This month, Steph, our Higher Education Marketing and Product Specialist, reviews the newest Wendy Quill adventure – Wendy Quill is Full Up of Wrong by Wendy Meddour and Mina May.
Whoops! Wendy Quill keeps having slightly awful accidents! Like when her too-fast-bike whizzes round a corner and slightly-squishes a lady, and when the ghost in her sister’s room pushes her open diary into Wendy’s hands . . .
Creative, curious and a bit clumsy, Wendy Quill is a lively and loveable character who manages to once again get herself into some sticky situations! Wendy Quill is Full Up of Wrong is made up of three short and snappy stories told in the first-person, each centred around one of Wendy’s ‘slightly awful accidents’ – knocking someone over on her new second-hand bike, telling a slightly dreadful lie and reading her sister’s diary. Despite good intentions, Wendy Quill gets herself into many muddles! Luckily, supported by her best friend Florence Hubert, invisible dog Bathilda Brown and a plate of sticky flapjacks, Wendy is able to work out how to make things right in the end.
There are important lessons covered along the way including road safety, respecting privacy and not judging people on their appearance that provide great messages for readers of all ages – that it’s important to be honest and that it’s ok to make mistakes. Although this is the third title in the Wendy Quill series (following Wendy Quill is a Crocodile’s Bottom and Wendy Quill Tries to Grow a Pet), Wendy Quill is Full Up of Wrong can also be enjoyed as a standalone read.
I love that the Wendy Quill series is a mother–daughter collaboration. The author Wendy Meddour writes the stories (many based on her own quirky childhood memories – like accidently squashing someone on her bike or being a crocodile’s bottom in a school play) and her talented daughter Mina illustrates them. Mina is only 12 and has been illustrating the books using a digital tablet since she was ten years old, which is an amazing achievement! Mina’s amusing drawings perfectly complement her mum’s clever writing style and sense of humour.
One of my favourite things about the Wendy Quill series is the quirky little extras throughout the pages of each book – fun facts, side notes, lists and doodles that really engage readers in the world of Wendy Quill and this book is no exception! Wendy Quill is Full Up of Wrong has some great extras at the end of the book (so make sure you check them out when you’ve finished reading!) including a delicious recipe for super sticky flapjacks, included below so you can make your own.
This pocket-sized book is the perfect format for readers aged seven and up, particularly those who are just beginning to read chapter books. The compact size, three story structure and funny side notes are great for encouraging reluctant readers. I know readers of all ages will quickly warm to Wendy and her family, and relate to some of the situations she gets herself into and fans of the Alice-Miranda and Clarice Bean books should definitely add Wendy Quill is Full Up of Wrong to their reading lists.
HOW TO MAKE SUPER STICKY FLAPJACKS
250g Porridge Oats
125g Butter
125g Brown Sugar
2-3 tbsps* Golden Syrup
(*2 tablespoons for normal stickiness, but 3 tablespoons if you want it to get stuck in your teeth. And please sprinkle in squidgy sultanas if you like that sort of thing).
- Melt the butter, syrup, and sugar in a pan.
- Stir in the oats (and sultanas if you like them).
- Put all the mixture on a lightly greased tray or on baking paper and squish down with a wooden spoon.
- Cook at 180˚C for about 20 minutes.
- Let it cool and go a bit crunchy.
- Put on a spotty plate or something similar.
- Share with a friend who lives in completely the RIGHT house.
Wendy Quill is Full Up of Wrong is available from the Oxford University Press website or check your preferred bookshop for availability.
RRP: AU$11.95/NZ$15.99
Available (published 5 August 2014)
Paperback
ISBN: 9780192794673
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