Blog Tour: The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom

I was delighted to be asked to take part in this Blog Tour as I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom’. Once started, it’s almost impossible to put down!

Ophelia Bottom longs to be ‘normal’- to have well-behaved parents and live in a house which stays still. But with her parents being Shakespearian actors in their own travelling theatre company and living in a rickety old converted van, her life is unusual to say the least. So when the van, known as the Pantechnicon, makes its stop in the seemingly perfect town of Stopford and bad luck strikes her family, could this offer the opportunity she has longed for?

Packed with drama, adventure and theatricals, ‘The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom’ is an absorbing read with much to recommend it! One of its strengths is its wonderful cast of characters, particularly Ophelia’s family. Ophelia’s father (who she calls Ar) is a flamboyant, irrepressible thespian who speaks mainly in capitals and (like Mr Micawber!) seems to be permanently convinced that something will turn up whilst her mother is a risk averse, superstitious lady who wants her daughter to experience some stability and get an education. This causes some tension in the Pantechnicon which increases when Ar breaks his leg meaning the family is forced to extend their stay in Stopford. Money worries and misunderstandings cause the arguments to mount and Ophelia, sadly like many children, finds herself caught between them and full of anxiety about the future of their relationship.

Settling in to a new school is hard enough, but in a place where the town motto is plastic is fantastic – different is dangerous, Ophelia (or O-failure as her name is pronounced in school)- struggles to fit the mould. Uniformity is key and over-zealous prefects are determined that everyone should conform. As Ophelia realises that there is a sinister plot afoot in this too-perfect town with its high levels of plastic pollution, the story takes a darker turn as it romps towards its conclusion.

‘The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom’ would make an excellent class read, offering plenty to discuss and consider- the importance of family and friendship, the need to question, the dangers of plastic pollution, rights and responsibilities, how important it is to be yourself, lots of Shakespearian references… to name a few. There are some sinister characters and perilous moments to be aware of, but this is a gripping story which it is impossible to do justice to in a short review! Add straight to the top of the TBR pile!

The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom Susie Bower

Pushkin ISBN: 978-1782693604

Thank you for including me in this Blog Tour! Make sure you follow on for the rest of the week!