Book Review: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

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Mad Mabel  by Sally Hepworth  is a domestic thriller about the youngest person convicted of murder in Australia, Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick. Now 81 years old, Elsie is living on Kenny Lane and has been for the past sixty years. When a mother named Roxanne moves into Mabel's neighborhood with her seven year old daughter, an unlikely friendship forms between Elsie and the seven year old child named Persephone. As Elsie's secrets come to light, her world comes crashing down.  Having read quite a few novels by Sally Hepworth, I requested an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Mad Mabel  without reading the synopsis of the story. I was thrilled when NetGalley and St. Martin's Press approved my request. The expected publication date of the book is April 21, 2026. Not knowing anything about the storyline before I started reading Mad Mabel  made the story much more interesting to me as I had no preconceived ideas. The tale was told from Mabel's perspective in alternating timeli...
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Book Review: Freddie Mercury (Little People, BIG DREAMS) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Illustrated by Ruby Taylor

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Book Review Freddie Mercury (Little People, BIG DREAMS) written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Ruby Taylor

Freddie Mercury (Little People, BIG DREAMS) written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Ruby Taylor is a non-fiction children's book about the singer Freddie Mercury.  Told in simple sentences with amazing illustrations, this book is perfect for children between the ages of five and eight.  I'd like to thank NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the free, advanced copy of Freddie Mercury in exchange for my honest review.

The author does a fantastic job of telling the life of Freddie Mercury in simplistic terms for children.  She does tell about how the musician has AIDS, once had a girlfriend, and ended up with a boyfriend without going into the nitty gritty details that children may not necessarily need to know at their age.  I like the fact that it gives parents the opportunity to answer any questions their children may have.

As an adult, I already knew the facts provided in the book, but I love the fact that it introduces such a phenomenal musician to children who may have no idea who Freddie Mercury is.  Five out of five stars is what I gave Freddie Mercury (Little People, BIG DREAMS) written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Ruby Taylor.  The expected publication date of this book is February 7, 2023.

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