THE GRANDEST BOOKSHOP IN THE WORLD BY AMELIA MELLOR

The Grandest Bookshop in the World is a whirlwind adventure. Amelia Mellor has created a marvellous story that is loosely based on historical fact. The Cole family live above the most famous bookshop in Australia. It is the late 1890s and magic is everywhere. Pearl and her brother Vally (Valentine) live with their siblings and parents in a wondrous arcade that has fabulous shops, talking birds and a very unusual sweet shop. Even though their lives are mingled with magic and endless entertaining characters, the family is sad. Ruby, one of the Cole’s children has died and they all miss her dreadfully. Mr Cole is especially heartbroken and makes a deal with an ominous character, Mr Obsucrosmith, who gives “Astonishing Deals at Incredible Prices.”

Their world begins to unravel once the deal is made. Pa becomes ill and with each passing day the famous Cole rainbow that hangs over the arcade is fading, and with it their world. Pearl and Vally must try and fix the dangerous situation their father has placed them in. Mr Obscurosmith proposes a challenge, and even though he is not to be trusted, they can’t see another way out of their dilemma. From the moment they accept the deal their lives are thrown into chaos. They are set seven challenges and must solve them by midnight or they lose everything — the arcade, their families and their memories. We follow them while the work their way through increasingly difficult tests, each one more complex than the last. Will they manage to work together and solve the riddles? Can they dodge the dangers and make it to the end before their family is lost forever?

Amelia Mellor’s middle grade magical reality novel is certainly a page-turner. She paints amazing pictures with words. The horrors of the challenges and the effects on the family are fabulous and terrifying at the same time. Pearl and Vally are beautifully portrayed and the themes of family and problem-solving run throughout the novel. The added bonus is the fact that it is all based on an actual family and place. Edward Cole was an entrepreneur who lived in Melbourne at the end of the 19th century. His progressive ideas on everything from the White Australia policy, religion and education were all formed by his amazing early years in England, the Victorian gold fields and his incredibly open mind. I highly recommend that readers investigate him further and even read his famous publication – Cole’s Funny Picture Book.

For Ages: 9-12 years

Number of Pages: 304

Published: September 2020

Themes: Family, problem solving and deception

Rating: 4/5

I wish: I had a sister like Pearl.