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The Pear Affair
Nell is determined to find her beloved missing au pair in this vibrant adventure set in, and underneath, Paris.Penelope Magnificent spends as little time as possible with her awful parents—a grocery-mogul father and a fashion-obsessed mother who loves expensive purses more than she does her daughter. But when they mention an important trip to Paris, Nell begs to come along. Paris holds something very dear to her old au pair Perrine—Pear—who lives there. Pear used to write to Nell every week, promising to come to her rescue, but recently the letters stopped. With the help of a savvy bellboy named Xavier, Nell sets out from her parents’ ultra-fancy Parisian hotel to find her beloved Pear. But Pear’s old neighbors and coworkers are strangely tight-lipped. And as Nell’s search for the truth takes her and Xavier to some of the darkest, most mysterious parts of the city, a sinister plot comes to light involving the destruction of a cherished—and delicious—part of Parisian life. Food, fashion, and intrigue abound in this delightful caper from the author of The Secret Starling.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2020
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537 people want to read
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May 1, 2023
This book was honestly depressing. The concept is great and why I wanted to like the story, but most of the adults were just terrible. Including Nell’s parents who didn’t want her at all and Nell fully knowing that. They were truly horrible to her! I struggled to finish this book but I did want to see where Pear was, so I pressed onward. But, I can’t say it was a satisfying ending…it was still on the meh side to me and felt wrong, really.
(Side note on the illustrations: I wasn’t a fan because everyone—even the girls—looked like they had chin hair and hairy hands because of the shadings, it was odd and made almost all the characters look masculine.)
Some Content notes:
Language: God’s name is taken in vain three times (including once in French) and words like ‘stupid’, ’shut up’, ‘dummy’, and not caring a ‘fig’ are used frequently (including by children to other kids and adults to kids); An adult says “what in hell’s teeth”; Name calling between kids.
Nell’s parents are horrible to her & she wonders what she did to deserve such horrible parents (some examples: Nell is positive her mother likes her favorite purse more than Nell; Her mother calls her “unwanted baggage”, “utter nuisance and deadweight”, and doesn’t want to “play mummy” when traveling (so she sends Nell alone on a trip); They don’t order her dinner, so she makes a sandwich that includes moldy cheese); .
Most all adults are horrible, bumbling fools, or villains that don’t care about children but act like they do for the sake of their image. Because of their rudeness or just plain meanness, some of the children call them name, mock them, and ignore what they say to do.
Nell is kidnapped & thinks she will be hit by the kidnapper; Nell wonders if she’s going to die in different situations & has to take herself out of a panic attack a few times; Nell and the other kids sneak into places they’ve not allowed to be (no consequences); Nell comes across the skeletons in the catacombs and is very freaked out by it (she’s later told the history of it, semi-detailed); Two adults are drugged with a sleeping potion.
There’s a boy with long hair and when Nell questions if he’s a boy, he says “yeah, he, you saying boys aren’t allowed to have long hair? Don’t you know the Beatles?” and Nell hurriedly answers yes; The same boy and his twin sister dress up in bridesmaid dresses for going “undercover”; Nell is upset that there’s only bell boys as she “passionately believed that anything boys could do, girls could do just as well, if not better” and dresses as a bell boy to earn tips (; A couple mentions of greeting people with kisses on the cheek (French custom and is done between boys as well).
Mentions of runaway children living in the catacombs in Paris & the Mayor trying to close-up the underground streets for their safety (but it’s not out of the goodness of his heart); Mentions of stealing & sneaking into places; Mentions of Nell getting strikes with a rule & being caned at the boarding school; Mentions of cigarettes, smoking, tobacco, & wine.
Nell crosses her fingers and begs for something to happen (not praying); A few mentions of churches (mostly historical places); A mention of someone wondering if Nell’s parents are witches and casting a spell, but another child says that magic isn’t real; A mention of Melinda (Nell’s mother) having a "bitter, horrible, demonic smile".
(Side note on the illustrations: I wasn’t a fan because everyone—even the girls—looked like they had chin hair and hairy hands because of the shadings, it was odd and made almost all the characters look masculine.)
Some Content notes:
Language: God’s name is taken in vain three times (including once in French) and words like ‘stupid’, ’shut up’, ‘dummy’, and not caring a ‘fig’ are used frequently (including by children to other kids and adults to kids); An adult says “what in hell’s teeth”; Name calling between kids.
Nell’s parents are horrible to her & she wonders what she did to deserve such horrible parents (some examples: Nell is positive her mother likes her favorite purse more than Nell; Her mother calls her “unwanted baggage”, “utter nuisance and deadweight”, and doesn’t want to “play mummy” when traveling (so she sends Nell alone on a trip); They don’t order her dinner, so she makes a sandwich that includes moldy cheese); .
Most all adults are horrible, bumbling fools, or villains that don’t care about children but act like they do for the sake of their image. Because of their rudeness or just plain meanness, some of the children call them name, mock them, and ignore what they say to do.
Nell is kidnapped & thinks she will be hit by the kidnapper; Nell wonders if she’s going to die in different situations & has to take herself out of a panic attack a few times; Nell and the other kids sneak into places they’ve not allowed to be (no consequences); Nell comes across the skeletons in the catacombs and is very freaked out by it (she’s later told the history of it, semi-detailed); Two adults are drugged with a sleeping potion.
There’s a boy with long hair and when Nell questions if he’s a boy, he says “yeah, he, you saying boys aren’t allowed to have long hair? Don’t you know the Beatles?” and Nell hurriedly answers yes; The same boy and his twin sister dress up in bridesmaid dresses for going “undercover”; Nell is upset that there’s only bell boys as she “passionately believed that anything boys could do, girls could do just as well, if not better” and dresses as a bell boy to earn tips (; A couple mentions of greeting people with kisses on the cheek (French custom and is done between boys as well).
Mentions of runaway children living in the catacombs in Paris & the Mayor trying to close-up the underground streets for their safety (but it’s not out of the goodness of his heart); Mentions of stealing & sneaking into places; Mentions of Nell getting strikes with a rule & being caned at the boarding school; Mentions of cigarettes, smoking, tobacco, & wine.
Nell crosses her fingers and begs for something to happen (not praying); A few mentions of churches (mostly historical places); A mention of someone wondering if Nell’s parents are witches and casting a spell, but another child says that magic isn’t real; A mention of Melinda (Nell’s mother) having a "bitter, horrible, demonic smile".
