The City of Secret Rivers by Jacob Sager Weinstein
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406368857
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Moving from Illinois to London was
hard enough but seeing her mother kidnapped has left Hyacinth in a
major predicament. On moving to London, Hyacinth's biggest issues
are a dad who is remarrying, a mum who seems to have no clue and
silly English taps that don't mix hot and cold water. Luckily,
Hyacinth has some plumbing experience but mixing hot and cold water
in England is huge no no! All of a sudden, Hyacinth is stuck in the
middle of magical waterways, her mum is kidnapped and Hyacinth is
chasing a glowing drop of water that could destroy civilisation. Her
grandmother told Hyacinth she would be well prepared so let's hope
so!
The City of Secret Rivers is a quirky tale full of
descriptive vocabulary and exciting events. Readers will love the
mix of fantasy and real world while getting lost in this adventure
across London. It is a story of a strong girl who is determined to
find her mum and fix her mistake. Hyacinth's level of resilience is
extremely high, making her an excellent role model for girls.
Kylie Kempster