The Smidgens crash-land by David O'Connell. Illus. by Seb Burnett

This is number two in the Smidgens series, which imagines a world of tiny people living secretly within the human world (reminiscent of The Borrowers). This instalment leads on directly from the first book so it is quite important to read The Smidgens before embarking on The Smidgens Crash Land. Similiarly, this book ends on a cliffhanger, so the whole series seems to be one long saga rather than separate stories. There are definite hints of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings here as well: the Smidgens love food and live in cosy underground burrows; there are magical items that evil beings are on the hunt for; there is someone who is acting out of character as if there are being made to act against their will; and there are several Smidgen clans (The Hive, The Roost and The Burrow) who have complex historical relationships, including war. 

In this part of the story, Gafferty Sprout, a keen adventurer and risk-taker, wants to go searching for The Burrow Smidgens and make sure that the rest of the magical Mirror of Trokanis is safe from Claudia, the human who is a thief-for-hire and on the hunt for it. But through watching someone else's errors Gafferty learns the dangers of renegade action rather than working as a team to solve problems. She also discovers that there is always more to a story than is immediately obvious. This is a fast-paced adventure story with some relatable family and friendship issues that will be perfect for those who have read and enjoyed the first couple of Harry Potter or Nevermoor books and are looking for another complex adventure story set within a hidden, magical world. Readers will also love taking the perspective of the small Smidgens and imagining the human world as it looks to a teeny, tiny person. There is some great humour within the bemusement of the Smidgens at the ways of the big people and the things they have and use. 

Themes: Adventure Stories, Magical Stories, Friendship.

Nicole Nelson