February 10, 2022
When Penelope Magnificent’s terrible parents announce they are taking a business trip to Paris, she begs to come along with them. But Nell has no intention of staying docile for too long – she has an agenda of her own. Paris holds something dear to Nell: her beloved au pair Perrine, who left her position under mysterious circumstances... But Pear has kept in contact with Nell, reassuring her that she will one day come to rescue her from her money-obsessed parents. So when Pear’s letters suddenly stop, Nell is determined to find her. At the same time, Paris is facing a crisis of its own: a strange type of mould is attacking the boulangeries, putting the famous Parisian cuisine at peril! Is there a link between Pear’s disappearance and this disease? With the help of the hotel bellboy and some other friends along the way, Nell takes to the tunnels below the city of Paris to find Pear - and is swept up in a bigger mystery than she bargained for.
Reminiscent of Madeline and Matilda (with a touch of Alice in Wonderland for good measure!), this is a fun and quirky tale teeming with wonderful characters. Judith Eagle beautifully evokes the atmosphere of 1960s Paris, balancing the glamour, chic designers and mouth-watering boulangeries with the darker underbelly. The Pear Affair revolves around some endearing character relationships as a band of unlikely friends are thrown together in a common cause. With their help, Nell learns more of love and camaraderie than she could ever have thought possible. On her journey to find Pear, Nell navigates the underground networks with resolve and determination, facing her own personal fears of love and rejection… as well as subterranean darkness and even catacombs!
Perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell’s Rooftoppers, this is a highly enjoyable mystery bursting with French charm, enhanced by Kim Geyer’s beautiful chapter heading illustrations. My only criticisms are that the resolution scenes were a little rushed and that I found it difficult to take The Thing seriously (I mean, what a name) - especially at the height of a real-life pandemic!
With thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
Reminiscent of Madeline and Matilda (with a touch of Alice in Wonderland for good measure!), this is a fun and quirky tale teeming with wonderful characters. Judith Eagle beautifully evokes the atmosphere of 1960s Paris, balancing the glamour, chic designers and mouth-watering boulangeries with the darker underbelly. The Pear Affair revolves around some endearing character relationships as a band of unlikely friends are thrown together in a common cause. With their help, Nell learns more of love and camaraderie than she could ever have thought possible. On her journey to find Pear, Nell navigates the underground networks with resolve and determination, facing her own personal fears of love and rejection… as well as subterranean darkness and even catacombs!
Perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell’s Rooftoppers, this is a highly enjoyable mystery bursting with French charm, enhanced by Kim Geyer’s beautiful chapter heading illustrations. My only criticisms are that the resolution scenes were a little rushed and that I found it difficult to take The Thing seriously (I mean, what a name) - especially at the height of a real-life pandemic!
With thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
November 13, 2022
4.5 stars
Nell's horrible parents are going to Paris, and Nell begs to be allowed to go with them. Her former nanny, Pear, left years ago and lives in Paris, and Nell is desperate to find her. Pear is the only person who ever really loved Nell, and Nell stopped hearing from her months ago. Nell is worried that Pear may have disappeared, but when she arrives in Paris, Nell discovers that the mystery goes far deeper than one missing au pair.
I loved this book so much! The plot is a mixture of many different mysteries that all blend together. I loved the way the different characters' storylines overlapped. A bellhop with a secret underground lair. A baker's son who worries that their bakery might go out of business. A poor young seamstress who dreams of going to school. And Nell's evil parents, who are definitely up to something nefarious.
Nell is such a wonderful main character. Her personality is powerful and complex. She has a phobia about the dark, and in one scene she is forced to hide underground. With pure willpower, she finds the courage to overcome her phobia, and the whole description of her emotional turmoil is incredibly inspiring. Over and over through the story, she finds herself in difficult situations, but she has the tenacity and the intellect to deal with anything. I loved her internal struggle and her character development! She is so kind and sweet that she wins the hearts of people she meets, and makes loyal friends wherever she goes. But she is so bold and fierce that she also makes enemies wherever she goes. I adore this girl!
All the supporting characters are amazing too! They are varied and memorable and interesting. I loved meeting each person and seeing how they interact with Nell in different ways. It was really cool to see how they gradually warm up to Nell and join her in her quest to find her au pair. There are a few awkward beginnings, but as they start to understand Nell better, they become decidedly loyal to her.
The setting in Paris is fantastique! The author really makes Paris come alive, describing the streets, the food, the people, the light, the architecture, and of course the beautiful art. Because Nell is fascinated with Paris, we get to see the city through her eyes.
I love this writing style! The pacing keeps that suspense going, and makes you want to keep reading for hours. I enjoyed this book so much!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Nell's horrible parents are going to Paris, and Nell begs to be allowed to go with them. Her former nanny, Pear, left years ago and lives in Paris, and Nell is desperate to find her. Pear is the only person who ever really loved Nell, and Nell stopped hearing from her months ago. Nell is worried that Pear may have disappeared, but when she arrives in Paris, Nell discovers that the mystery goes far deeper than one missing au pair.
I loved this book so much! The plot is a mixture of many different mysteries that all blend together. I loved the way the different characters' storylines overlapped. A bellhop with a secret underground lair. A baker's son who worries that their bakery might go out of business. A poor young seamstress who dreams of going to school. And Nell's evil parents, who are definitely up to something nefarious.
Nell is such a wonderful main character. Her personality is powerful and complex. She has a phobia about the dark, and in one scene she is forced to hide underground. With pure willpower, she finds the courage to overcome her phobia, and the whole description of her emotional turmoil is incredibly inspiring. Over and over through the story, she finds herself in difficult situations, but she has the tenacity and the intellect to deal with anything. I loved her internal struggle and her character development! She is so kind and sweet that she wins the hearts of people she meets, and makes loyal friends wherever she goes. But she is so bold and fierce that she also makes enemies wherever she goes. I adore this girl!
All the supporting characters are amazing too! They are varied and memorable and interesting. I loved meeting each person and seeing how they interact with Nell in different ways. It was really cool to see how they gradually warm up to Nell and join her in her quest to find her au pair. There are a few awkward beginnings, but as they start to understand Nell better, they become decidedly loyal to her.
The setting in Paris is fantastique! The author really makes Paris come alive, describing the streets, the food, the people, the light, the architecture, and of course the beautiful art. Because Nell is fascinated with Paris, we get to see the city through her eyes.
