Our children’s book of the month for July is The Unadoptables by debut author Hana Tooke
The Unadoptables – the blurb
In all the years that Elinora Gassbeek has been matron of the Little Tulip Orphanage, not once have the very strict Rules for Baby Abandonment been broken. Until the autumn of 1886, when five babies are left in outrageous circumstances:
One in a tin toolbox.
One in a coal bucket.
Another in a picnic hamper.
One in a wheat sack.
And finally, one in a coffin-shaped basket.
Those babies were Lotta, Egg, Fenna, Sem and Milou.
And although Gassbeek might think they’re ‘unadoptable’, they know their individuality is what makes them so special – and so determined to stay together.
Then a most sinister gentleman appears and threatens to tear them apart. The gang decide to make a daring escape, fleeing the frozen canals of Amsterdam for an adventure packed with puppets and pirate ships, clock-makers and cruel villains – and with only a scrap of a clue to guide them.
But is their real home – and their real family – already closer than they realise?
Annie on steroids
Echoes of the musical Annie inevitably spring to mind when starting to read The Unadoptables. There is the evil Matron, Grassbeek. The plucky orphan, Milou and even a Sandy wannabe in the form of Mozart the owl. There is no singing and dancing however and sinister Rotman is no Daddy Warbucks. Amsterdam provided the perfect back drop to the story and half Dutch Tooke even managed to included a windmill!
Spooktastic
There were werewolves (or were there?) devilish merchants and interfering neighbours all tied together to deliver a very Gothic feel. The Carnival of Nightmares was inspired. These elements were very punchy but Tooke walked the perfect line between being scary and being TOO scary.
Whilst I was book club free again this month my 11 year old read the book and also loved it. Her favorite character was Milou whose determination she really admired. It took Milou a little while to realize that sometimes it’s not the family we are born into that are our real family. Hopefully my 11 year old doesn’t also feel like that!
Book club questions
+++ These questions contain spoilers and should only be used if you have read the book already!+++
- The children are left at the orphanage with various clues as to where they come from. If you had been left at the orphanage what items would have been with you to hint at your life?
- The book is set in Amsterdam in Holland, a place famous for its tulips. Can you find a picture (under adult supervision) of the tulip fields in Amsterdam? Could you replicate the picture using paint? clothes? toys? We would love you to show us what you come up with.
- Milous struggles at first to come up with an ending to The Carnival of Nightmares. What ending would you have given it? Can you write it and show us?
- Hana Tooke left the book open for a possible sequel as not all the children know where they come from. If there is a sequel, what do you think it will be about?
- The children trick various people into believing their father is with them by making a puppet. Can you make a puppet? What about putting on a puppet show like the children do in the book?
If you would like to join in with our Children’s Book of the Month keep your eyes peeled when we announce August’s book in a few days time, Our 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 our Home Page.