Join the Secret Summer gang on an unforgettable magical adventure, full of humour and heart - for fans of THE FAMOUS FIVE and Roald Dahl. Jack has been dreading the summer holidays - his dad works long hours, and so all he has to look forward to is an empty house. But when his boisterous neighbours, Bruno and Rocco, make it their mission to pull him into an adventure, his life will never be the same again.
Together they decide to explore the strange old house at the top of the hill, long abandoned and overgrown with ivy. But they soon discover the ivy hides more than just walls... the house is full of magical secrets, including a strange girl with no memory, who may hold the key to it all, if only she can remember...
Imaginative and fun-filled, Jack Ryder's first story is inspired by the summer holidays of his childhood and brought to life with glorious black-and-white illustrations by Alice McKinley. Young readers will be spellbound by this heartfelt adventure.
When the bell rang for the summer holidays, Jack thought the holidays would be lonely and quiet, as usual. But when his neighbours, Rocco and Bruno asked him to come over, little does he know how much fun is in store these holidays!
The three boys decide to explore the empty old house on top of the hill. The thing is the house is not empty at all - there is a strange girl who can’t remember her own name, and the house itself seems to have magical secrets.
This book is great fun, full of laughter and adventure. All four main characters are interesting and different, and the mystery and magical elements only add to the joy of this story.
Readers will absolutely love this book and will be eagerly waiting for the next instalment in this series (as am I). Perfect for all readers in Year 4 and up, who love a bit of magic and adventure in their lives.
Reviewed by Michelle