I love this writing style! The pacing keeps that suspense going, and makes you want to keep reading for hours. I enjoyed this book so much!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
April 14, 2020
I loved it! It was so nice to escape to Paris while being on lockdown lol. I loved the all the little mysteries that lead up to the big mystery. Everything went together so well & blended together perfectly throughout the story. I loved Nell & her determination & loyalty, & her discovering she was actually a lot braver than she thought. I loved all the kids & their amazing friendship. Descriptions were done so well too in this book! I could picture everything described to me perfectly in my mind. I also love this cover & it was done by one of my favorite illustrators Kim Geyer. But it doesn’t end there! Each chapter head has a different illustration for each chapter, depicting a scene from within that chapter! They’re all amazing!😍😍..I just loved it, & it made me forget what was going on & let me escape on Nell’s adventure in Paris w/her, & I’m grateful for that.💜💜 Highly recommend!
Synopsis: A spectacular adventure set through (and under!) the streets of Paris.When Penelope Magnificent's awful parents tell her they're taking a trip to Paris, she surprises them by begging to go along. Nell is usually content to avoid her money-obsessed father and her fashion-focussed mother, but Paris holds something very dear to her... her old au pair Perrine - Pear - lives there. Pear used to write to Nell every week promising to come to her rescue but recently the letters have stopped...Arriving at her parent's posh hotel, Nell is determined to find Pear... but no one has seen her at her last known address, and no one seems to want to tell her anything about Pear's whereabouts. Luckily she befriends the hotel bellboy who introduces her to the world of tunnels underneath the city, and together they set out to find Pear, whilst uncovering an extraordinary mystery of their own...
Synopsis: A spectacular adventure set through (and under!) the streets of Paris.When Penelope Magnificent's awful parents tell her they're taking a trip to Paris, she surprises them by begging to go along. Nell is usually content to avoid her money-obsessed father and her fashion-focussed mother, but Paris holds something very dear to her... her old au pair Perrine - Pear - lives there. Pear used to write to Nell every week promising to come to her rescue but recently the letters have stopped...Arriving at her parent's posh hotel, Nell is determined to find Pear... but no one has seen her at her last known address, and no one seems to want to tell her anything about Pear's whereabouts. Luckily she befriends the hotel bellboy who introduces her to the world of tunnels underneath the city, and together they set out to find Pear, whilst uncovering an extraordinary mystery of their own...
July 12, 2022
The Pear Affair takes place during the 1960's in Paris. Being in the mood for a mystery and of course having Paris on my wish list of places to visit, this was a perfect escape read. I enjoyed learning more about the Paris Catacombs, visiting the various settings with Nell and her new friends, and the glorious mention of pastries and hot chocolate will make your mouth water. Many reviewers on Goodreads have compared this to Katherine Rundell's Rooftoppers, Matilda, Madeline, Harriet the Spy and even Alice in Wonderland, which is just a perfect description. I can see aspects of each of these books in The Pear Affair. You really feel for Nell and her lack of familial affection, how she lost the one person who loved her. And Nell's parents are loathsome people, they'll really remind you of Matilda's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, obsessed by money and fashion. I mean who could name their daughter after a purse? Nell is a very likeable character, determined in her quest to reunite with her dear friend. The authors passion for the city certainly shines through and although this can be read as a standalone, I'd certainly enjoy more adventures set in Paris with Nell and her friends. The illustrations by Jo Rioux complemented the book very well and although my ARC didn't include the final artwork, I quite enjoyed the black and white sketched illustrations. If you're looking for a little Paris adventure, I hope you'll check out The Pear Affair. **A huge thank you to Candlewick Press for the ARC paperback**
August 20, 2022
A bright and adventurous girl embarks on a mission to find and reconnect with her beloved former caregiver Pear (Perrine) who appears to have vanished under mysterious circumstances.
Somehow has shades of The Willoughbys, Matilda, and the Series of Unfortunate Events all at once. It feels a bit like a throwback or a twisted fairy tale. We have a protagonist with a fanciful name, villainous parents, and a mystery/conspiracy and I'm here for it all. I only wish there were more breadcrumbs left earlier in the plot. It feels like all the reveals get kind of dumped all at once.
Somehow has shades of The Willoughbys, Matilda, and the Series of Unfortunate Events all at once. It feels a bit like a throwback or a twisted fairy tale. We have a protagonist with a fanciful name, villainous parents, and a mystery/conspiracy and I'm here for it all. I only wish there were more breadcrumbs left earlier in the plot. It feels like all the reveals get kind of dumped all at once.
January 5, 2021
This book is not part of the Popsugar 2021 challenge, I read it for work.
It started off REALLY slowly and tbh all the french in it was not fun because I had to google everything lmao. It started as a small ball of a mystery and then grew many tentacles...Think run away kid, spores that poison bread, bad parents, a scheme, a cover up etc.
Lmao it was a ride. Thank God it's over. Wasn't bad though, haha.
It started off REALLY slowly and tbh all the french in it was not fun because I had to google everything lmao. It started as a small ball of a mystery and then grew many tentacles...Think run away kid, spores that poison bread, bad parents, a scheme, a cover up etc.
Lmao it was a ride. Thank God it's over. Wasn't bad though, haha.
September 5, 2020
Didn’t expect to like it so much
September 29, 2023
A good read aloud for grades 2-4. The mystery has nice twists and some predictable ones. The protagonist discovers what it means to have a family. Nice character development with some good archetype villains… made me think of Aunt Spiker. A fun read.
September 16, 2022
personally for me a 3 but for young library readers I'd give this a 4 or 5.
this is one of those rare old school children's classic style stories where everyone is a sorf-of caricature and you know where the plot is going but you are enchanted anyway. the bad guys as one dimensionally horribly bad (think Roald Dahl vilians) and children have a unbelievable amount of freedom and safety. it's a fun read and not to disparage new kids lit but it does not have the burdens of the modern real world. as important as I think it is that kids see these things represented and discussed sometimes its fun just to read something fun. something where the stakes and characters are so out of this world you go along for the ride.
this is one of those rare old school children's classic style stories where everyone is a sorf-of caricature and you know where the plot is going but you are enchanted anyway. the bad guys as one dimensionally horribly bad (think Roald Dahl vilians) and children have a unbelievable amount of freedom and safety. it's a fun read and not to disparage new kids lit but it does not have the burdens of the modern real world. as important as I think it is that kids see these things represented and discussed sometimes its fun just to read something fun. something where the stakes and characters are so out of this world you go along for the ride.
