Join in with book of the month Rooftoppers, by Katherine Rundell. The Sky’s the limit!
Rooftoppers – the blurb
Everyone tells Sophie that she was orphaned in a shipwreck – found floating in a cello case on the English Channel on her first birthday. But Sophie is convinced her mother also survived.
When the Welfare Agency threatens to separate her from her guardian and send her to an orphanage, Sophie takes matters into her own hands, starting with the only clue she has – the address of a cello-maker in Paris. On the run from the authorities, Sophie finds Matteo and his network of rooftoppers – urchins who walk tightropes and live in the sky. In a race across the rooftops of Paris, will they be able to find her mother before it’s too late?
Up on the roof
I do like Katherine Rundell books. Full to the brim of excitement and adventure, Rooftoppers is no exception. Imagine a secret world that takes place above your head. Rundell always has a real sense of location as well, the jungle with The Explorers, New York with The Good Thieves and Paris with Rooftoppers. Once again she collects together a group of misfits and glues them all together in a colourful, magical way. Although there are hallmarks, every book is very different which is really appreciated if reading to or listening to your child read. It keeps it interesting! My only complaint is once again the mother character is missing. Charles however is simply fabulous, I worried throughout that he would suddenly or they would become penniless but Rundell steered away from the stereotypical injecting danger and chello musical instead. A romp of a read.
Book club questions
+++ These questions contain spoilers and should only be used if you have read the book already!+++
- What year do you think the book is set in? What makes you think this?
- Most of the book takes place on rooftops, can you draw the skyline of your town/city/village?
- During Sophie’s first time on a roof, Matteo asks her to jump the length of a pig. How far do you think this is? Could you jump it (on the floor not on a roof!)
- Why are rooftoppers meaner/harder than normal children? Do you think there are any adult rooftoppers?
- What do you think happens to Sophie now that she has found her mother? Does Charles remain in her life?
If you would like to join in with the Children’s Book of the Month keep your eyes peeled for the next book in a few days time. A review with book club questions is usually posted on the last Monday of the month and you can check out previous Book of the Months such as Orion Lost by Alastair Chisholm by clicking on the Young Adult/Kids button at the top of the Home Page.
