Harklights by Tim Tilley - Review by Mia (Age 10)

Harklights is about an orphan named Wick who lives with many other orphans at Harklights, which is very cruelly managed by Miss Bogget or, as the orphans call her, Ma Bogey, who makes them work all day packing matches. She whips and punishes the orphans, but when a minute, fingernail-sized baby turns up in an acorn cradle and Wick and his friend Petal decide to look after it, things at Harklights are about to change forever…

I really enjoyed this book, as it was as much about protecting nature as anything else, and I think it is important that we understand that this is not just a fantasy story, but a message to everyone that anyone can help the planet as well. I think this book was really good, it was well written, and I would rate it 8/10, subtracting 2 points as when I read it, the beginning was a lot like The BFG, explaining about the terrible orphanage, and in my opinion, it spoke about it a little too repeatedly.

But I really think it was very realistic the way it talked how nature protects us and how we need to protect it in return. I would recommend this book for ages 8+ or anyone who enjoys reading fantasy nature stories.