May 17, 2020
With echoes of Katherine Rundell's brilliant novel, 'Rooftoppers' and some parallels to 'Alice in Wonderland', this fantastic, heart-warming novel is a must read if you want to escape to 1960's Paris.
Penelope Magnificent, or Nell as she likes to be called, is named after her mother's designer, glitzy handbag and loved no where near as much. Invisible to her money-grabbing parents, she hankers after her old Au Pair, Pear. But Pear seems to have disappeared and so, discovering her Mum and Dad are taking a trip to Paris, she tags along with one, clear mission; to escape her nightmare life by tracking down her beloved friend. However, Nell gets more than she bargained for when she stumbles on evidence that suggests both Pear and her parents are mixed up in an alarming French mystery. Boulangeries are being contaminated and a new chain of bakeries are taking over. But what has this to do with her family? And will her new friends, leading her through the catacombs of the city, also lead her to the answers.
This book is bursting with glamorous French charm. From fabulously chic dress designers to the appetising scent of the boulangeries to the comfort of hotel laundry rooms and underground caverns, this is a delight of an adventure which will tug at the hardest of hearts. The characters shine, the plot sings and the tight friendship of the children reign supreme in the same way the gangs of The Famous Five and Swallows and Amazons did. I loved the ever so slight echo of 'Alice in Wonderland' with Nell endlessly disappearing into holes and doorways underground and Paul and Paulette paralleling the humour of Tweedledum and Tweedledee and also Nell's endless resolve to find the truth. The freedom the children were afforded was refreshing and their strength of character and determination in leading the story made the whole book a delight. The parent's felt original but as monstrous as villainous parents can be and Judith Eagle makes the city of Paris come alive around you with her in depth descriptions.
In comparison to The Vanishing Trick's dark, sinister tones, this novel feels light and frothy and joyous, but no less compelling. It enchants you with charm rather than magic and took me back to some of my favourite childhood novels. The Pear Affair is a classic in the making.
Penelope Magnificent, or Nell as she likes to be called, is named after her mother's designer, glitzy handbag and loved no where near as much. Invisible to her money-grabbing parents, she hankers after her old Au Pair, Pear. But Pear seems to have disappeared and so, discovering her Mum and Dad are taking a trip to Paris, she tags along with one, clear mission; to escape her nightmare life by tracking down her beloved friend. However, Nell gets more than she bargained for when she stumbles on evidence that suggests both Pear and her parents are mixed up in an alarming French mystery. Boulangeries are being contaminated and a new chain of bakeries are taking over. But what has this to do with her family? And will her new friends, leading her through the catacombs of the city, also lead her to the answers.
This book is bursting with glamorous French charm. From fabulously chic dress designers to the appetising scent of the boulangeries to the comfort of hotel laundry rooms and underground caverns, this is a delight of an adventure which will tug at the hardest of hearts. The characters shine, the plot sings and the tight friendship of the children reign supreme in the same way the gangs of The Famous Five and Swallows and Amazons did. I loved the ever so slight echo of 'Alice in Wonderland' with Nell endlessly disappearing into holes and doorways underground and Paul and Paulette paralleling the humour of Tweedledum and Tweedledee and also Nell's endless resolve to find the truth. The freedom the children were afforded was refreshing and their strength of character and determination in leading the story made the whole book a delight. The parent's felt original but as monstrous as villainous parents can be and Judith Eagle makes the city of Paris come alive around you with her in depth descriptions.
In comparison to The Vanishing Trick's dark, sinister tones, this novel feels light and frothy and joyous, but no less compelling. It enchants you with charm rather than magic and took me back to some of my favourite childhood novels. The Pear Affair is a classic in the making.
December 22, 2022
This mystery set in Paris in 1969 is full of twists and turns with a rather quaint English/French air to characters and story line. If found this endearing but I am not sure young Australian readers will feel the same with frequent French dialogue (explaned but it can affect the flow if unfamiliar) and Parisienne setting. Nell lives with rich and despicable parents who ignore her (thank goodness) but her nanny or au pair (hence her name Pear), is sent back to Paris and Nell is packed off to boarding school the young girl is devastated. At age 10 Pear has stopped writing and when her parents are unexpectedly going to Paris Nell goes too. Planning to seek her friends out Nell tumbles into mystery and danger. A series of strange events involving a gang of Paris street urchins, underground tunnels, a mould forcing the boulangeries to close and her parents underhand behaviour are just some of the that unfold in this fast paced and intriguing mystery
I thought his was great adventure but had a lot of personal knowledge and experience to bring to the story line and reveled in the setting, language, food, tunnels and quirkiness of Paris. The audio performance was lively, with French words rolling off the tongue and suitably french accents evident for the local characters. this is an illustrated novel, and the black and white images located online look suitably quirky. Well worth investigating for for 10 to 12 year olds who enjoy adventure, danger, sleuthing and non stop action.
I thought his was great adventure but had a lot of personal knowledge and experience to bring to the story line and reveled in the setting, language, food, tunnels and quirkiness of Paris. The audio performance was lively, with French words rolling off the tongue and suitably french accents evident for the local characters. this is an illustrated novel, and the black and white images located online look suitably quirky. Well worth investigating for for 10 to 12 year olds who enjoy adventure, danger, sleuthing and non stop action.
February 1, 2022
“The Pear Affair” is by Judith Eagle is a delightful, middle-grade adventure through the underground tunnels of Paris in the 1960s.
Nell Magnificent is the daughter of her wealthy, grocery store chain-owning parents. Her mother only dresses in white and loves her purse more than she loves her daughter. The only person who ever showed her love was her au pair, Perrine. Pear for short. Even after Pear is mysteriously dismissed and moves to Paris when Nell is seven, she continues to write her former charge every month and promises to one day rescue her from her terrible parents. And the letters stop. Nell freaks out. Is Pear ok? Did she abandon her etc…
Nell gets the chance to visit Paris with her parents and she is going to use this opportunity to track down Pear. And this is where the adventure really starts. We have underground tunnels, disguises, moldy bread, erratic fashion designers, assorted bad guys and more!
Nell makes friends with her hotel’s bell boy, Xavier and with other kids around town. They help her on her mission to find Pear. They also stumble upon the mystery of local bakeries having to close shop because of a mysterious mold spore. Along with a lot of running around Paris’s famed underground tunnels.
