The Little Match Girl Strikes Back

Bridie is one of the many youngsters selling matches on the streets of Victorian London. Her mother works long hours in dangerous conditions as a dipper in the Bryant and May Match Factory and even her six-year-old brother, Fergal, spends long hours making matchboxes in their tiny home. When trouble strikes and leaves Bridie hurt and alone, with just three matches left, magic happens when she strikes each one, allowing her to see visions of a different, brighter future. Realising she can change the future, the little match girl leads the factory workers out on strike and to achieve remarkable things.

Based on the real-life events of the matchgirls’ strike, this is a re-working of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic ‘The Little Matchgirl’. Like the original matchgirl, Bridie is cold, poor and hungry, but that’s where the similarity ends. Flame haired Bridie sparks with life, using her skill as a storyteller to charm people into buying her matches. Her determination and street savvy attitude, essential to her survival on the streets of Victorian London, make her a far more rounded, appealing character than Anderson’s ‘little child’. Her indignation at the injustices she sees all around her – the appalling conditions her mother works in, the bullying pettiness of the male supervisors in the factory, her mother’s encroaching illness to name a few - is infectious, leading the reader to empathise with her situation, but unlike the original, to feel a genuine – and justifiable- anger targeted at those responsible.

The story is sure to inspire some readers to investigate Annie Besant’s role in these events and research further into the events of this historic occasion. The newspaper article written by Annie, for example, can be seen on-line. Reading the story instantly made me want to know more about the girls involved and I have tried to locate those who are named as part of the Union committee in the census returns for 1881/91, but have had limited success in the short time I have been searching, finding only one possible entry for Mary (Polly) Driscol.

Taken from the 1891 Census

Emma has done a wonderful job of including elements from the original- the loss of the mother’s over-large slippers, the boy who takes them (although very different in this telling), the danger of carriages, the longing for goose- but has transformed the story into so much more. Books like this are essential for broadening children’s historical knowledge to events not taught in school and sparking their interest. Additional information from both author and illustrator is included at the end, accompanied by photographs, adding to the reader’s understanding of these events. In addition to being an excellent independent read, the book would work well as a guided reading or whole class text. It offers so many opportunities for discussion, role play and debate, leading to quality writing in a wide range of forms and enriching the curriculum, allowing children to make links with other areas of learning, deepening their understanding of living conditions in Victorian England and making them question how things have changed- or not.

Lauren’s illustrations and the use of varied typography add to the appeal of the story and the elliptical breaks within chapters will support children who feel overwhelmed by lengthy chapters, offering natural places for them to take a break in their reading should they need to do so. The accessible format does not prevent the story from containing plenty of challenge.

I have reviewed the book for someone else, but love it so much that I had to add some more here! Definitely one I will be planning for as a guided reading text, ‘The Little Match Girl Strikes Back’ is an excellent read.

The Little Match Girl Strikes Back

Emma Carroll, illustrated by Lauren Child

Simon and Schuster ISBN: 978- 1398512818

Published 15th September 2022

You can read my review of ‘Escape to the River Sea’ here.

Blog Tour: Escape to the River Sea

Today, it is my great pleasure to start the Blog Tour for ‘Escape to the River Sea’, Emma Carroll’s brilliant sequel to Eva Ibbotson’s classic, ‘Journey to the River Sea’.

The theme of this post is journeys. Journeys can be taken through the imagination, through experience, through travel- or much simpler, every day trips, offering the familiarity of places we love and treasure. The central character in ‘Escape to the River Sea’, Rosa, has already made the journey to England on the Kindertransport before launching into the adventure of a lifetime- a trip to the Amazon rainforest. Through Emma’s evocative narrative, the reader is able to journey with Rosa as she travels, relishing the sights and sounds of each location she encounters.

I was asked to think about a couple of my favourite journeys for this post before Emma shares hers. This was a surprisingly hard task…

Travel has always been very important to me and I have many wonderful memories of special journeys. One of my favourite trips in the UK, however, has to be to Ashdown Forest, the 100 Aker Wood where Christopher Robin played. Not only was it a joy to finally play Poohsticks on the bridge after so many years of wanting to visit, this was also our first trip away from home after my husband had had heart surgery. The drizzle meant that we had the whole space to ourselves- allowing me to recite the hums of Pooh to my heart’s content!

A favourite journey overseas has to be to China. When we went many years ago on our honeymoon, there were not many tourists and it was an incredible experience. Favourite moments include visiting the Forbidden City, seeing the incredible terracotta warriors, walking on the Great Wall and taking tea in the Yuyuan Gardens. (Please excuse the poor copies of my pre-digital photos! The terracotta warriors picture is from the shop- we weren’t allowed to take pictures in the Mausoleum Site Museum).

Emma’s favourite journeys…

A favourite journey in the UK... The road home. I live in a steep valley, so the road down into my village gives the most brilliant views out over the countryside. It never fails to make my heart lift a little.

A favourite journey overseas...taking the mountain bus in Ecuador from Otavalo to Esmeraldas on the coast. We drove up into the mists on a bus crammed with other travellers, live chickens and guinea pigs. The road was twisty and narrow, with heart-stopping drops on either side. I'll never forget it!

You can read my review of ‘Escape to the River Sea’ here. Many thanks to Emma for sharing her favourite journeys and to Clare for inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour! Make sure you catch up with the other stops along the way!

Escape to the River Sea Emma Carroll, cover illustration by Katie Hickey

Macmillan ISBN: ‎ 978-1529062700

Out on the 9th June 2022

Escape to the River Sea

Inspired by Eva Ibbotson’s classic, ‘Escape to the River Sea’ opens with the story of Rosa Sweetman, a young girl who arrived in England as part of the Kinderstransport. When no one comes to meet her, Rosa finds herself in the care of Sir Clovis and living at Westwood Estate, initially in the company of other schoolgirls evacuated from their city homes. Once the other children leave at the end of the war, Rosa remains, longing to be reconnected with her mother and sister who she parted from in Vienna. Although Sir Clovis and his wife, Lady Prue, are kind to her, Rosa longs for adventure and when a friend of the family, Yara Fielding, arrives for a visit, Rosa asks to accompany her to the Amazon in search of the giant sloth.

Captivated by the lush beauty of the rainforest, Rosa meets Yara’s lively family, who live on the banks of the river, and finds herself caught up in the adventure of a lifetime.

In ‘Escape to the River Sea’, Emma Carroll has achieved a perfect balance of her own voice and staying true to Eva Ibbotson’s original story. The story features familiar characters and locations from ‘Journey to the River Sea’ whilst introducing the next generation. Rosa is a very engaging young girl, whose hopeful nature has kept her optimistic about being reunited with her mother and sister, and whose love of animals has sustained her during her loneliness. With the new-found freedom of her trip to the Amazon, Rosa flourishes in a way she was not able to at Westwood.

Each setting is vividly described with the beauty of the rainforest and its creatures celebrated whilst highlighting the threats it is facing.  Emma Carroll also broadens the story, developing a new thread and mystery to solve, but I don’t wish to give any spoilers..!

‘Escape to the River Sea’ would make an excellent Guided Reading text or work brilliantly as a whole class book for a class read or as a focus text. There are many elements in the story to investigate and discuss and which could offer inspiration for different forms of writing, including poetry. Emma’s vivid scenes and the rich language she uses are a joy to explore.

One not to miss, ‘Escape to the River Sea’ is a fabulous read!

Escape to the River Sea Emma Carroll

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529062700

Published 9th June 2022

This beautifully illustrated 20th anniversary edition of ‘Journey to the River Sea’ makes the perfect gift.