
—Missed opportunities: The book exchange at the orphanage was a wonderful idea, but the Narnia book’s destiny was never developed after the risky mission was completed. Wilbury and Oliver were never brought back into the plot, yet their backgrounds suggested that they could have been more significant. If Tom, Sarah, and the professor arrived in Hyde Park during the Christmas season, the huge Winter Wonderland event would have been taking place, difficult to overlook.
I don’t wish such issues to discourage anyone, especially middle-graders, from reading Britfield, but I doubt they will be the ones reading this review. I want to emphasize that I still enjoyed the story and hope the author continues to compose entertaining tales with meaningful messages.
Disclaimer: My background may cause me to be overly critical regarding the believability. I have visited Aysgarth Falls and stayed in Castle Bolton near the Yorkshire setting of the orphanage. I have spent a few summers in residence at Christ Church in Oxford for literature courses. My touring has taken me through Hyde Park on countless occasions, inside King’s College Strand Building and St. Paul’s Cathedral, and to Canterbury Cathedral.
Strengths:
—Character names match the personalities and engage the reader with a Dickensian vibe: Speckle, the Grievouses, Brewster, Sludge, Gowerstone, Beagleswick, etc.
—Plot pacing: from Yorkshire to Oxford to London to Canterbury to Dover, the action facilitates the sense of a great escape.
—Settings with historical landmarks provide teachable moments.
—Likable main characters Tom and Sarah support one another, maintain a sense of humor, and grow as they discover and appreciate each other’s strengths. They are relatable and positive role models for middle-grade readers.
—Inclusion of maps: always a plus when linked to the storyline, allowing readers to follow the characters’ treks.
Weaknesses:
—Editing: the deluge of dialogue tags and adverbs tell the reader what to think and unnecessarily add to the length of the book, resulting in 80,000-plus words instead of 60,000. Word choice is surprisingly American for British characters: pants instead of trousers, sweater instead of jumper, vacation instead of holiday.
—Fake tension: so many cliffhangers that the reader begins to realize that there will be a convenient explanation dismissing any conflict in the next paragraph, from balloon troubles with planes to no tickets for the train.
—Suspension of belief is required. Though the author deserves praise for his attention to detail regarding the street routes in each setting, problems exist. Encountering one or two adults willing to help the children with little question might be acceptable, but their journey’s success requires many more. After they manage to leave the orphanage, Tom and Sarah’s ability to transport themselves stretches the limits of literary license. One simply does not walk into Oxford college grounds and buildings without being stopped by porters and other barriers. Identification is required. I enjoyed their wanderings through Magdalen College, University College, and Christ Church, but was amused they could simply roam as needed to avoid capture. This fortuitous talent extends to King’s College and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and to Canterbury Cathedral, the latter two requiring entry fees unless attending services. The speedy car travel and parking of the other characters while in London far exceeds my experiences with the congestion charge.
—Missed opportunities: The book exchange at the orphanage was a wonderful idea, but the Narnia book’s destiny was never developed after the risky mission was completed. Wilbury and Oliver were never brought back into the plot, yet their backgrounds suggested that they could have been more significant. If Tom, Sarah, and the professor arrived in Hyde Park during the Christmas season, the huge Winter Wonderland event would have been taking place, difficult to overlook.
I don’t wish such issues to discourage anyone, especially middle-graders, from reading Britfield, but I doubt they will be the ones reading this review. I want to emphasize that I still enjoyed the story and hope the author continues to compose entertaining tales with meaningful messages.
Disclaimer: My background may cause me to be overly critical regarding the believability. I have visited Aysgarth Falls and stayed in Castle Bolton near the Yorkshire setting of the orphanage. I have spent a few summers in residence at Christ Church in Oxford for literature courses. My touring has taken me through Hyde Park on countless occasions, inside King’s College Strand Building and St. Paul’s Cathedral, and to Canterbury Cathedral.