Does Nell find Pear? You’ll have to read it to find out.
I really enjoyed this one. The good characters were good and the bad were bad. I do wish we saw more of her parents’ bad parenting. It was a lot of telling and not showing. But their was an evil character who was described as having eyes that looked like they were raisins! I’ve been known to say that I love a British kid’s book that describes a villain’s eyes as raisins!
I was able to predict one of the twists, but I’m a 37-year-old woman. I think this would be perfectly mysterious for a 12 year old. I would have adored this when I was ten.
Originally published in England in March of 2020, its finally getting released in the United States on April 26, 2022.
Many thanks to its publisher, Walker Books/Candlewick Press and to Edelweiss Plus for the advanced reading copy.
Nell Magnificent is the daughter of her wealthy, grocery store chain-owning parents. Her mother only dresses in white and loves her purse more than she loves her daughter. The only person who ever showed her love was her au pair, Perrine. Pear for short. Even after Pear is mysteriously dismissed and moves to Paris when Nell is seven, she continues to write her former charge every month and promises to one day rescue her from her terrible parents. And the letters stop. Nell freaks out. Is Pear ok? Did she abandon her etc…
Nell gets the chance to visit Paris with her parents and she is going to use this opportunity to track down Pear. And this is where the adventure really starts. We have underground tunnels, disguises, moldy bread, erratic fashion designers, assorted bad guys and more!
Nell makes friends with her hotel’s bell boy, Xavier and with other kids around town. They help her on her mission to find Pear. They also stumble upon the mystery of local bakeries having to close shop because of a mysterious mold spore. Along with a lot of running around Paris’s famed underground tunnels.
Does Nell find Pear? You’ll have to read it to find out.
I really enjoyed this one. The good characters were good and the bad were bad. I do wish we saw more of her parents’ bad parenting. It was a lot of telling and not showing. But their was an evil character who was described as having eyes that looked like they were raisins! I’ve been known to say that I love a British kid’s book that describes a villain’s eyes as raisins!
I was able to predict one of the twists, but I’m a 37-year-old woman. I think this would be perfectly mysterious for a 12 year old. I would have adored this when I was ten.
Originally published in England in March of 2020, its finally getting released in the United States on April 26, 2022.
Many thanks to its publisher, Walker Books/Candlewick Press and to Edelweiss Plus for the advanced reading copy.
March 19, 2023
This was a really cute mystery book! I loved it and it's a perfect sit-on-the-sofa-with-a-cup-of-hot-chocolate read! <3
July 5, 2024
Fun read, cute. Reminded me a little of Matilda. I liked the twist at the end. But, figured out who was behind the bread problem quickly.
October 24, 2022
Enjoyed the sense of place and the intricacies of plot. My 8 and 10 year old daughters enjoyed the book as a read-aloud experience and a means to reminisce about a recent trip to Paris
August 25, 2022
What a charming mystery set in the late 1960s in Paris! Just a heartwarming story with a wonderful ending tying up all loose ends.
December 19, 2019
Brilliant fun, an adventure through the underground tunnels of 1960s Paris. A mystery and a delight, this book is one of my favourite middle-grade books ever.
July 11, 2022
I loved the book. It didn't end how I thought it would end. I loved the mystery though. Well written.
June 6, 2020
I was so excited to read The Pear Affair after hearing so many good things about it on twitter. Before reading this I had already drawn comparisons to Katherine Rundell’s Rooftoppers. Only this time I wouldn’t be leaping across Parisian rooftops, I’d be dashing through underground tunnels.
Like Judith Eagle, I have spent a lot of time in Paris and I share her passion for this wonderful city. Eagle’s love and knowledge of Paris shines through as she brings the city vividly to life and accurately depicts French life. You’ll soon find your mind filled with images of the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine and imagining yourself munching on freshly baked pastries and sipping warm hot chocolate as you walk along grand boulevards passing designer fashion houses.
You’d think with a name like Penelope Magnificent that that individual would have a fabulous life. But Penelope’s, or Nell as she prefers, life is a far stretch from her surname. Her parents, Gerald and Melinda Magnificent who own Magnificent Foods and have used the money to buy their home, Magnificent Heights, make Nell’s life very much not magnificent.
Feeling unwanted and fed up with life Nell is desperate to get away. She despises her parents - Gerald is obsessed with money and Melinda is obsessed with fashion - and is happy to spend as little time as possible with them. So it comes as a bit of a shock when she chooses to accompany them on a business trip to Paris. For in Paris there is someone very important to Nell. Her estranged au pair Perrine, more fondly known as Pear, lives there. She used to write regularly to Nell but the letters have stopped and with that, Nell fears so to has Pear’s promise of one day coming to rescue her. Nell is desperate to find Pear and uncover the mystery as to why her dear friend has suddenly stopped contacting her. Soon Nell finds herself hiding in posh hotel laundry rooms, racing through underground tunnels and trying to uncover a conspiracy that could brig down a city.
This is an epic adventure and is superb middle-grade story-telling. It is a wonderful romp around Paris and The Pear Affair does for the tunnels of Paris what Katherine Rundell’s Rooftoppers did for its roofs - it brings them alive in a magical and most exhilarating way.
The children in the book are inspiring role models for readers - they are brave and resourceful and each have their own unique back stories - Nell, Soutine the petit pâtissier, Paul and Paulette the twins, Xavier the bellboy. Initial feelings of uncertainty are put aside as they become friends and work together to uncover the truth. The villains are dastardly. In Gerald and Melinda Magnificent, Eagle has created two of the most deplorable parents imaginable. There are villains that make your skin crawl and then there are Mr & Mrs Magnificent. Oh, and let me not forget the Mayor and his assistants Cigarette Holder and Lorgnette.
Eagle’s writing is wonderful and the vocabulary is as rich and as delicious as the pastries that are created at Soutine’s family bakery, ‘Chez Ben Amors’. In chapter one alone there is affectation, paroxysms and nonchalance. The english prose is interspersed with the occasional French phrase and I couldn’t help reading those parts in a French accent. Then there are the lovely chapter headings by Kim Geyer - these just add to the French flavour.
Grab yourself a croissant, pour yourself a ‘chocolat chaud’ and let Judith Eagle sweep you away into a Parisian delight. Recommended for 9+.
