Author: Judi Curtin
Release Date: 1st August 2012
Publisher: O’Brien Press
Fun, feisty Eva Gordon always tries to help her friends,
but this time she might have a problem that’s too big even for her ...
When Eva and her family got to Seacove, she’s looking
forward to seeing her friend Kate, but things have gone very wrong for Kate and
this time Eva’s not sure if she should help her.
It’s not just Seacove Eva’s visiting – her friend Ruby
offers her the chance of a visit to London. And there may be a way the trip
with Ruby can help Eva sort things out for everyone...
If you have a problem that needs solving, just leave it
to Eva!
Eva’s trip to Seacove is a much awaited one, she is
really looking forward to catching up with her friends Lily and Kate. However,
when Eva arrives in Seacove, she finds that things have changed since her last
visit. Lily and Kate are no longer friends, Kate is holding a dangerous secret...
one that could get her into a lot of trouble. Eva’s friend, Ruby, is also having
trouble in London, will Eva have time to fix everything before the end of the
holidays?
I've recently begun working with a group of young people,
listening to them read in my local high school. What struck me as interesting
when working with these groups is how many children would love to read
something exciting, with a fun story but simple language... Leave it to Eva is one of those stories. Written from the point
of Eva, a determined and friendly young woman, the story follows her holiday
adventures in Seacove and London. Eva can’t help but make her friend’s business
her business and surprisingly, her determination means she manages to solve a
lot of their problems.
I’m not sure if I would be able to stand having a friend
like Eva, at times she seems a bit disloyal and does tend to thrust her input
onto her friend’s lives which has surprisingly positive consequences... I tend
to be a bit cynical in this respect, thinking that maybe things wouldn’t quite
happen like that in real life. (I do realise the importance of escapism and am
not for one second suggesting that the happy ending wasn’t vital to my
enjoyment of the book). Eva is just such an unusual character in that, despite
my determination to dislike her, I found I couldn’t help myself by the end! I’m
slightly disappointed that I missed out on reading the first two Eva books
before this one as they follow on in a sequence and explore her friendships in
greater detail.
I did actually really enjoy this book. I found Eva’s
character really captivating and the novel had an uplifting ending, despite the
real life difficult issues that her friends face. The book deals with families,
neglect, disability and friendships in a brutally honest way which contrasts with
a positive escapist ending. I would recommend this title mainly to female
readers who fancy something light and easy going but that deals with real
themes and has a steady plot line.
4.5/5 For younger readers or those who would like
something with simpler language.
With special thanks to O’Brien Press for sending me a
copy of the novel.
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