October 11, 2020
A dragging story about the escape of two mysterious children
Key words: children fiction, middle grade, adventure, mystery, contemporary
After almost a month, I can finally say I have finished this book. I listened to it thanks to Netgalley and narrator Ian Russel had a really nice voice; he did almost all the characters really well and changed his voice for each. However, I really didn’t like it when he did the voice of Sarah, it was quite irritating.
Now the story. I did not enjoy it. In my opinion only the first five chapters and the last two were useful to the story, the other ones were just about Tom and Sarah running away and running away some more. It was just so repetitive. Everybody seemed to be against the children being free and the timeline was really slow, the whole story takes place over like three/four days but it seems much more. Moreover, I didn’t like the characters of Tom and Sarah. Maybe it’s due to the voice but Sarah was not really useful and seemed sometimes a bit silly. Tom was getting on my nerve by the middle of the story, always telling Sarah what to do, not thinking a lot about the consequences of his actions…
I liked the professor though and was pleasantly surprised by the ending of the book. You can kind of guess it but not all the details. I know this is a middle grade fiction and I found the beginning of the book quite promising which is why I kept going and listen to it all but I wouldn’t really recommend this book, even to children due to the fact that the only female character present in this book was not even strongly pictured. She could have helped Tom more instead of being the one being helped. I don’t think I will read/listen to the second book.
2.5/5
Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook in exchange of my honest opinion.
Key words: children fiction, middle grade, adventure, mystery, contemporary
After almost a month, I can finally say I have finished this book. I listened to it thanks to Netgalley and narrator Ian Russel had a really nice voice; he did almost all the characters really well and changed his voice for each. However, I really didn’t like it when he did the voice of Sarah, it was quite irritating.
Now the story. I did not enjoy it. In my opinion only the first five chapters and the last two were useful to the story, the other ones were just about Tom and Sarah running away and running away some more. It was just so repetitive. Everybody seemed to be against the children being free and the timeline was really slow, the whole story takes place over like three/four days but it seems much more. Moreover, I didn’t like the characters of Tom and Sarah. Maybe it’s due to the voice but Sarah was not really useful and seemed sometimes a bit silly. Tom was getting on my nerve by the middle of the story, always telling Sarah what to do, not thinking a lot about the consequences of his actions…
I liked the professor though and was pleasantly surprised by the ending of the book. You can kind of guess it but not all the details. I know this is a middle grade fiction and I found the beginning of the book quite promising which is why I kept going and listen to it all but I wouldn’t really recommend this book, even to children due to the fact that the only female character present in this book was not even strongly pictured. She could have helped Tom more instead of being the one being helped. I don’t think I will read/listen to the second book.
2.5/5
Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook in exchange of my honest opinion.
January 26, 2020
Well this was a fun little surprise! I was lucky enough to snag a free copy on Google Books and it is GREATLY appreciated. Tom and Sarah are orphans, escaping from a low-key sweatshop in England determined to make a life for themselves and possibly even find Tom's parents who, rumor has it, may still be alive. With no money, one scanty clue, and an abundance of luck, the duo traverses England narrowly escaping capture and worse. This middle grade book is filled with action, geography, history, and fun. I feel like the chapters may be a bit long for the intended age group, but thats really the only negative I have to provide here...besides the fact that book 2 isn't due out until the fall.
March 2, 2020
This is a fun, interactive, adventurous read. I had a good time travelling with Tom and Sarah. There was not a lack of action to be found. They were always on the go. The mystery surrounding Tom's family history was intriguing.
For the first book in a series, this is how you do it. I was so engaged in the storyline as well as formed a strong bond with Tom and Sarah that I can't wait to continue their journey. The other characters that were not just "throw away"; they did add to the story as well. Their voices were just as strong. I know that I will be sharing this book with my younger nephew and niece. I am sure that they will like this book as much as I have.
For the first book in a series, this is how you do it. I was so engaged in the storyline as well as formed a strong bond with Tom and Sarah that I can't wait to continue their journey. The other characters that were not just "throw away"; they did add to the story as well. Their voices were just as strong. I know that I will be sharing this book with my younger nephew and niece. I am sure that they will like this book as much as I have.
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