Jacqueline Harvey, Alice-Miranda Keeps the Beat (Alice-Miranda #18), Puffin Books, June 2019, 367 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk) ISBN 978014378603
As a parent, this is absolutely the kind of book I want my children to read, mainly because Alice-Miranda is such a great character. She’s kind and clever and has a wonderful way of bringing people together. My 10-year-old is inhaling this series. She has been bringing Alice-Miranda books home from school every library day lately!
This newest instalment, Alice-Miranda Keeps the Beat, begins with Alice-Miranda being caught out daydreaming in class. I just love the way she responds with a prompt, polite, genuine apology. Some kids find it very difficult to say sorry, so I really rate this very clear demonstration of the right way to apologise. Alice-Miranda had been tapping out a tune on her desk, which I think sets the scene nicely for a story with a musical theme.
This story takes place at the exclusive girls-only boarding school, Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies and the village it sits within. Alice-Miranda and her friends spot a fire in the village which destroys a restaurant and attached home, leaving a local family homeless. She and her friends want to help and decide to hold a music festival to raise money so the family can rebuild. Organising a huge community event is a significant undertaking for a group of school students, made even more difficult by a rift between the teachers and the Acting Headmistress. It’s up to Alice-Miranda to pull the community together to make the festival a success and solve several small mysteries too.
Alice-Miranda Keeps the Beat is an empowering story, inspiring readers that young people can make a difference when they draw on their strengths and work as a team. There’s strong messages about family, friendship, fairness and loyalty too.
The series is aimed at 9-13 year-olds, who may also enjoy checking out Sydney author and teacher Jacqueline Harvey’s website where they can type in their own name to a special “name generator” to find out what they would be called if they moved in Alice-Miranda’s circle.
Reviewed by Carissa Mason (Carissa Coco Cornflower Middleton-Mason Adams!)
