By Hana Tooke (author) , Ayesha L. Rubio (illustrator)
"A wonderfully entertaining adventure and captivating mystery"
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A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month August 2020 | August 2020 Debut/Book of the Month
Warm-hearted and mysterious The Unadoptables is a wonderfully entertaining adventure with a cast of fascinating characters set in a brilliantly evoked old-world Amsterdam and the surrounding countryside. Following the clues from the only possessions she was left with when she was abandoned as a baby and guided by her ‘Book of Theories’, the imaginative Milou leads her four friends – the least adoptable children in the very horrible Little Tulip Orphanage – to her family home where she is sure she will find her parents.
Travelling through a freezing night the children arrive at their destination. But there is not the welcome they had expected. Where are Milou’s parents? And what is the mystery they need to solve? The creative ways in which the five children manage first to escape from the evil clutches of their matron and her evil accomplice Rotman and then to make a new life for themselves bamboozling neighbours and unravelling the mystery is vivid and captivating.
The remarkable. The extraordinary. The brave.
Way back in the autumn of 1880, five babies are discovered at the Little Tulip Orphanage in most unusual circumstances. Those babies are Lotta, Egbert, Fenna, Sem and Milou. The vile matron calls the children 'the unadoptables' but this talented gang of best friends know that their individuality is what makes them so special - and so determined to stay together.
When a sinister gentleman tries to get them in his clutches, the children make a daring escape across the frozen canals of Amsterdam, embarking on an adventure packed with pirate ships and puppets. But is their real home - and their real family - already closer than they realize?
A compelling, gorgeously-written story about the power of friendship and the true meaning of family . . . perfection! Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike
A high-speed, witty, absurd and joyful adventure. Katherine Rundell, author of Rooftoppers and The Good Thieves
Unfolding with the clarity of a fairy tale, this sure-footed debut casts a delightfully spooky spell. (Fantasy. 8-12) - Kirkus
With a little bit of spookiness and a whole lot of quirkiness, this book will capture your heart! - Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company
This book has everything you need: villians, action, comedy and adventure all rolled into one. - Robyn Broderick, The Reading Bug
Perfect for reading out loud, and just the right amount of scary, this has the feel of a classic in the making. - Bethany Strout, Tattered Cover Bookstore
The Unadoptables will make you wish your own parents had loved you enough to leave you at a Dutch orphanage in the 19th century to join in their adventures. Great for readers of A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Serafina series. - Nathan Halter, Lahaska Bookshop
Unfolding with the clarity of a fairy tale, this sure-footed debut casts a delightfully spooky spell - Kirkus
Effortlessly merging the gothic and ghastly with the eccentric and absurd - Waterstones Blog, 'Best Books to Look Out For in 2020'
This delicious debut had me reading late into the night... Beautiful but accessible writing, thrilling action, a hint of magic and unforgettable characters are delivered with wit, wisdom and heart in an enviably distinct voice. - The Bookseller, Children's Book of the Month
...spectacular wit, dazzling theatrical wonder and huge amount of hope, courage and everlasting friendship. A book to absolutely fall in love with. - Cerrie Burnell, author of The Girl With the Shark's Teeth
A corker of a story. - Emma Carroll, author of Letters to the Lighthouse
Half Dutch, half English, Hana Tooke grew up near Amsterdam and moved to the south of England at the age of twelve. After completing a degree in music, and then a PGCE, Hana was a primary school teacher for several years. Hana also completed the Bath Spa University Writing for Young People MA, and The Unadoptables was shortlisted for The Bath Children's Novel Award 2018.
She lives in Bath with two humans and a cat.
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A five star book of adventure and working together as a family unit.
The Unadoptables is such an amazing read with five children who you want to be friends with as soon as you meet them!
With five unique and individual orphans growing up in the Little Tulip Orphanage, neither one of them has ever caught the eye of potential adopters for 12 years. So, they’re all desperate for their real parents to come back and reclaim them, especially Milou.
I loved how this book can be a little sad and frightening in parts, especially with the way the children are treated and how they can never fully escape their past. But, they work as a family and stay together, which more than makes up for the horrible things they have to experience.
I loved everything about The Unadoptables.... Read Full Review
An exciting book which is dark, adventurous, great fun and full of fantastic illustrations. I definitely recommend this brilliant book!
From the start to the end, The Unadoptables is a great book. When I first saw it, I liked the look of the cover but I wasn't sure if it was really "me", as it didn't look like the sort of book that I usually read... However, within a few pages, I realised that I was wrong! This book is adventurous, dark and very good, just like me actually! I thought the most exciting bit was where two of the orphans nearly drowned, and I just could not put it down. I loved the characters and the intriguing storyline. This book takes you to another world. I thought it was one of a kind and I would say to anyone who has not yet read this book, I definitely recommend it.... Read Full Review
Holy Gouda! This spectacular story of friendship, belonging and daring adventure had me hooked from start to finish!
Holy Gouda, what a spectacular story! From the very first page of this delicious debut I was immediately mesmerised by this tale of friendship, belonging and daring adventure.
Set amongst the icy canals and sleek velvet thread of 19th Century Amsterdam, in the utterly dreadful Little Tulip Orphanage, reside five curiously unique 'unadoptables’, who long for a home and freedom away from the cruel clutches of their child-hating matron, Elinora Gassbeek. But when a sinister sea captain threatens to tear the gang apart, a daring moonlit escape across the countryside is their only hopes of staying together.... Read Full Review
The remarkable. The extraordinary.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Unadoptables and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
The Unadoptables features in the following genres: Adventure Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Books of the Month, Recommendations, Crime & Mystery, Debuts of the Month, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month, PSHE: Divorce, PSHE: Family Issues, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback, CD-Audio, Hardback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Unadoptables was written by Hana Tooke and published by Puffin an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK
The Unadoptables has 391 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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