Alice-Miranda at Camp by Jacqueline Harvey

cover image

Random House, 2014. ISBN 9781742757612
Alice-Miranda 2015 Diary. ISBN 9780857984104
(Age: Yr 3 - Yr 6) Alice-Miranda and friends are back on a new adventure at their school camp. "There are sleep outs, treasure hunts and so many other activities to look forward to! However, it's not all fun and games. Alice-Miranda and Millie will need to keep a close eye on Caprice, the school's newest student, who seems determined to cause trouble. Next door to the camp is Pelham Park, where Alice-Miranda's father, Hugh, grew up. These days, Hugh's beautiful old house serves as a retirement home but when some startling objects are uncovered in its cellar, the peaceful estate is turned upside down. With help from a much-loved relative, Alice-Miranda sets out to investigate".
If your girls haven't discovered Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones who attends boarding school at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies, then make this series a new year's reading treat for them. This is the 11th in this series and it is sure to be just as popular with those in Year 3-6 as the others have been, because despite her important-sounding name and prestigious school, she is a young lady with whom they relate and can imagine themselves being. School-based series have been popular for generations and this is the 21st century version that is capturing the hearts of today's.
Alice-Miranda now has such a following that she has her own blog (which she shares with Clementine Rose Appleby) and there's a book trailer and other goodies for Alice-Miranda at Camp.
Even better news is that her 2015 diary has now been released. This is a beautifully illustrated tome in which young ladies can not only record their daily doings and secret thoughts, but there is a host of other things to do like quizzes and puzzles, recipes to follow even learning a few Japanese words! This is one to be adding to your list of recommendations for Christmas gifts which parents value so much (I know just who I'm giving one to) or even as an end-of-year presentation prize.
Barbara Braxton