REVIEW
Bev Smith’s #galaxygirl is a sweet science fiction story about a girl who learns (through some very hard lessons) the simple message that home is where the heart is. Smith lets the reader into the thoughts and feelings of a pre-teen who is feeling rather neglected.
The witty portrayal of another world that is simultaneously very similar and very different will engage parents and kids as they read this together. Names of the beings of Kratos are like Easter Eggs to pop culture. Smith manages to keep a pretty deep topic shallow enough for the age group the book is aimed at. Touching on slavery, global warming, and treatment of animals alongside making friends and dealing with family, Smith packs quite a bit into an appropriate story for children.
The story did feel a bit rushed, but not so much that it wasn’t enjoyable. All the parts were there, and the first person blog-style narrative gives strength to the emotions and feelings of the main character. The story itself imparts an important lesson about communication and honesty without getting preachy. I definitely recommend this if you have a child who seems to dream of living somewhere else…or even just wants to travel to the stars.
#galaxygirl
You hate school. Your family is beyond annoying. Your only friend comes from a different planet, and she’s about to leave.
What’s a girl to do?
Fed up with life on Earth, Esme stows away on the spaceship taking Stella back to Planet Kratos.
So begins Esme’s adventure into a world beyond the stars. A world of strange creatures, thrilling journeys, heroic rescues and instant fame.
Oh, and school. Lots of school.
Along the way she discovers that friends may be greener on the other side, but they still can’t be trusted.
Millions and billions of light years away from Earth, she sets in motion a plan to escape. Unfortunately for her, they aren’t about to let their prize exhibit leave anytime soon…
Amazon US / Amazon UK
Author Bio – Bev Smith has been a secondary school teacher, saleswoman, waitress, wages clerk, youth worker and holiday park entertainments manager. She has scuba dived the Barrier Reef, lived in a village in Namibia, worked for a charity in Thailand, flown over Victoria Falls and paddled in the sea at Bournemouth.
Having single-parented her three daughters, she’s been ferociously playing catch up with this writing lark. She recently completed a Masters in Writing for Children at Winchester University. #galaxygirl is her debut middle-grade book.
GIVEAWAY
Giveaway – Win 2 x #galaxygirl Mugs and a signed copy of #galaxygirl (UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
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