Like Judith Eagle, I have spent a lot of time in Paris and I share her passion for this wonderful city. Eagle’s love and knowledge of Paris shines through as she brings the city vividly to life and accurately depicts French life. You’ll soon find your mind filled with images of the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine and imagining yourself munching on freshly baked pastries and sipping warm hot chocolate as you walk along grand boulevards passing designer fashion houses.
You’d think with a name like Penelope Magnificent that that individual would have a fabulous life. But Penelope’s, or Nell as she prefers, life is a far stretch from her surname. Her parents, Gerald and Melinda Magnificent who own Magnificent Foods and have used the money to buy their home, Magnificent Heights, make Nell’s life very much not magnificent.
Feeling unwanted and fed up with life Nell is desperate to get away. She despises her parents - Gerald is obsessed with money and Melinda is obsessed with fashion - and is happy to spend as little time as possible with them. So it comes as a bit of a shock when she chooses to accompany them on a business trip to Paris. For in Paris there is someone very important to Nell. Her estranged au pair Perrine, more fondly known as Pear, lives there. She used to write regularly to Nell but the letters have stopped and with that, Nell fears so to has Pear’s promise of one day coming to rescue her. Nell is desperate to find Pear and uncover the mystery as to why her dear friend has suddenly stopped contacting her. Soon Nell finds herself hiding in posh hotel laundry rooms, racing through underground tunnels and trying to uncover a conspiracy that could brig down a city.
This is an epic adventure and is superb middle-grade story-telling. It is a wonderful romp around Paris and The Pear Affair does for the tunnels of Paris what Katherine Rundell’s Rooftoppers did for its roofs - it brings them alive in a magical and most exhilarating way.
The children in the book are inspiring role models for readers - they are brave and resourceful and each have their own unique back stories - Nell, Soutine the petit pâtissier, Paul and Paulette the twins, Xavier the bellboy. Initial feelings of uncertainty are put aside as they become friends and work together to uncover the truth. The villains are dastardly. In Gerald and Melinda Magnificent, Eagle has created two of the most deplorable parents imaginable. There are villains that make your skin crawl and then there are Mr & Mrs Magnificent. Oh, and let me not forget the Mayor and his assistants Cigarette Holder and Lorgnette.
Eagle’s writing is wonderful and the vocabulary is as rich and as delicious as the pastries that are created at Soutine’s family bakery, ‘Chez Ben Amors’. In chapter one alone there is affectation, paroxysms and nonchalance. The english prose is interspersed with the occasional French phrase and I couldn’t help reading those parts in a French accent. Then there are the lovely chapter headings by Kim Geyer - these just add to the French flavour.
Grab yourself a croissant, pour yourself a ‘chocolat chaud’ and let Judith Eagle sweep you away into a Parisian delight. Recommended for 9+.
March 6, 2020
Captivatingly set in 1960s Paris, The Pair Affair, for me, was the parfaite hommage to the childhood heroines of any nineties kid's past (Madeline and Mathilda). Indeed, similarly abandoning her negligent carers, 12-year-old Nell transports readers from catacombs and cafés to boutiques and boulangeries in a frantic bid to find her former au pair, Perrine.
As to be expected, there was a lot to be loved about this title. Skilfully channeling the outdoor dens and French exchange visits of our youth, Eagle magnificently breathes life into a 1960s Paris. Whilst simultaneously supplying a one-stop shop for Parisian highlights, The Pear Affair, provides a behind-the-scenes look at what lies hidden underneath. Navigating underground networks, bursting into boulangeries and infiltrating fashion houses, Eagle's Nell reminds me of the determined small-screen heroines of my childhood - Madeline and Mathilda. Although smart and courageous, they both longed to be loved by the people around them.
For the full review got to: https://wherepollywanders.wordpress.c...
As to be expected, there was a lot to be loved about this title. Skilfully channeling the outdoor dens and French exchange visits of our youth, Eagle magnificently breathes life into a 1960s Paris. Whilst simultaneously supplying a one-stop shop for Parisian highlights, The Pear Affair, provides a behind-the-scenes look at what lies hidden underneath. Navigating underground networks, bursting into boulangeries and infiltrating fashion houses, Eagle's Nell reminds me of the determined small-screen heroines of my childhood - Madeline and Mathilda. Although smart and courageous, they both longed to be loved by the people around them.
For the full review got to: https://wherepollywanders.wordpress.c...
October 28, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
It's 1969, Nell has the worst parents ever. Melinda and Gerald Magnificent have forgotten to pick her up from her boarding school, and the head tells her she must leave. Even after she makes her way back to the family's mansion, her parents are irritated that they have to deal with her. It's no wonder that she pines for her nanny, Perrine, who has gone back to Paris. When Nell finds out that her parents are traveling to that city to take care of business interests, she begs to go with them, promising to stay out of their way. They stay at a fancy hotel, and Nell has done her research on how to find Pear, from whom she has not had a letter in far too long. She knows the couture house at which Pear was working as an embroiderer, but when she goes there, she is tossed out as an embarassment. With the help of a bus boy, Xavier, Nell is able to survive when her parents try to leave without her. Because she doesn't want to leave until she finds Pear, she takes her mother's favorite purse, thinking that it will prevent them from leaving, and give her extra supplies and money if she needs them. Things get weird when two ladies start following Nell, looking for her parents. Xavier has a network of children who hang out in the tunnels beneath Paris, but these are being shut down by the mayor. There is also a mold "Thing" that is infecting all of the bakeries in the city. How is Pear connected to these things? Will Nell be able to find her? And why are Nell's parents so utterly terrible to her?
Strengths: Like this author's The Secret Starling, The Pear Affair is a well developed mystery set in a very specific place and time. There's a decided Roald Dahl feel to Nell's situation, and Pear has a lot in common with Matilda's Miss Honey. Nell herself pays homage to Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy with her jeans and sweatshirt, so the 1960s vibe is quite strong. The group of children hanging out in the tunnels, the brush with celebrity, and the weirdness of the mold infecting the bakeries all come together in a rather delightful vintage romp.
Weaknesses: At one point, the father is described as juggling three calculators while out and about; if there were personal calculators in 1969, they would have had to be plugged in, so this seems possible but not probable.
What I really think: I enjoyed this one very much but am not sure what the appeal will be for my students. This was very similar to the work of David Walliams, so a good choice where British style of adventure and humor is popular.
It's 1969, Nell has the worst parents ever. Melinda and Gerald Magnificent have forgotten to pick her up from her boarding school, and the head tells her she must leave. Even after she makes her way back to the family's mansion, her parents are irritated that they have to deal with her. It's no wonder that she pines for her nanny, Perrine, who has gone back to Paris. When Nell finds out that her parents are traveling to that city to take care of business interests, she begs to go with them, promising to stay out of their way. They stay at a fancy hotel, and Nell has done her research on how to find Pear, from whom she has not had a letter in far too long. She knows the couture house at which Pear was working as an embroiderer, but when she goes there, she is tossed out as an embarassment. With the help of a bus boy, Xavier, Nell is able to survive when her parents try to leave without her. Because she doesn't want to leave until she finds Pear, she takes her mother's favorite purse, thinking that it will prevent them from leaving, and give her extra supplies and money if she needs them. Things get weird when two ladies start following Nell, looking for her parents. Xavier has a network of children who hang out in the tunnels beneath Paris, but these are being shut down by the mayor. There is also a mold "Thing" that is infecting all of the bakeries in the city. How is Pear connected to these things? Will Nell be able to find her? And why are Nell's parents so utterly terrible to her?
Strengths: Like this author's The Secret Starling, The Pear Affair is a well developed mystery set in a very specific place and time. There's a decided Roald Dahl feel to Nell's situation, and Pear has a lot in common with Matilda's Miss Honey. Nell herself pays homage to Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy with her jeans and sweatshirt, so the 1960s vibe is quite strong. The group of children hanging out in the tunnels, the brush with celebrity, and the weirdness of the mold infecting the bakeries all come together in a rather delightful vintage romp.
Weaknesses: At one point, the father is described as juggling three calculators while out and about; if there were personal calculators in 1969, they would have had to be plugged in, so this seems possible but not probable.
What I really think: I enjoyed this one very much but am not sure what the appeal will be for my students. This was very similar to the work of David Walliams, so a good choice where British style of adventure and humor is popular.
February 17, 2021
It was really really good!
Expect the unexpected.
Some bits in french but I got the gist.
I recommend to anyone because it’s just all around amazing. And I also recommend this book to anyone who likes… twists!!!
Expect the unexpected.
Some bits in french but I got the gist.
I recommend to anyone because it’s just all around amazing. And I also recommend this book to anyone who likes… twists!!!
July 2, 2020
In a well-plotted mystery, this book fully engages the reader from page one. It grabs hold instantly, taking you along on a raucous ride that twists and turns with a fluidity that is head-spinning. Nell, and in fact all the tunnel-dwelling children, are fabulous, intriguing characters; each clever, thoughtful and well-drawn, making for highly relatable good-guys. And the baddies are utterly despicable! Parisian food takes centre stage in the drama, when the full depth of an ingenious, diabolical scheme is revealed. As the mystery deepens and the plot thickens, all the senses (and the heart) are set on edge with possibility and tension. Outstanding pacing, just the right amount of danger; thoroughly riveting and entertaining.
(Original review can be found in Inis Magazine, issue 60, out online 1 July 2020)
(Original review can be found in Inis Magazine, issue 60, out online 1 July 2020)
November 28, 2021
I adored this book! A mixture of Matilda, The Willoughby’s, a smidge of Lemony Snicket…all in Paris!
January 7, 2023
It is such a good read if you love Mystery and child runaways
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2022
Nell lives in the shadow of her terrible parents, a fashionista and a grocery executive, who treat her like she’s constantly in the way. Nell’s best friend is her former au pair Perrine, or Pear, who returned home to France many years ago but writes faithfully to Nell every month. At least she did up until six months ago, when her letters mysteriously stopped arriving. When Nell’s parents announce a sudden and inexplicable trip to Paris, Nell begs to join them and promises to stay out of their plans. Mostly alone in Paris, she sets off on a hunt for Pear, aided by hotel bellboy Xavier and his wild crew of friends who navigate the city using the complex network of underground tunnels. Secrets abound, conspiracies surround Nell and her friends, and no one is forthcoming with information about Pear. Soon, Nell finds herself wrapped in a mystery leading her to the tangled center of a plot involving her parents, Pear, several mysterious French figures, and other problems sweeping through the streets of Paris.
The Pear Affair is a lovely mystery story featuring a brave, smart heroine who overcomes her fears with wit, cunning, and a careful attention to detail. Nell is a reader, a planner, and has an excellent memory. Her time with Pear years before has given her a good grasp of French and a solid understanding of the winding Parisian streets. When she starts to make friends, first with Xavier at the hotel and then with many auxiliary characters she meets through Xav or elsewhere in Paris, her network of helpers grows while she continues her search for Pear. Unlike Judith Eagle’s other middle grade book, The Pear Affair presents Nell with a greater challenge in the sheer number of adults who would stand in her way, disbelieve her stories, and actively try to lie to her in order to keep her from solving the mystery she stumbles into so early on. It was more believable that the outside world would react the way it did, and I liked that Nell’s challenges were multi-faceted. She faced up to physical, mental, and emotional challenges, and when she finally uncovered the whole mystery it was surprising how interconnected every element was, including some interesting information about her parents and Pear. I truly enjoyed this book and Nell’s determined, courageous outlook, and I hope further stories continue in much the same vein.
The Pear Affair is a lovely mystery story featuring a brave, smart heroine who overcomes her fears with wit, cunning, and a careful attention to detail. Nell is a reader, a planner, and has an excellent memory. Her time with Pear years before has given her a good grasp of French and a solid understanding of the winding Parisian streets. When she starts to make friends, first with Xavier at the hotel and then with many auxiliary characters she meets through Xav or elsewhere in Paris, her network of helpers grows while she continues her search for Pear. Unlike Judith Eagle’s other middle grade book, The Pear Affair presents Nell with a greater challenge in the sheer number of adults who would stand in her way, disbelieve her stories, and actively try to lie to her in order to keep her from solving the mystery she stumbles into so early on. It was more believable that the outside world would react the way it did, and I liked that Nell’s challenges were multi-faceted. She faced up to physical, mental, and emotional challenges, and when she finally uncovered the whole mystery it was surprising how interconnected every element was, including some interesting information about her parents and Pear. I truly enjoyed this book and Nell’s determined, courageous outlook, and I hope further stories continue in much the same vein.
October 18, 2022
A Mysterious, Engaging and Exciting Adventure
“You’d think, if you named your daughter after your favorite handbag, you would cherish her as much, if not more, than you cherished the bag.” Penelope (or Nell) Magnificent’s parents do not cherish her. To them, she was nothing but ‘unwanted baggage’. Only one person has ever loved Nell in her life; Nell’s former French au pair named Pear. Pear was the “kindest, sweetest person ever” to Nell. On Nell’s seventh birthday, she is forced to part with Pear. Pear and Nell exchange letters over the years while Pear kept the promise, “One day I will come and rescue you. Stay patient, my little friend”. However, the letters stop. Nell doesn’t get a single letter for 6 months! When Nell gets the chance to go look for Pear, she takes it.
In Judith Eagle‘s exciting fantasy book “The Pear Affair”, Nell unravels many suspenseful mysteries about Paris with her crew of children; Twins named Paul and Paulette, a bellhop named Xavier, and a boy named Soutine. They scour the city, looking for Nell’s au pair, but how dangerous could it be? I’d suggest 8-13 year olds to read this book. It’s a longer and a bit more challenging read, and has a sinister plot that many older kids may understand more deeply than younger kids. This story will keep you hooked until the end, with a twisting and turning plot, Nell’s emotions conveyed so that the reader can relate, and illustrations to help you imagine everything clearly. I’d rate this book 4 stars. This book is a must-read for kids who love Fantasy and Mystery stories.
Review by Josie S., 11, Minnesota Mensa
“You’d think, if you named your daughter after your favorite handbag, you would cherish her as much, if not more, than you cherished the bag.” Penelope (or Nell) Magnificent’s parents do not cherish her. To them, she was nothing but ‘unwanted baggage’. Only one person has ever loved Nell in her life; Nell’s former French au pair named Pear. Pear was the “kindest, sweetest person ever” to Nell. On Nell’s seventh birthday, she is forced to part with Pear. Pear and Nell exchange letters over the years while Pear kept the promise, “One day I will come and rescue you. Stay patient, my little friend”. However, the letters stop. Nell doesn’t get a single letter for 6 months! When Nell gets the chance to go look for Pear, she takes it.
In Judith Eagle‘s exciting fantasy book “The Pear Affair”, Nell unravels many suspenseful mysteries about Paris with her crew of children; Twins named Paul and Paulette, a bellhop named Xavier, and a boy named Soutine. They scour the city, looking for Nell’s au pair, but how dangerous could it be? I’d suggest 8-13 year olds to read this book. It’s a longer and a bit more challenging read, and has a sinister plot that many older kids may understand more deeply than younger kids. This story will keep you hooked until the end, with a twisting and turning plot, Nell’s emotions conveyed so that the reader can relate, and illustrations to help you imagine everything clearly. I’d rate this book 4 stars. This book is a must-read for kids who love Fantasy and Mystery stories.
Review by Josie S., 11, Minnesota Mensa
June 6, 2020
Nell Magnificent is a twelve-year-old girl with neglectful parents and a dream to go to Paris to find Pear. Pear’s real name is Perrine and she was Nell’s au pair until her parents sent Nell to boarding school, five years previous.
The story begins when Nell comes home for school holidays to find her parents preparing to go to Paris on a business trip. Nell persuades her parents to take her along. Once in Paris, Nell runs away and starts looking for her missing friend, but this is far more difficult than she expects. In the process, Nell makes friends with lots of other children, many of whom roam the underground tunnels of Paris. She discovers her new friends have problems of their own as many have parents who work at bakeries where the bread is being attacked with a mysterious bacteria.
Meanwhile, the Mayor and the Municipal Department want to stop children using the underground tunnels so they can be used for their own unsavoury activities. The increasing complexities of these problems and the growing number of characters in the book, slacken the pace of the story and it becomes long-winded. In the end, the author, Judith Eagle, does well to draw all the unanswered questions together.
While the story is well-written and is initially engaging, I found I lost interest about halfway through, with the mounting problems and increasing number of distasteful characters.
Overall, a drawn-out story, but concludes well.
Thanks to Christian School Supplier for providing a free book for review.
The story begins when Nell comes home for school holidays to find her parents preparing to go to Paris on a business trip. Nell persuades her parents to take her along. Once in Paris, Nell runs away and starts looking for her missing friend, but this is far more difficult than she expects. In the process, Nell makes friends with lots of other children, many of whom roam the underground tunnels of Paris. She discovers her new friends have problems of their own as many have parents who work at bakeries where the bread is being attacked with a mysterious bacteria.
Meanwhile, the Mayor and the Municipal Department want to stop children using the underground tunnels so they can be used for their own unsavoury activities. The increasing complexities of these problems and the growing number of characters in the book, slacken the pace of the story and it becomes long-winded. In the end, the author, Judith Eagle, does well to draw all the unanswered questions together.
While the story is well-written and is initially engaging, I found I lost interest about halfway through, with the mounting problems and increasing number of distasteful characters.
Overall, a drawn-out story, but concludes well.
Thanks to Christian School Supplier for providing a free book for review.
May 9, 2020
With Nell as a classic unloved child, you, the reader, do connect with her quite quickly and feel sorry for her situation. There are some lovely moments of character description, like, ‘Her hand, which she had raised in greeting, froze’, which reminded me a lot of, ‘The boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ prose and a teacher stalwart of English lessons in Key Stage 2 – with the Learning objective of: ‘show don’t tell’! Nell is a very likeable character – she has her weaknesses (the scene were she is scared of the dark goes on too long for my liking), but shows great strength and determination in her situation, and this is a constant theme throughout the story. And, her parents are equally disgusting and horrible! Perhaps, this character trait could have been exponentially greater: they could have been even more evil.
As you can see in the character list, there are quite a few characters which drop in and out of the story at various points with the plot twist, which can becoming quite confusing, especially for younger readers. However, I do like how the plot twists and turns and some character come back into the story given certain moments a great twist; for example, you meet the two strange ladies near the beginning of the story, but they don’t really come back into it until the dramatic scenes at the end of the story! With the twists and turns you really do start to ache with Nell for the return of her beloved Pear.
As you can see in the character list, there are quite a few characters which drop in and out of the story at various points with the plot twist, which can becoming quite confusing, especially for younger readers. However, I do like how the plot twists and turns and some character come back into the story given certain moments a great twist; for example, you meet the two strange ladies near the beginning of the story, but they don’t really come back into it until the dramatic scenes at the end of the story! With the twists and turns you really do start to ache with Nell for the return of her beloved Pear.
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